UN:' 15- . '■J I" 3RARY I f0^7tJ^ ,:d,.M^ ^^ *^,^5^-^.«jj£ Vv'^íi'^^^l 0<' . f O'BRENNAN'S ANTIQUITIES. CONTENTS V' 1. The Preface— being a defence of Ireland's ancient enlightenment and antiquity. 2. Contractions, Dedication, and Errata. 3. Some rules on the Irish language, an4 " Address to the Reader.*' :7 4. Reviews of " Ancient Ireland and St. Patrick." ' 6, A Map, shewing ^e travels of Golamh, or Milesius, prepared by di6 Author. 6. A metrical history of the leading facts in Irish history. — This is in the Irish character, accompanied oy a translation, and notes, based on the best authorities, about 200 accredited writers having been consulted. The notes might be considered a digest of history. 7. Pedigrees of nearly all the families of the country, taken from reliable works. 8. The Danish and Norman Invasions. 9. The Reformation; the sanguinary means applied to introduce it into Ireland. 10. The Confiscations by Elizabeth, James I., Cromwell, and William III. 11. The struggles of/ Desmond, the O'Sullivans, O'Donnells, O'Neills, Fitzgeralds, O'Roarke, Mac Guire, Fitzmaurice, O'Malley, Tyrrell, and other chiefs to vindicate their liberty, to uphold nationality. 12. An Essay on Roiind Towers and Irish Crosses, in refutation of modem theories, which are opposed to truth, the antiquity, and eariy refinement of Ireland. 13. " St, Patrick's Birth-place," " His Existence," his Life in Irish (by Saint Fiech), with a translation and notes . 14. Seachnall's hymn on St. Patrick with Seachnall's own life. To this hymn are appended notes proving the Catholic faith of both Saints. 15. A copious Index. béjft bAijbA, tt)o cÍTtr*, 3An Aibnwr, rór, rAonc*, béjÓ Al) SACrOI) A 5-CliVf, 'S A n^in) nio3A FA \>'ú.x. *5 é ti)o ctieAC 't rtio cttA6, - "; - ' 7^1?*« cfsirore xhyct aij Ia, . : - • ' i; .51^;,^ b-^uil eiTteAt)i)Ui5 A i).5TIa6, 'S Alt c-rAoftrAcc t A b-ciui'. •■ " ' Ua btiAóioijín^. ' SECOND EDITION. YOIi. I. DUBLIN: fRDTTED FOB AND PUBLISHED BT THE ACTHOft, MARTIN A. O'BRENNAN, LL.D, Mentbtr nf the Honorable Society of Queen't /him. 57, BOLTON-STREET, Of whom the work can be had. Entered at Stationers^ EaU. CONTRACTIONS. = Equal to. V. or vid. = see. ,G.= genitive. Stra. = Strabo. Pau. = Pausanias. Sg. = signifying Sa. = stanza. V. g. = verbi gratia, for sake of ex> ample. Pas. pre. = passive present. Pro. = pronoun. Gr. = Greek. Lat. = Jjatin. h. =: book. Pto. = Ptolemy. Com. = commentaries. A*M. = Anno Mundi. B.C. = before Christ. 3.F. = before Flood. Sp. =c Spanish. Itf = Ijtalian. Con. := contraction. Nom. = nominative. Com. = compounded. Ap. = appendix. Mas. = masculine. Fern. =: feminine. lb. = ibidem, same place. V. = verse. Plu. == pluraL MeL = Mela. Stat. = Statius. PIL = Pliny. Pom. = Pomponius Mela. Her. = Uereootus. V. = Virai. Horn. = fiomer. St. = Saiat. P. = page. Pas. 1= many places. He. =5 Hd>rew. Cel. = Celtic ; Cellarius. STANZA cxiy. but) r ■* sum —The former word means three lifts, the latter five. There is a game of cards in Munster called *'■ Jink and whieel out," or 45. — If one player gets the five Hfts running, he is declared the winner, though under other circumstances nine lifts constitute the game. The allusion in Stanza cxiv. is very pointed, and implies that whoever was miller Ormond would be dog. He played falsely to the king. He robbed without •' the ace." He be- trayed the interest of Charles, deceived and cajoled the Catholics, but the national Catholics were not deceived -by him. They distrusted and rejected him ; whilst the Catholic Lords of the Pale adhered to him as he was an Englishman. ©eíjicatíon* ■■■.■.; .-. • .; TO , ,. . ; .,,, ■ HIS GRACE THi; MOST REV. JOHN MAC HALE, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF TUAM, ' : ' '■ ^' AND -■ ,- •• _ ■' ' PRIMATE OF CgJíNAÚGHT, í , , THE "LION OF THE FOLD OF JtlDAH," ' .-, THE ILLUSTRIOUS CHAMPKfu OF CATHOLICITY, , THE FIRST IRISH SCHOLAR LIVING,' THE UNCOMPROMISING DEFENDER, , AND . - ., ,, " _ ,.:■': ; .. THE FEARLESS ASSERTOR OF . . I IRELAND'S INDEPENDENCE. These Volames are, with the most profound veneration, dedicated, as a trifling token of the admiration and love of THE AUTHOR, MARTIN A. O'BRENNAN, LL.D. Member qf the Hon. Society of Queen' i Innt, DvAlin. Collegiate Seminary, S7, Bolton' ilreet, Dublin, Afril, 1858. 404497 ERRATA. Line. 2, .8, 7, 4, fi, 60, 18, fi8, 2, Fsfre, 22, 84, 57, 61, «4, 70, 78, 80, 81, 83, 92, 94, 99, 112, 118, 120, 130, 132. 136, 138, 162, 160, 161, 165, 166, 166, 176, 176, 201, 229, 230, 230, 232, 232, 4, 12, 4, 19, 18, 6, 16, 19, 13, 18, 3, 3, 4, 4, 8, 2, 6, 21, 15, 17, 3, 10, 9, 8, 6, 2, 3, 2. 6, 2, 233, 4, 233, 16, 234, 7, 255, 10, supra, supra, infra, supra, infra, infira, infra, >» «, •♦ supra. », infra, „ supra, infra, supra, f, ,» infra, supra, „ infra, „ supra, », infra, », supra, „ ,• ♦, ,, supra, infra, M dele " or* for " preasure," " wiih," " malighant," " unblushing," " O'Conneil," re«d I, „ „ »» fi ,» Í, », i> „ « M ,» I, „ „ ,» » I» „ 400, 7t supra, 416, 16, „ 479 supra, read " There may be after for ,> " bO-bAJAC," " IDACAíTl," " PAC, 5PA6," " IrauUn," " Ephiphanius," " nAOUISCÓtlA," " proposition," " peculiar," " pdACUiqc,'* " 01C,- « leitDb,'* " sneicijb," " noieA&Ain," •' b-10TI)p05Ab," " rub ore," *' c-lATtUtt," "bAOl bfeAtlttA," ♦' ii)-bAilce,"' pressure. with. nulignant. unblushingly. O'Connor. bo-bMAC. „ IQACAft^. „ nA6, 5tiA6. Iranian. Epiphanius. rlA1)U15C0t%A. preposition, common. ireAcuii)c. ole. leii)ib. Sneicib. tlóloAbAtt. Ij-lotijpoTSAo. „ rw oi*c. „ C-fAttlAb. „ t)A0i b&ATlTlA. „ ii)-bA]lce. Pobul-I-cheullaghainn," Pobul-Lcheallaghainn. " Aghalahnna," " plAirttin," " e|ce," " Leachnall s," " Liber Hymsorum." •• due," *• Clama Baosgne," " []Dr At) lie rA,]" " [this same stone,]", " CAnn^Se IjAÍ^," "' Most Rev. Richard O'Conneil '• Richard," „ „ n >, ,» », ,• „ ,1 Agbalanna. Seachnall's. Liber Hymnorum. undue. Clanna Baoisgne. [lOC-rÁtjljcfA,] [this sacred ^tone.] CAtiTtl5 Mac. Most Rev. Richard O' Connell, Rickard. Killamey. " Killaony," " on this," write Itind. " BATTE OF THE read BATTLE OF THE YELLOW FORT," TELLOW FORD. "n")PMceAcb,"' „ TNpM^eACb. " (uvhur)," „ (wohur.) Muratori," " Anglican," and " Achonry." a few other errata which the reader can easily set right. LETTERS, ECLIPSES, AND MUTABLES, GENDERS, CASES, &c. The Irish characters now in use are seventeen, b being considered as an a». pirate. Of these five are vowels— three broad, a, o , u ; two slender, e , i - the rest consonants ; some of the latter are occasionally used as vowels, as b, 6, 5, TQ. There are thirteen diphthongs, as follow ;— Ae, Af, ao, ca, ei, eo, eu, ]a, 10, itt, 01, UA, m ; and five triphthongs ; ao], eoj, ]A|, lU], ua] — the ancient» used 06], the modems ao|. 21, it may be said, has strictly bat three sounds, the other two being from association with other letters. The sounds are as heard, in the English words a// (2^), hat (a), and what. Instead of using the words sounded long, sftort, broad, slender, I shall insert " *' ' over the letters, and for pronounced 1 will use = which means " equal to." Thus, «^ = aw, ftA, =ay or a in ale, é = ay in say, ,8 e in met, f = i in hit, ó = 5 invote, o = o in doctor, nearly, or a middle sound between short o aud u, as heard in but, ú = Ú in lute, u = u in hut, t^e, ao, 6u, &a, &f = ay in say, or d in ale. A|, p, o^ = i in hit ; but in Connaught A] = a in fuit, and, e in bet; ao is sometimes sounded in Connaught as eeu, but rarely ; eA, e] = e in bet, A] = wi in paw- ing, eó = o in Vote, yet the e has a compressed sound ; eo = u in push, f a, fo =: eeu ; ó| =: in fiote and i in hit, of = ee in meet, fu =: 00 in good, UA = 00 in/5o-í»1^ ^^ our blood. ' * — ixtx i)-5éU5, nhayug, our branch. — Att b-plAoi)t)A, blonda, our plant. — Att &-cneAr, drass our battle. — Ati c-rlAC, ddlatt. our rod. The verbs are most simple, as will be seen in the notes at page 100 a,e. The declensions are very simple. It might be said there are only two cases (that is, variations) in the singular, the nominative and genitive. The nominative plural is generally as the genitive singular, and A|b or ]h is added to the gen. sing., to make the plural. This is, of course, but a general remark made, to point out the simplicity of our language. The simple rule to ascertain the genders (not the sex) of Irish nouns is this : prefix & or r& to a noun, and if the phrase tl) eclipses b. 5 — c. n — b. b — V, D b — p» b — c. c - T, makes sense the noun will be masculine ; if not, it will be feminine. Thus— 'r & Ai) leAC Azix, z}tft),it is the cheek that is sore, does not make sense, whereas 'r f A17 leAC, &c does — as leAC is the fern. gen. '5 f At) leAbATi bo xi)ú]i) Itte, it was the book tatigfitme. does not make sense, whereas 'x 6 *i7 leAbAt^, &c. does, leAbAtt being masculine. Thisrak is chiefly for those who speak the language and have a good ear. Biit the classical scholar who knows the rales for geQ> ders, will find them nearly the same in Irif h as other languages. He can ap- preciate the sfmplidty and beauty of our native tongue. If one tenth, aye one twentieth, of time, were expended on it, as on other tongues, the whole nation would now be able to talk and use the Irish. , . TO THB READER. The facts detailed in the work are not mine, having been taken finmi previous writers^ native and foreign. If there be errors in th»t le^pe^t I am not in fault, as I depended on the writings of the best audiorities for my ioformation. Errors of type are unavoidable in.every original juid (^ticaJ.work, especially when the Author's time is lioiited. , , _,r^; *>■■' .■ s - ; • r.; .^ The nature of my profession prevented me making a personal canvass. If any friends were forgotten, the omission was not intended. To provide for such contingency, some few copies additional were struck off. The explanations, requisite to aid the student of Irish, which were at first intended to be prefixed to the " Dirge," I thought better to place as notes, that the reader might the more conveniently refer to them. These are not as nume- rous as I could wish. I had intended to insert «n abridged Irish Grammar, but the introduction of oth» matters prevented my doing so. 1 have introduced marks to facilitate the study of the Irish, which, if the language were studied aa Greek or Latin, I would have omitted. There never wa» a more erroneous notion than that our language is hard to be learned. From my experience as a teacher, I am bold to say, that it is the easiest and simplest of all languages. The works being in manuscript caused them to appear difficult ; the case would have been different, had printing been applied to the Irish as soon as it was to Greek aud Latin, Irish scholars must not then be jealous of each other, as neither can yet claim perfection in writing the language. Much depends on conjecture and time. There must be a mutual co-operation, and fraternal in- tercourse ; and, as each province has its own dialect, like the provinces of Greece, it must not be that a native of either will condemn the language of another, as either may be r%ht. As the Greek writers used the Ionic, Poetic, Attic, Boeotic, Doric, and JEdlic, dialects ; the Irish writers differed on certain words. It must be also borne in mind that the mere reading or manuscribing of Irish does not constitute a scholar ; thousands can read, talk English, and copy it with graceful ease, aud yet be almost strangers to its philosophy, gram- matical and poetical structure Tet if such persons were allowed to tamper with the language of the English poet, they would shortly take down its fresco- cornices to make it agree with their own notions of grammar. The M unster dialect, in which the Prelate wrote, has not been interfered with by me. ' SUBSCRIBEKS' NAMES. <(-> \* The nunei bftre been Inserted in the order in whioh they were reeeived. Most Rev. Paul Cnllen, Apostolic Delegate, and Lord Arcl»p., Dublin* Most Rev. Jos. Dizon, Lord Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. ■.^ t ■ ' Most Rev. Dr. Leahy, Lord Archbishop of Cashel. Most Rev. John Mac Hale, Lord Archbishop of Tuam. Most Rev. Francis Kellj, Coad. Lord Bishop of Derry. Most Rev. Charles M'Nally, Lord Bishop of Monaghan. Most Rev. Patrick M^Gettigan, Lord Bishop of Raphoe. Most Rev. D, M'Gettighn, Coad. Lord Bishop of Raphoe. Most Rev. Cornelius t^nvir, LorA Bishop of Dawn and Connor. Most Rev. James firowne, Lord Bishop of Kilmore. Most Rev. John Kilduff, Lord Bishop of Ardagh. Most Rev. John Cantwell, Lord bishop of Meath. Most Rev. Michael Blake, Lord Bishop of Dromore. Most Rev: J. Pius Leahy, Coad. Lord Bishop of Dromore. Most Rev. James Wcdsh, Lord Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. Most Rev. Patrick Furlong, Lord Bishop of Ferns. Most Rev. William Delany, Lord Bishop of Cork- Most Rev. Daniel Yaughan, I^ord Bishi^ of KiUaloe. Most Rev. David Moriarty, Lord Bishop of Kerry. Most Rev. D. O'Brien, Lord Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. Most Rev. William Keane, Lord Bishop of Cloyne. Most Rev. M. O'Hea, Lord Bishop of Ross. ; Most Rev. John Derry, Lord Bishop of Gtonfert. • ' ; ' Most Rev. Patrick Durcan, Lord Bishop of Achonry. Most Rev. 6. J. P. Browne, Lord Bishop of Elphin. Most Rev. Patrick Fallon, Lord Bishop of Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora. Most Rev. John M 'Evilly, Lord Bishop of Gtdway. ■ Most Rev. Ti Feeny, Lord Bishop of Killala, Most Rev. Daniel O'Connor, Lord Bishop of Saldes. ' Most Rev. Dr. Whelan, Lord Bishop of Bombay. Most Rev. J«hn Fennelly, Lord Bishop of Castoria and V . A. Madras The Most Noble the Marquitf of Ktldare.. • ' . The Right Hon. Lord Castlerosse. Lord Otho Fitzgerald. ^ • The Right Htm. Lord Ff«nch. ^ The Right Hob. Lord DwBfwren. The Right Hon. Judge Bidl. > . ^^ . í ;;'. The Right Hon. Jwlge«eogh. The Very Rev. I. H. Newman, D.D., Rector of C. University. Viii A. Ahem, M., Rev. C.C, Waterford Armstrong, A. Esq. Ballygawley, Tjrone B. Ball, Nicholas, Right Hon. Judge» Common Pleas, Dublin Ball, John, Esq., Barrister, Dublin Brady, John, Esq., M.P., Leitrim, London Bourke, John, Esq., 13 Charlemont- 6t, Dublin Behan, J,, Esq., Capel-st, Dublin Bourke, P., Esq., Merchant, 94, Capel-st., Dublin Brogan, Michael, Esq. , 4, Prospect- terrace, Dublin Burke, John, Esq., Sackville-st., Dublin Brennan, Mark, Esq., Dublin Brennan, Peter, Esq., Middle Ab- bey-street, Dublin Brennan, Malachi,Very Rev. Canon, P.P., Ahamlish Blake, Francis, Esq., J.P., Cregg Castle, Galway Brennan, Rev. James, Chaplain, Clondalkin Browne, Very Rev. Martin, Arch* deacon, P.P., Castlebar, Mayo Brennan, Rev. John, P.P., Warren- point Burke, Rev. John, P.P<, Mount Bellewbridge Brennan, Very Rev. Patrick, P.P., Kildare Boland, Patrick, Esq., 138, Capel- st., Dublin Browne, Rev. James, P.P., Ballin- tubber, Mayo Brennan, Bev. Mortimer, C.C, Gort BeU, Rev. Frederick, C.C., Halston- st., Dublin fiermingham. Rev. J., P.P., Bor- risokane Burke, Rev. Thos., P.P., Portumna Boylan, Very Rev. Daniel, Dean, P.P , EnniskiUen Brennan, Rev. Francis, B , O.S.F., Merchants-quay, Dublin Brennan, Michael, Esq., P.L.G., Kiltimagh Brennan, Rev. Michael, C C, ÍLiU mena, Westport Burns, Rev. Andrew, C.P., Middle-* borough, Yorkshire Barry, Rev. James, C.C, Wexford Buckley, Rev John, C.C, Fermoy Bodkin, R. Esq. J. P., Anna. Bole — , Esq., Mayo Constitution, Mayo Byrne, Patk., Esq., New Ross Bourke, John, Esq., C.E., Marl- borough-st. Bourke, Walter, Esq., Mary-st. Bourke, Rev. U. Prof. St. Jarlath's Bourke. W. J Esq..Crotrn Solicitor, Westport, Mayo Browne, John, Esq., 28 Brooke- st., Manchester Boyce, Chas, F. Esq., Kingthorp- grove, Rusholm — Bodoano, Esq., Manchester Bidolph, Thos., Esq., Manchester Brier, Monsieur Le, High School, Loughborough, Leicestershire Boyle (O), Rev. Jn.. C.C Cumber Barrett, Rev. John. Kilvine Bourke. Rev. G, C.C. Killaseube Burke, Rev. R., Newport, Tip. Birch, Rev. P., V.F.P.P., Johns- town. Cantwell, J. M., Esq., Solicitor, Dominiok St., Dublin Curtis, Very Rev. J., S. J., Dublin Curran, V. Rev. Peter, P.P., Ballin- amore Campion, John C Esq., A.B., 46, Charlemont-street Cuff, M. Rev ,Westlaud row, Dub. Conry, James, Esq., Castlerea, Co. Roscommon Costelio, Rev. Thos., CC, Beloarra Cotter, Rev. Jas. C.C, St. George's Cathedral London Commins, Rev. James, P.P. Clare- Galway Connoly, Rev. Martin, P.P. Glanna- maddey, Beyonnogh Conway, M. E. Esq. Creneral Post Office, Dublin Costelio, Very Rev. Bartholomew, V. G. P.P. Crossmolina IX Crowe, J.O'B. Esq. Queen's College, Galway Constaatine, Rev, .Cosgrave, P.P. Keash, Sligo Curley, Rev. M. P.P. Louisburgli Crooke, Rev. Thos. P.P. Charleville Crane Very Rev. Martín, O.S.A. John's-street, Dubln Cavendish, H^n. Mrs. Castlebar Costello, J. Esq. (Merchant)Galway Cooney, William, Rev. 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Ecdes-st. FamU, Alderman, Fergus, Esq. J.P., 120, Capel-st Farrell, láichael, Esq. Merchant, 122, Cap^st. Fitzpatrick, Very Rev. P. P.P. Mill-st., Cork Finnegan, Peter, Esq., 45 New^t. Dublin Ffrench, Right Hon. Lord, Great Denmark>st., Dublin Finn, Very Rev. John, O.S.A. Ballyhaunis French, Lieut. Col. 14 St. James*. Square, London Fogarty, Rev. P., D.D., P.P., Lismore Flynn, Serjeant, East Yorkshire MilitU Fitzpatrick, W. J. Esq. (Author of the Life and Times of Lord Cloncurrry) French, B.Esq. Jabley-stLiverpool Fitzgerald, Rev. C.C. Movlough Flannelly, James, C.C. Enockmoy Sisher, V. Rev. Canon, Sheffield. G. Grerilie, CoL Fulke, L., M.P.,D.L. J. P., Cbnyn Qncttan, Bictuard Esq. M.D. Eden- deny, Kildare^ QUHott, P, J. Esq. Sheffield. Gill, Andrew, Esq. Grosvenor Park RÁthmines Grattan,H.E8q.D.L.JP.Stephen'8- green Greene, Alderman John, Esq. J.P. Wexford Goodman, Rev. J. Bernard, Kew Abbey, Sligo Green, Rev. Patrick, C.C. Knock, Claremorris Gray, John, Esq. M.D. Freeman'» Journal Gemghty, Rev. J. P.P. Castigar, Galway G^dlagher John, N. Esq. DuUin Germaine, A.R. Rev. P.P. Black- ditches Griffith, James, Esq. Dublin Gilligan, Master Henry, Abbey-st. Dublin Gibbons, Rev. Michael, P.P. Eilconly, Tuam Gemon, WnkEsq. Barrifter, Gar- diner.4t. DuUin Gibbons, Rev.E. C.C. Westport Griffin, Rev. E< CC Ross, Cong Geraghty, Rev. R. C.C. Killura Gibbons, Rev. Thomas, C.C. Bor- xishoole Geraghty, Rev. James, CC. Balla H. Higgins. Col. Ousley, M.P. D.L. J.P. Glencorrib, Mayo Hamiltofl, Very Rev. Archdeacon John, P.P. St. Mlchan's, Dublin Higgins, Rev. James, P.P. Belagby Mayo Horgan, Rev. William, C.C. Ken- mare, KiUamey Horan, Eugene, Esq. Dublin Hardiman, Rev. Thomas, P.P. Ballinrobe Henry, Rev. James, C.C. Achill Horgao, Rev. David^ C.C. Ballin- collig ffidccy, Michael, E«q. Bantry Hau^ton, James, Esq.85 Ecdes-st Dublin HampsUm^ Rev. James, Castletown Berobaven Hally, Very Rev. D. V.G. P.P. Dongarvan Hibbetts, Thomas, Rev. J. Q.S.D. XI Hickey, Rev. Wm , C.C. Fermoy Hackett.W.L. Esq. Brsr. Clonme Hayes, William Esq. Cork Hosty, Bev. Richd. C.C. Castlebar Johnson, Richard, Esq. Dublin Jennings, ReT. W. Professor of Lo« gic, M. and E. St. Patrick's-Col. lege, Maynooth Joynt, Aldrmn. W. Esq. Limerick Jordan, Miles, Esq. Banister, Rot- land>st. Johnston, R. L. Esq. Mary-st. Jadge, Rer. Joseph, C.C. Spiddall Joyce, Rev. Michael, CC. Robeen K. Kennedy, Tristram, Esq., Barrister, Henrietta-st. Kelly, Very Rev. P. P.P. Kilskyre, Meath Kennedy.Ignatias J. Esq. 18 Capcl- st. Dublin Kilbride, Rev. James, C.C. BallyU. nan, Queen's County Kenny, Very Rev. John, P.P. Ennis Keen, Peter, Esq. Bolton-st. Kavanagh, Very Rev. Michael, A , S.J. President, Clongowes Wood College Kenny, Rev. Francis, P.P. Moycullen Kenealy, William, Esq. Kilkenny Kelly, Jasper, Esq., Tuam Herald KearnsJúnbrose,O.S.F. Monastery, Ronndstor, Galway Keily, D. T. Esq. Merchant, Galway Kelly, Michael. Esq. New Ross Keld), John, Esq. Merdiant, Town- ■end-st King, John, Esq. Castletown Delvin King,Jame9,Esq. Castletown Delvin Kearney Esq., Dale-st, Liverpool KeUy, Patrick, Esq. M.D. Panl- sqoare, Liverpool King, Rev. Edward, C.A. Moore Keogh, Rev. Francis P.P. Kilda- comogus, Castlebar Leahy, Most Rev. J. P. D.D. Coad-' jntor Biahop of Dromore Lalor, E. J. Power, Esq. J.P. Loa- gorchard, Ballydine, County Tip« perary Laphen, Very Rev. John, T. D.D. P.P. Meatíi-st, Dablin Lyons, James T. Esq. Solicitor, 9 Henrietta-st Dablin Lyons, Daniel, Esq. 59 Domnidc.st Loftus. Rev. John, P.P. Donagh Patrick, Headford Leonard» Rev. Lmoe , P.P. Oalway Langan, Rev. Thomas, C C. Paias<- town, Grarristown Lynch, Rev. Tliomas, P.P. Black. lion, Slane Lyons, Rev. Patrick, P.P., Spiddd Lanigan, John, Esq. J.P. Richmond, Templemore Lalor, Thomas, Esq. D.L. J.P. Cregg, Carrick*on-Sair Lane, Rev. Michael, P.P. Donongfa- more, Cork Langan, Patic. Esq. 9 North Earl-st Lynch, Michael Esq. United States Consul, CapeUst Lavelle, Rev. Patrick, Irish College, Paris Lane, Rev. Michael, P.P. Coachford, Laughnan, James Meade, Esq Bar« rister, Gardiner-st. Lawler, James, Esq. Water-st. Li- verpooi Lawler, Patrick, Esq. do Lawless, Rev. Thcunas, P.P. Anghrim, Lyons, Esq. SackvUle-st Lyden, Rer. D. C.C. Moyrus Loftot, Rev. James, CC. Newport- pratt Xll Mendes, J.S.Esq. Rathmines, Dub- lin and Calcutta. Moore, G. Henry.Esq. Moore Hall, Mayo. Magnire, J. F. Esq M.P. Cork Mac MahoD, F. Esq. M.P. Lon< don MoUoney.W.Esq. Mary st. Dublin Mailer, Rev. J. North Bruns- wick- st. Dublin Mac Manus, Patrick, Rev. P.P. CJifden Mullarkey, Rev.D, P P.Kiltimagh Markey, Edward, Esq. Grange, Natile Mac Cann, Joseph, Esq. 100, Up- per Dorset-st. Dublin Molony, Rev. Jeremiah, C.C. Kil- meen, Clonakilty, D Ross Mac Cann, Rev. Joseph, C, C.C. Halston-st. Mac Neill, John, Esq. Ilenry-st. Dublin Mac Naraara, Rev. P. C.C. Glan, Mount Bellew Mac Sorley. Kev. Peter, C.C. Coalislapd, Dungannon Meyler, Rev. B. P.P. Ferns Mac Donnell, Very Rev. William F. P.P. Rathfarnham Mahon, J. Esq. Mercury office, Galway Meany, P. Esq. Liverpool Meany, Rev. Patrick, P.P. Clonmel Murphy, Verg Rev. James, P.P. V.F. Ferns, Tomacork Molony, Rev. Thomas, C.C. Kil- "murry, Miltown Malbay Mulcahy, E. J. Rev. P.P. Bally- makea, Clonmel Moloney, James, Esq. European Hotel, 4 Bolton-8t. Mullen, Patk., Esq. Dunshauglin Mac Carthy, Rev. Florence, P.P. MohalifiFe, Killamey Mangan, Rev. Patrick, P.P. Keel- machedbre, Dingle Meade, James L. Esq. Barrister, P.L.G. Lower Gardiner-st. Mac Donnell, E dward, D. Eaq. Cahir House, Kilkelly Mac Eenna, Rev. John, P. P. Paro- chial House Lisbum Mulligan, Francis, Esq. Phibsboro' Mac Hale, Rev. Patrick, P. P. Adragoole, Ballina Murray, Rev. Timothy, C. Adm. Skibbereen Mac Cawley, Rev. W. P.P. Ar- dagh, Ballina Mac Nulty, C. Esq. Capel-st. Mahony, Cornelius. R Esq. High- st. Dublin Mooney, Robert, Esq. Booterstn. Dublin Mac Gauran, Rev. Hugh, P.P. Glenade, Kinlough, Ballyshann. Murphy, Rev. Thomas, Church-st. Dublin Mooney, Rev. Patrick, P.P. St. Audeon's, Dublin Mooney, Thomas, Esq. Melbourne M'Tucker, Very Rev. Joseph, P.P. Boyle Mahony, Very Rev. D. V.F. P.P. Aghabollogue, Coachford Mylotte, Rev. David, C.C.Kiltulla Murphy, James, Esq. 8 Crane-lane Dublin Moriarty, Rev. Patrick, C.C Knockacoppuil, Killarney Mechanics' Institute, Dublin MuUally, W.F. P.P. Donahil, Cap- pawhite MuUally, M. Esq. MuUinahone Moran, Mark Esq., 45 Edgbaston St., Birmingham Moran, Patrick, Esq., 25 Lower Abbey st., Dublin Maguire, Michael, Esq. Mackey, T. Esq., Clifden, Galway MacKcon, Rev., C.C, Waterford MacKesy, Mrs. Margaret Eliza, Rectory, Castletown, Kilpatrick, Navan, Meath Maley, A., Esq., Barrister, 7 Mer- rion square, south MacDonough, Very Rev. John MacDonough, Mw. Esq. Dublin. MacOwen, Esq., 23 Eustace st. M'Geough, Rev. James, V.G., P.P., Bailindery Monaghan, Rev. Thos.., Lanesboro* MacLotighlin, Chas. Esq., Castleftn MacHale. Very Rev Thomas, D.D. Irish College, Paris xiii Moran, Eev. J., P.P., Arran isl^pd M'Menamin, Hugh, Esq., Donegal Mac Henry, Patrick, Esq. Martin, Patrick, Esq., Eyrecourt Mullany, Rev. Thomas, V.G. P.P. Templemore MacCormick, Rev. William, C.C. Tubber Moath Mathews, M. J. J. Esq Portland pL MacManus, Thomas, Esq. surgeon, Etherington Place, Hull Morgan, Robert, Esq. Inspector of Police, Hall MacNaughten — , Esq. 1 1 Trinity House Lane, Hull Mac Manus, A. Esq. Chief Con- stable, Hull MacSweeny, Rev. D., P.P., Castle Lyons Murtagh, Rev. Walter, P.P. Castle Pollard Murray, Rev. T. C.C. Bantiy, Cork MacKernah, B. Esq. Capel st. MacSweeney, M., Esq. Dame st. MacCoghlan, James, SchooUst. MacWatters, Rev. Thomas, C.C. O'Mey and Ballindoon Magee, Rev. James, C.C. Knock Moran, Rev. John, C.C, Kilmain MacHale, Rev. Martin,C.C. Kilgian MacDonogh, Kev. Thos. Ballinakill MacGuinness, Rev. Joseph, C.C, Arran island Moore, Patrick CA. Mogrey MacLoughlin, C.A. Athenry MacHugh, Rev. John, P.P., Kil- mainmore MacCullogh, Rev. Jn. P.P Kilvine MacGough, Rev. Jn. P.P Lackagh Mullany, Mr^ Thadeu8,Hill, Sutton Coalfield, Warwickshire Murtagh, M. Esq., 44 Stafford st. Bermingham Mac Sweeney, J. Esq., Sheffield. N. Noone, Very Rev. Dominick, P.P. Sligo Newman, Very Rev. John, D.D., Rector, Catholic Univ., Dublin Noble, John, Esq. Capel st. Noone, Rev. John J. P.P. Menlagh Ballinasloe Neale, William Johnston, Esq. Barrister-at-law, London Nunan, William, Esq. Dublin O The Chevalier Daniel O'Connell, O'Connor-Kerry, Commandant de Mantua, Anstria O'Dwyer,? Rev. Thos.^ C.C^Bray O'Connor, Maurice, Esq., '^Sub- Sheriff, County Kerry O'Connor, Daniel, Esq. 3, North King-st. O'Grady, Francis, Esq. Swinford, Kilkelly O'Connor, Peter, Esq. Wine Mer- chant, Capel-street O'Sheridan, James, Esq. Iron and Bell Foundry, Chnrch-st. Dublin O'ConnOT, Rev.JWichaelS., P.P., Clare Castle, Ennis O'Grady, Rev. John, P.P., Abbey Knockmoy, Tuam O'Roarke. Bev. Jas., CC, Dun. more, Tuam O'Connor, Maurice Mac Namara, Esq. Hermitage, Listowel O'Loughnin, Rev. Henry, P.P., Ballymony O'Connell, John, Esq. D.L.,J.P., Four Courts, Dublin O'Hagan, Thos,, Q.C, Assistant Barrister, County Dublin O'Brien, Very Rev. R., D.D., All- Hallows College O'Connell, Very Rev, John, P.P., Ardfert . O'Brennan, Rev. Henry, P.P., Dysart, Ballyforan O'Carroll, Thomas, £s<;l> Skerries, County Dublin O'Connor-Kerry.Rev.C J., Sandy- ford, C.C, County Dublin O'Dowd, Bev. Thos., CC, Bally- haunis O'Duffy, M. 145, Great Howard street, Liverpool OiBrennan, Philip, VeryBev.Canon, P.P., AughamuUen, Baliybay. O'Brennan, Malachi, Very Rev. Canon, P.P O'Farrell, P. J., Rev. P.P. O'SoUivan, Garrett, Bev. P.P, Bosnaree, Parteen O'Byme, Patrick, Esq. Tablet Office, Abbey-street ♦ XIV O Connor, Danl., Esq. Nrh. King st. O Gorman, John, Ber. C.C., Li*. more, Waterford O'Loughlin, John, Very Eer. P.P.,. Tubber House, Moate O'Brien, Patrick, -Etq. M.P., Mer- rioQ-square O'Duffy, Patrick, Esq. N Shields O'Flynn, Jrfin, Esq. 70, Gt. Bruns- wick-street O'Reilly, James, Esq. Dublin O'Clery, James, Esq. Dublin O'Mahony, C R. Esq. High street O'Conoell, D. Bev. C.C, Midleton, Cork O'Connor, P.J. Very Rev. V.G., P.P., Foxford O'Reilly, Thomas, Esq. Fairfield House, Sandymount O'Beírne^ Timothy, Rot. C.C. Cas- tlerea O'Brtanan, John, Esq. Artist, 6, StepheU'Street, Sligo O'Brien, John, Very Rev. V.G., P.P., Warenikrint O'Gara, Patrick, Very Rer. P.P., Drumcliff, Sligo O'DriscoU, John, Esq. Anglesea st O'Hogan, J. Esq. Dublin O'Sallivan, A. M. Esq. Nation Dublin O'Connell, Andrew, Very Rer. D.D. V.F. Irishtown and Donny- brook O'Connor, Stephen, Rev. CO., Bal- lymoe O'Farrell, Very R«y. U. A. 0'SulliTan,L.J.ReT.SoathCarolina, United States O'Eane, M. Very Rer. V.G., P.P., Omagh, Tyrone O'Daly, H. Very Rct. P.P., Barnadearg, Co. Wicklow O'Brennan, Ann, Miss, 7, West- moreland Terraoe, Banelagh O'Horan, Eugene, Esq .liffey St. O'Horan. P. Rev. P.P., Armagh, Ballyhaunis O'Reilly, Very Rer. Mr. P.P. Carrick-redmond, Taahenny O'Moran, Patrick, Esq. 25 Lower Abbey street O'Quinn, Mathew, Esq. New Boss O'Donel, ATichael, Esq. Lot Char- leville O'Doneli, Michael, Rer. Leeds O'Mahony, James, Be7. C.C, i Crossboyne O'Doneli, Rev.M. C.C. Waterford O'Mara, Lorenza J. Rev. Ashton under Linn O'Brennan, John Mac Owen, Esq. Ontario Terrace, Portobdlo 0'Farrell,Mark,Rev. PP.Kilbeggan O'Brien, Brien Stephen, Esq. O'Brien, William Smith, Esq. O'Brennan, William. Esq. Surgeon, Coleraine-street O'Brennan, Jno., Rer. C.C, Sligo O'Brennan, Henry, Rey., P. P., Dysart, Ballyforan O'Roarke, Rer. Mr., C.C.Lacken O'Flaherty, Anthony. Esq., D.L. J. P., Gal way O'Dwyer, Rev. A. P.P. KiUeen, Galway O'Malley, Rev. E. P.P. Moyrus O'Malley, Rev. E. P.P. Ronustown O'Rourke, Rev. Jas. C C Dunmore O'Malley, Rev. Thos. C.C Miltown O'Malley, Rev. P. C.C Islanleady O'Donnell, Rev. M. C.C Kilcolman O'Grady, P. Esq., 66 up. Dominick St. Dublin O'Sullivan, D. Rev., C.C Listowel O'Grady, Patrick, 66, Upper Do- minica street O'Neill, Charles H. Esq. Barrister, 34, Blessington street O'DtijJaiin, Esq. Bookseller and Irish Publisher, 9, Anglesea-st O'Malley, Rev. James, C.C, Cross Boyne O'Brennan John, Esq., Lawrence- town, Banbridge O'Brennan C Esq., General Sur- vey Office O'Connor, James, Esq., Ballin- lough, Castlerea O'Brien, very Rev. Patrick, J. President St. Jarlath's CoU^;e, Toam XV O'Callajg^han, Very Rev. Charles, P.P. Ballymacelligott O'Keaa, Very Rev. Francii, P., P.L». V.F. CaBtlerea O'Connor, Patrick, J. Rev. P.P. Foxfprd O'Connor, Peter, Esq. J. P. SÍigo O'Brennan, Lewi», £sq. U.S., America O'Mullane, Rer. Daniel, C.C. Ag- hada, Whitegate, Middleton O'Dwyer, Michael, Esq. Dandrum O'Coffey, Mathew, Esq. South Circular-road, Dublin O'JEhlioran, James, Rev. P.P. Knockauia, Beaufort O'Conadl, ,BeT. Timothy C.C. Yougball >0'Gorauui, Rev. Maurice, C.C. Dung^rvan O'Reilly, Peter, Rev P.P. Meath. O'Doherty, Daniel,R.P.P. Cappagh Omagh O'Connor, Very Rev. Thomas, D.D. P.P. liOU^ghrnn O'Connell, Rev. £. C-C Halson-st. Dublin O'Connell, Rev. M. C.CXistoweU O'Neil, Neal, J.S. Esq. Crown Solicitor, Antrim O^Beirne, J. Esq. Castlerea CFlynn, Rev. John JL O.S.P,C- Dublin O'Connor, Roderick, Esq. J. P. Barrister, Milton, Tulsk O'Connor, Patrick, Esq. J.P. Ros- common O'Fay, Very Rev. Joseph, D.D. P.P. C.H.R.E. CraugUweU O'Reilly, Rev. John, Principai of Kilmore Academy, Cavui P. Power, Sir James, Esq. D.L.J.P. Harcourt st. Plunkett, James, Esq. T.C. 98, James's st. Dublin Power, Rev. Nicholas, President of Navan Seminary Pye, Rev. George, P.P. denary and Eilead Prendergast, Rev. Richard, P.P. Newport, Mayo Plunkett, Luke, Esq. Secretary, Tenant League, Beresford Plaúe, Dublin Power, Rev. Manrice, P.P. KiL- leagh, Co. Cork Power. Midia^ Esq* T,C. New Ross Power, O'NeiU, Nichcdas, Esq. Snowbill, Ferrybank, Waterfbrd. Q. Quinn, Rev. Andw. P.P. Eolfenora Quaide, Rev. P. P.P. O'CaÍlaghan's Mills Quaide, P.P. Bromcallagher, Co. Limerick Quirke, William, Rev. C.C An- nacarthy Tipperary W-port. B. Rickard, Rev. John, P.P. Old Ross and Ballyane Reynolds, V^y Rev. Peter, V.F. P.P. Olaremorris Reynolds, Thomas, Esq. HarsbaU of Dublin* Roche, ;Veiy Rev. F.J, D.D. P.P. Oranmore Rooney, Very Rev. C titles their version to a fair share of attention. Wishing you again that encouragement which your devotion to the literature and religion of Ireland so well deserves, ** I remain, your faithful Servant. "Martin A. O'Brennan, Esq., f JOHN, TUAM. ♦'57 Bcáton-street" The Most Rev. Doctob Feknt, Lord JBúhop of KUlala. " Riversdale, Ballina, March, 1855. Dear Sir. — The perusal of your letter gave me much pleasure, as it brought to my recollection the talents you displayed, when I had the plea- sure of giving you lectures on Logic, in Saint Jarlaúi's College» Yoo were then a bona tpei aáoletcens, and I have no doubt that the literary ac- quirements which your then blooming talents showed you capable of accu- mulating, must have fitted you to accomplish satisfactorily the work which, you have undertaken. I have great pleasure in subscribing to your work» and of assuring you of the interest which I feel in its success.^Believe me, dear Sir, yours faithfully. " Martin A. O'Brennan, Esq., L.L.D." f THOMAS FEENY The Most Rev. Doctor O'Connor, Lord Bishop of Salilcs, " I take two copies from a sincere wish to encourage the work." VS" Several valuable letters were lost by the robbery lately committed on Mr. O'Brennan's houae, and, as th^y were from the pen of Irish scholars, would be pub' limbed as well as those that are, were it not for the accident. ^•^- .•^f^' ítf'r^ 10 From the Most llev. Milesius Mubphv, Lord Bishop of Ferns. " I have received your very valuable work, ' Antient Ireland,' from the perusal uf which, I hope to derive much information and pleasure.*' From the Most Rev. I. P. Lkaht, D.D., Coadjutor Bithop, Netory. " I am sure I shall find your work very interestiug. " From M«Most Rev. Doctor M'Nallt, Lord Bishop of Clogher. " You will now oblige me by having my name entered among the subscri- bers for two copies, the amount of which I hope to hand you personally in a day or two. Sincerely wishing that your literary labors may receive the encouragement to which they are entitled, I have the honour to be, dear Sir, your faithful servant. " Martin A, O'Brennan, Esq." From the Most Rev. Doctor O'Brien, Lord Bishop of Waterford. " Dbah Sir, — After a very long delay I at length send you a Post Office Order for a copy of ' Tuireadh na h>Eireann, with a request that you will continue your very useful labours in developing the very valuable resources of our ancient Irish literature. " Believe me, dear Sir, very sincerely yours." Ill Dorset-street. '* Dear Mr. O'Brknnan, — your work has kindled up within me feeling» of admiration for the faith and virtues and learningof our beloved countrymen. Your research and diligence have both edified and surprised me. In its pages you have confirmed your high reputation as an eminent Irish scholar, your character for classical acquirements having been long since established. The work does honour to you as a genuine, disinterested, and patriotic Irishman ; I have always known you to be, not merely a professing, but a practical Catholic. As a parishioner I am proud of you. With heartiest wishes, and prayers for your every welfare, — Believe me, my dear friend, most faithfully your's, John Hamilton. R.C. Archdeacon of Dublin, and P.P. of Saint Miehan's." Very Rev. John Spratt, D. D , Carmelite Convent, Dublin, 1855. "My dear Mr. O'Brennan, — I will be thankful to you to take my name as a subscriber for eight copies of your forthcoming work. It has afforded me the greatest possible satisfaction to learn, that very many of our Irish Prelates and Priests, who have been for years intimately ac- quainted with your excellent charatcer, literary acquirements, andsplendid talents> have united in commendation of it. I am, indeed, moreover delighted to hear, that almost all our hierarchy have sent their names as subscribers. This is an assurance that the work vtrill be worthy of its ac- complished author, highly calculated to subserve the interests of Catholi- city, as well as to create a taste for Irish literature. •• Believe me, dear Mr. O'Brennan, yours sincerely." Very Rev. Archdeacon Martin Brownk, V.G., P.P., Balla, Mayo. " Your work cannot fail of being interesting to the literary world.'' From Rrv. James M'Gough, P.P., Ballinderry. " You have done honour to the ancient literature of Ireland, in finding and developing genuine truth, the great antiquity of Ireland's history ; 11 atid in entering upon the task, you were evidently inspired with nothing but the desire of truth, the love of country, and her ancient glory. For tiie sake of truth, it would appear providential, that at the end of so many ages, one was found after so much derastation, and burning, and destroying of libraries and works of Ireland, by the Danes and Saxons, to raise the veil of obscurity off Ancient Ireland, and present her before us in her pristine glory, opening to us the books of the land of Eire, of great antiquity, be- ing an illustration of Christian Ireland, of her great renown, her joys, and her sorrows. In looking for the birth place of Saint Patrick, you do not confine yourself to a few authors, or even to those of one country, but you take up the records of antiquity, even of Europe, and weigh words and even commas in the balance, and at length you find for us the birth place of our glorious Apostle. Your work, being a genuine pro- daction of the genius of Erin, is particularly adapted for the exaltation and enlightenment of the minds of our countrymen ; to inspire them with love of fatherland, and, with zeal, to imitate the virtue of their fore-fathers." From Rev. Michakl Ahern, Waterford. " Lofty, indeed, as my hopes were in your reg|||ni, I found, when pos- sessed of your book, how far short of the full measure of eulogy due to yourself, they had been. Your work, being recommended and approved of by a personage pre-eminent as an Irish scholar — in the perfection of which he is a lion, as well as in his countless other acquirements — places your character, and that of your book, on a pinnacle of established fame, far above the reach or sneers of those who may be disposed to envy y ou — I mean, by the great personage, no other than the gifted Irishman, the un- tarnished patriot, the Christian prelate, his Grace of endless fame, John, Archbishop of Tuam. Your paraphrase on the bishop and bard of Kerry, is the exponent of a difficulty hitherto felt, yet never surmounted, until you came to its rescue ; supplied with materials of a world-spread con- struction, added to the skill of an enamoured vindication of our wrongs : towers and castles, built up of historical falsehoods and satanic lies, tremble before your pen, and yield tlieir massive weight upon the guilty beads of many a creedless slanderer of our hereditary fame and national glory. Well have you gleaned and removed the gold from the dust, the pure grain from the foul chaff, into the granary of your beloved parent»' like a dutiful child, in order to perpetuate in hearts yet unborn the love of your own for her, her religion, and. above all, her great Apostle, whose true panegyrist _you have happily assumed to be, and in that duty you have excelled. I should not marvel if the Irish journals teemed each day with the praise and recommendation of your rare and learned work, thu8«vinc- ing their love of country and creed, and their ardent desire of requiting you for services so vast, as your book is calculated to confer on the litera- ture and religion of Ireland." Lord Dunraven, Adare Manor. " You brought out, in a very attractive way, the Ancient History and Con- dition of Ireland." Dublin Evening Post. " Mr. O'Brennan has performed his task zealouiily and industriously, and ^^■j|pfij^)i||ipji^ ^Mi II i^^y^rTTffTgp* "'^ • '■ ■ .'-."^^""^♦T^-íT'.V^ .'-r^Tr 7 ^.'■^'t ~7'r'^77Tv?'v7f7!7'- fir^T^yriiiTESiifTTir '•■ V . '^." *" "í '^■V7--r^-'f*íTí 12 having determined that no effort of his should be wanting that might cuntribute to promote national objects, which concern every true Irish- man, he undertook, and has creditably accomplished, a task of no trifling magaitude, and one which it required the utmost patriotic enthusiasm to enable him to perform. He has studied largely, and read diligently for materials to make proper use of the grouadwork which he selected for his. purpose ; and the result is, that the poem appears in his work, illustrated and elucidated by a body of notes, which eamaot fail of proving highly valuable to the student of Irish history. This book satisfies us that thie author has executed a work of much utility and interest, and (me which will identify him with those zealous laborers in the field of Irish litera- ture." Freeman'» Journal, " These ai*e the fascinating studies through which Mr. O'Brennan has had to lead his readers in the work before us. We believe Mr. O'Brennan to be a thorough master of his sulgect. He combines the advantage of having known Irish well from his childhood, with the other important advantage which he derives from professional ex- perience — namely, thai'm being deeply skilled in grammar and philology." iVatibn. "We had specimens of the lucid and erudite manner in which Mr. O'Brennan has executed his task. It is a most desirable contribution, to Celtic literature. We trust it will receive such prompt and adequate en- couragement as may enable its patriotic author to pursue studies »» coa- geaial to him." Dublin Evening Packet. " That any man should be able to compress into a moderately sized volume of a couple of hundred pages, a treatise on so wide a range of topics, is a marvel. We are not surprised, when the author tells \ia, that this — magnum oput— cost him much labor, extending over no limited period. Mr. O'Brennan's object is good ; he is enthusiastically fond of the Celtic tongue, as is every man who is tolerably familiar with its beautiful idioms, and figurative expressiveness. The poem which he translates, from its beauty of language, and peculiarly interesting character, will inspire the pupil with that desire to proceed and know more ; which is the best incen- tive to the student of a language. And his notes evidence research and philological acquaintance with the Celtic tongue, which proves him aa ex- cellent Irish scholar. His capacities are indeed attested by several distin- guished Celtic literateurs. We again repeat, that Mr. O'Bfennan] deserves credit for his work. ne Tablet. " It is thoroughly and intensely Irish, in tone, purpose, and expreasioA ; Irish in every line from the semi-seditious nKHto on its title page to its concluding prayer in the ' finis.' In these degenerate days of ' West Bri- tonism,' it is eqiially rare as refreshing to meet with a work as indigenous of Irish soil as our native shamrock. Yet, the author, unmiatakeably Celtic and Catholic, as he is, with the most unconquerable hatred of Eng- lish mis-government, past and present, has the good fortune to obtain the most unanimous approbation of the Irish press of all shades of politics; 13 the Packet and the Post, rivalling the Freeman and the Nation in praiae of so welcome an addition to Irish literature. The book, indeed, treats of everything that can be songht for connected with the various subjects it embraces, manifesting great learning and research on the part of the author, and conveying much information on obscare and disputed points of Irish history, interspersed with amusing biographical anecdotes and curious etymologies, which will be found not only instructive to the general reader» but highly useful to the Irish student. In collecting and digesting into such readable form so much that cannot fail to be interesting to the Irish mind, relating to Irish topography, family history, and antiquarian sub- jects generally, as well as in the excellent translation of Bishop O'Connell's poem, and of S.S. Hech's and Seachnall's hymns, the author has proved himself to be a laborious and successful toiler in the rich and unexplored mine of Irish history, and to use his own words applied to Saint Hech, a ' vigorous Irish scholar, after the Attic Style.' The work, on a first hasty perusal, seems to us to be as valuable an addition to the literary archaeology of our country, as the present century has produced, if we except O'Don- ovan's translation of the Annals of the Four Masters. The book can stand upon its own merits. The most hostile critic cannot deny that Mr. O' Brennan has laboured zealously and diligently, and has succeeded in producing a work, both useful and interesting, which will honourably identify its author with the other generous and patriotic labourers, in the same rich but imperfectly cultivated field. The work will unquestionably add to Mr. O'Brennan's fame as a philologist" The Dublin Review. " An interesting Irish poem, written by John 0'Connell,a member of the family of the Liberator, and a Catholic Bishop of Kerry, in the begin- ning of the eighteenth century, has furnished to the author of ' Ancient Ireland,' an occasion for putting together, in the form of notes, illustra- tions, and appendices, a vast variety of curious and valuable learning, in every branch of Irish antiquities and Irish literature. His work is indeed a repository of Irish learning, (which he) places within the reach even of the most hasty inquirer. Mr. O'Brennan'^s work may serve as, in some sense, an Irish Antiquarian manual." - From the Weekly Register and Catholio Standard, London, " The substance of the book is a poem, the ' Dirge of Ireland,' written by the Right Rev. Dr. O'Connell, Bishop of Kerry, in the reign of Queen Anne ; with an English translation and notes. « • • The ' notes' are full of historical notices of Irish matters, and especially of the histories of Irish families. We said that Mr. O'Brennan was an enthusiast. That he is so, nationally and politically, he certainly is not desirous to conceal. We are certainly wiser than we were. Time was wl^en such matters would have been serioasly treated as treason by the English, and, it must be said, by any other government. Whether any I other would tolerate it now, we cannot say. But observe what a thing is the unity of the Faith. Among us, cold Saxons, it would b« hard to find so great an enthusiast as Mr. O'Brennan ; but it is absolutely certain, that if the man were found at all, and if he cared anything about rdigion, be would run into some strange heresy ; would probably found a new sect, ■■•..-;< •.«JJUfttW* 14 and at the very least join some old one. To attempt to retain such a man within the bounds of the establishment, would be like binding a young lion with a cobweb. But rel^ious matters are .evidently of the chief moment in Mr. O'Brennan's jndigement ; he is not only a Catholic, but ready to snbmit in every point, great and small, to the church and her rulers ; and his love of Ireland, and his desires for her political indepen* dence, are not more zealous than his devotions to her Saints." The Lamp, London. "The learned and patriotic author of this volume is well known to the readers of the Lamp, whose columns have frequently been adorned with re- ports of his eloquent lectures, ^nd extracts from thelnteresting work before VLB. Dr. O'Brennan has given au houonruble example to those Irishmen who spend all their energy on the literary treasures of other lands, and neglect to work that native mine which contains such sterling ore. There is in these pages a vast fund of historical information, and a bold and manly assertion of the rights of Ireland. The eloquent metrical translation of the Dirge, by the Rev. Charles J. O'Connor, constitutes one of the grand cha- racteristics of this valuable work, and a large quantity of other most inte- resting matter. We are glad to see that this book has been a good deal quoted in lectures in Ireland, in England, and Scotland. The author has made Ireland his debtor, by proving the truth of her claim to aucient literary renown ; and his book ought to be a most welcome addition to the library of the scholar of any country." Northern Times, Glasgow. '• The elaborate work with which the learned Principal of the Bolton- street Collegiate Seminary, Dublin, has just favoured his countrymen uad the literary world at large, will do more to elucidate the history, manners, customs, and laws of Ireland, than many more pretentious books. It contains first, 'The Dirge of Ireland,' a poem of much cele- brity, written in the reign of Queen Anne, in the old Irish language, by one of Ireland's venerated prelates, O'Counell, Bishop of Kerry, and great grand-uncle, we believe, of the illustrious Agitator, Daniel O'Connell. This poem is a sweet, though brief metrical history of Ireland from the earliest days to those of the poet. Her sufferings in the sacred cause of Catholicity are recorded in a style that woidd do honour to the best elegiac muse of modern times. Secondly, 'St. Patrick's Life,' and illustrative of it, an ancient Irish hymn, the work of St. Fiech, one of the pious sons and venerable bards of Ireland, and one of St. Patrick's earliest converts, him- self afterwards bishop of Sletty, and a great converter of Pagans to Christi- anity. Thirdly, a Latin hymn, by St. Seachnall, with an English translation, and copious notes The whole is concluded by a metrical version of the 'Dirge,' by the Rev. C. J. O'Connor, Kerry. Some interesting extracts, translated from Villaneuva's ' Confessions of St. Patrick,' will be found in the body of the work, and cannot fail to entertain the reader. To these valuable relics of ancient Isish literature our author has appended notes, illustrative of the genius and structure of the Irish language, to which too much praise cannot be awarded. He has introduced into his book more information on the antiquities, the religion, the history of his country, and the genealogies of the ancient families of Ireland, than can be found in 15 8ome well-stored libraries. His notes, illustrative of the so-called Refof' matioD, are peculiarly valuable, and will have the effect of binding with indissoluble ties the children of St. Patrick to the faith of their great Apostle. We beg to recommend the work under review to our numerous readers. If they be Irish it will engage them to love their country more affection- ately than before, and if they be not Irish, it will teach them to respect Ireland for the virtues of her ancient, and the undeserved sufferings of her modern children." Tht Ulgterman, Belfatt. "But the great charm of the book is the amount of philological and historical matters, relating to Ireland and its ancient language, with which it abounds. H«re Doctor O'Brennan exhibits close intimacy with the philosophy of the language and knowledge of the history of our country. In this regard, the book will be found most useful and interesting to students of Irish, and to all such we cordially cnmmend it." Mayo Telegraph. '•The more thoroughly we have perused this repository of facts — of vast importance to the ecclesiastic, and all historians — the greater is our conviction that the learned author has (to use the language of the Dublin Evening Poit, in its splendid review of it) ' produced a work of no trifling magnitude.' ' The body of notes are highly valuable to the student of Irish history. He has executed a work of much utility and interest, and one which will identify him with those zealous laborers, in the field of Irish literature.' ' He has read largely and studied diligently for materials to illustrate and elucidate his book.' The Dublin Evening Packet — a journal quite ^ opposed to Dr. O'Brennan, as well in religion as in politics — hag prononnced more warmly in favour of ' Ancient Ireland and Saint Patrick.' It has declared that ' the work is an important addition to native literature ;' that, ' the accomplished author did a great service to the land of his birth ; and. that he was a most excellent scholar.' Hence we affirm that it is a grand book of reference ; for there is scarcely an author bearing on our history, both in church, civil policy, chronology, geography, and biology, that is not referred to in it. We trust we will see it as a class-book in every college and school in this country." Cork Examiner. "Dr. O'Brennan has, in the volume before us, laid down his first con- tribution towards removing the obstacles which imped 3 the student's labours. In so doing he has made a selection of a work whose sentiments and opinions, historical and political, were in most exact accordance with his own, and which appeared to him calculated to promote those views, and sustain those recollections which he holds and cherishes. As in this, as in all other subjects where he gives expression to the strong nationality of his feelings and sentiments, O'Brennan writes with a vigorous and racy pen ; he burns with indignation as the accumulated wrongs of his country arise upon his memory. " » " • * * * • " • * He is not a man to set a rein upon his emotions, where his sense of injury and injustice requires him to speak. He is no slave to hug liis chains, ' or pine beneath them slowly.' His patriotism is too warm ; it is gushing to overflowing ; and it ■ / '^"^f 16 can only find vent in the scathing and nncompromising dennnciation of the oppressor of faith and race. He feeh passionately as he muses over the long faded glory of the past, or thinks upon the snieidal dissenrions «ad errors which have produced his country's slrame and degradation. AH his yearnings are for the restoration of her independence, and the Mnainetioa of the hated Saxon rule. In the language of the motto on his title page, he trusts thai his Banba will yet be free, and the Saaoa domination defunct. But from his inmost soul he hopes at least for the revival of the * old| sovt- stirring, heart-moving tongue, and the restoration of nationality in all its integrity.'" Roseommon Journal. ' " The compilation of this book shews great research, amf an aaKMUit of varied knowledge rarely to be met with. Hereafter we shall avail onrselves of every opportunity our space may afford in making extracts, partieulatrly subjects relating to this province." Kerry Bsaminer. " The work abounds with information respeetibg Ireland and its onee great^Hiame and men, th&t must prove deeply interesting to Irishmen. A very clever metric version of the poem, ida English, by the Rev. Charles I. O'Connor-Kerry, C.C., a name familiar to the ears of Kerrymea, is ap- pended i the original was composed by the ' Right Rev. Bishop O'Connell,'^ a jwelate who presided over the Catholic Church in Kerry, in the early part of the bst century. Its literary intrinsic merit requires no eiik^ from our pen." Wescford Onardiau, '^Tothe Irish student this must prove pcurticularly interesting, as, we beHeve, it was never published before.'' Newry Eaominer. "Mr. O'Brennan's notes are copious, and contain a great variety of information on Irish history, ancient and modern. We cheerfully give to Mr. O'Brennan the praise of having done a good work." Tralee Chronicle. *' Mr. O'Brennan may rest on that fame which the leading journals of Dublin have accorded him.'' The Mayo Telegraph. " Mayo may be proud of her talented son. We trust that every lover of the o)d land, the old tongue, and the old faith, will deem it his duty to Fpread this most invaluable book, vrlnoh is sodi an addition to Irish liter- ature ; it will spread the flame of nationality : take it in any point of view, frjid its value cannot be duly appreciated. Galway Mercury. - « This work of Mr. O^Brennan's may be regarded as a bright and rich pearl added to that bead of Irish literature.'* Tvam Herald. " This deeply interesting work, in the compilation of which no much research is shown to he evai^oyed, and in which such an amoont of vuried knowledge is displayed." The Detroit (Miehiffan) Catholic Vindicator. " We are pruud the task of publishing has fallen unto such able hands 17 as tboM of Martin A. CBrenaan, principal of the Collegiate Seminary, 57 Bolton-Btreet, Dublin, than whom a purer Irishman and patriot does not breathe ; and is a gentleman every way qualified for such an under- taking. It is, indeed, deeply to be deplored that the rich, melodious, and expressive language of old Ireland should have been, comparatively speak- ing, suffered to decline." N.B. It is only fair to say, that as the American Press did not receive copies, they covdd only re-publish the Irish reviews, and that they did with an evident hearty wish. Tipperary Free Press. " Mr. O'Brennan has admirably fulfilled the arduus duty he allotted to himsrif to perform, and his creditably got out work will doubtless prove a valuable addition to the few correct publications, to which the Irish student may refer for a true picture of his country in the olden times. Mr. O' Brennan has brought to the task considerable ability, and an amount of Celtic erudition, rarely indeed to be met with in those degenerate days." The Roscommon Messenger. The following is from a distinguished divine, remarkable for literary acumen and theological depth. " Such a reviewer's approval is worth that of hundreds of laymen. He knew the value of the book, and his appreci- ation of it is unmistakeable." (Rev. Mr. Ahern is meant.) Waterford News. " This (meaning a letter in praise of the book) is but one of the many letters which have been published in favour of this great national work, a copy of which we received on last week from the author. In our next we shall extract from the work itself. The Munsier News. " Mr. O'Brennan needs fed little annoyance from the quarter alluded to ( The Orange Kerry Post) either of his work or his own qualities as « man and a scholar, * * * an acrimonious assault could be made from one quarter in Kerry alone, upon- a learned contributor to the national work of love and of lore." Galway Vindicator. "Amongst these self- devoted and disinterested labourers, Mr. M. A. O'Brennan occupies a distinguished pkice. The basis of the present ex- cellent work is the ' Dirge of Ireland,' which is in feet a metrical history of Ireland, composed by the Most Rev. John O'Connell, Bishop of Kerry, 150 years ago. The original is accompanied by an accurate English trans- lation, and to young aspirants, endeavouring to master Ae ^faculties and enjoy the beauties of Celtic poetry, such a collection must prove an in- valuable aid. And to those who are attached to philological or antiquarian research, the notes furnish a body of information of the most interesting and recondite character, for the spirit of innumerable rare tomes and almost inaccessible MSS. is extracted and condensed in the alembic of the able commentator." From Alderman John Greene, J.P. "Independent Office, Weaford. " 1 have seen enough of your interesting and valuable work to convince me that it is the production of a scholar, a sound thinker, and a man who •jjw" »-vr;»íí'«»-' 18 loves his country, not by halves, but with ardour and feeling. I shall feel it a duty to recommend it by all the means at my command, to the earnest attention of my friends." i • .-. Georob H. Moobe, Esq., M. P. ' " I have been both pleased and instructed in following you through the poem you have translated, and the valuable and entertaining informa- tion with which you illustrate and adorn it. If, however, 1 am but an incompetent critic of your merit as an Irish scholar, I hope I am not altogether so unfit to speak of you as an Irishman, and, I can sincerely say, that in the course of a public life, in which 1 have not been altogether unobservant of men and character, I have met with no better or tNier Irishman than yourself. I am glad, therefore, to see such an Irishman, engaged in the illustration of that language in which alone I am led to believe, a true Irish heart finds room for its expression. I have great plea- sure in enclosing my subscription to your work, and am, with great esteem and respect, yours very sincerely." From John Brady, Esq., M.P., London. " I read, with much pleasure and profit, your very able and truly national work.'" From Very Rev. Doctor Birmingham, P.P., Borrisokane. " I am in receipt of your excellent and very valuable work»" Very Rev. Dr. Hallkt, V.G., P.P., Dungarvan. " I have derived more information from it on our unhappy country than from many more extensive and expensive folios.'' Extract from the letter of a most distinguished Clergyman, whose retiring disposition does not permit me to give his name ; he is, himse{f, a good Irish scholar {now an Archbishop). " Perceiving it with the eye of a mere book-buyer, your book is worth ten shillings. Looking to its matter and literary merits, I should be sorry indeed to think of estimating its value in money. I would readily have paid a pound for it, and would have taken five copies at any price.'' From Rbv. John Tuomy, P.P., Drumtariffe, Kerry. "Your work on Ireland is most valuable.'' From Very Rev John Kenny, V.G., P.P., Ennis. " Your very valuable publication, whiqh I have received just now, should your success induce you to favour the public with another production, you may include me amongst the subscribers." From Rev. John O'Connell, P.P., Ardfert, Kerry. " A highly interesting volume, and a valuable accession to our ancient literature.'' From Rev. James Browne, P.P., Curran Hill. Ballyglass, Mayo " My dear Mr. O'Brennan, — Your production does credit to your Irish heart. Allow me the honor of uniting in the general admiration expressed by all your clerical friends in this country, of such a display of abilities and patriotism by a Mayo-man, whom we all cherish and respect." From Very Rev. Canon Malachi O'Brennan, P.P. " I am delighted with your very valuable book on Ireland. You have I revealed many important facts that lay concealed under the dust of ages." 19 Prom Rev. D. O'Doheírt*, P.P., Cappagh, Omagh, ** I received the book, with which I was greatly pleased.'* Prom Rev. G. O'Gormak, C.C, Dut^arvan. " The merits of a work which has already received the unequivocal ap- probation of so many persons, illustrious by their position and high literary attainments — your well known knowledge of the Celtic literature, your zeal for its propagation, your truly Catholic and thoroughly Irish heart, are guarantee that its new dress would be worthy the beauty and fame of the great * Dirge' of the patriot Bishop." P. Conway, Esq., London. " My dear Mr. O'Brennan, — I am unable to express my delight at the invaluable work from your learned pen. It is near time you would make those who are ignorant of your power of thought, understand yon ; — trea- sures of any kind, if not spread, are useless. I often wondered that you, whom I knew to be possessed of vast capacity, did not come forward, whilst men of but little learning and less talents were giving lectures and books to the public- However, better late than never. Every nationalist ought to have your noble production. It will infuse fire into the hearts of your countrymen. It wiJl rouse them to a sense of their duty." N.B. — There are many suph as the above from Liverpool, London, and other places, but as there is not liberty to print them, I would not be right in doing so. Prom Rev. Michael Waldron, P.P., Cong. "My dear. Mr. O'Brennan, — We consider your book an excellent ' mul- turn inparvo;' historical reader, and one which must have been compiled with a great deal of trouble and search of libraries. The Irish type is excellent.'' From Very Rev. P. Curran, PP., Ballinamore " Your production gave me much pleasure, and delight that my esteemed class fellow is an author. I hope all your old friends will support you." From Rev. J. Goodman, O.P , Sligo. " It is a most valuable work. You are doing much for the history and venerable literature of our beloved country." Prom Rev. P. Harley, P.P., Old Town, Ba/linasloe. " Your excellent production reflects great credit on you indeed. Your countrymen may justly feel proud of you." From Rev. J. Flannellt, P.P., Anghagower, Mayo. " My dear Martin,— On the whole it is a most interesting addition to our native literature, and goes the full length to establish your character as a general scholar, a devoted patriot, and a sincere lover of the old betrayed f aithfulcountry.' From the Very Rev. Philip O'Brennan. P.P., Aughamullen. " I have received your excellent book. I am highly pleased with its contents and composition." PVom Rev. Wm. H organ, C.C, Jries, Castletown, Kerry. " Dear Sir, — I will yield to none in the expression of my appreciation of your work.'' N.B. — These being extracts from the letters of Celtic scholars are pub- ushed ; many such could be given but there is not liberty. -\-n»~'-ls;.. 20 From the Rev. M. Hampston, P.P. " Coutlelown, Berehaven. " VoUr notes are deeply interesting, full of learning. You have made Ireland your debtor. It is wonderful how you could compress so much and such valuable matter into so small a space." From Rev. Patrick Duggan, P.P., Tuam. "My dear Mr. O'Brennan, — Your digest of Irish antiquities, conteiaed in the annotations on the Dirge, are truly valuable." . . Fi-om Rev. Richard Walsb, P.P., Headjbrd. " You have by your 'Aacient Ireland' called the attention of the Irish people to the history and beautiful language of their country. The Arch- diocese of Tuam may be justly proud of you, and St. Jarlath's, of having given to the world so distinguished a scholar." Firom Rev. Ci(Ari.es O'Callaghan, P.P. "Bally Af'Elligott, Clogher, Co. Kerry, " My dear Sir, — I consider it very satisfactory, especially the Irish part, the spelling of which, and grammar annexed, with explanatory notes, are really valuable to the Irish reader. I earnestly pray you in your next edition to form the notes into a methodical grammar and affix it to the work, and you will find it of the greatest assistance to the reader, and a very valuable acquirement lo the language. * " • « " N.B. —I have an Irish prophecy. I wish you would bring it out, as I am sure you would do most justice to the orthography." /Vom Rev. Thomas Hasdiman, P P., Ballinrobe. " Allow me to congratulate yon most cordially on the successful issue of this interesting work, which, instead of being, as your modest prospectus stated, only a translation of a valuable poem, is in reality a history of Ire- land, eloquent and chaste in style, and of priceless value." From Rev. Daniel Mullane, P.P., Aghadoe, Whitegate, Cork. " I have received your learned and excellent work." F)rom Rev. John Grraohty, C.C, Outerard, Co. Galway. "The circulation of the ' work' will procure and obtain for you merited esteem." From Rev. Francis Kennt, P.P., MoycuJlen, Galtoay. " I am much pleased with your talented and brilliant work.*' From Rev. Laurence Leonard, P.P., Galway. " Permit me to congratulate you on the research and talent displayed in the pages of your book.'' Rev. John Lennon, P.P. , / •* Your learned book deserves the greatest praise." Rev. R. Meany, C.C, ClonmeL " I am delighted with your work, and read it day ° after day with in- creased interest.'' Rev. Martin Rush, P.P., Furety, ElpMn. " Your work is a mo^t valuable and interesting book." Rev. W. CaIiolan. P.P., Donegal. '* Ireland owes you a debt of gratitude. Every person who reads your work» must admit that your great object was the interest of your country and creed. Ten times the price you laid on each copy would not remune- rate you for your trouble and labour." 21 Rev. John O'Bkenan, Tubbercurry. " The oftener I peruse its pages, the more I feel at a loss for words sufficiently expressive of my admiration." Rev. Jamrs Sherioak, St. Mary'g, 12 St. Paul's Square, Liverpool. " What I have read of the work has given me the greatest satisfaction. Rev. P. Gkraohty, P.P., Becan, Mayo. " It will, I trust, stimulate our people to study and cultivate the beauti* ful and poetic language of our dear native country." Rev. Thomas BouRKE, P.P., Por^umna. " I feel you have done service by your judicious notes, which evince an intimate knowledge of the language and history of our country." Rev. CoNSTANTiNE CosGRATE, P.P., Keith, Baltymote, " You have concentrated, in your book, the most convincing argu- ments I have seen, in favour of our proudly claimed origin and antiquity." Very Rev. Timothy Kelly, P.P., Kiruah, Clare " Your excellent work, full of learning, evincing deep study and research." Rev. Roger O'Brf.nnan, P.P, Gurteen. " It affords me much pleasure that so useful and valuable a work is the production of an individual bearing the name of the author." Rev. Wm. F. Mullally, P.P., Donahil, Cappawhite. " A work I value highly and the honest Irishman that^produced it." Very Rev Archdeacon Robert O'Shea, P.P., Ossory. " I hoped to express personally my approbation of your very interest» ing history of * Ancient Ireland,' as well as its ancient faith." Rev. Matthew O'Brennan, P.P., Moncoin. " The work as a whole does you much credit." i^om Rev. Peter Ward, P.P., TTurfoiiyA, Ca«i/cft«r. " It is an epitome of the structure of the history of the old Celtic tongue and creed of Ireland ; and having an amount of authority and re- ference at once unprecedented,and hitherto novel to writers on Irish history." From Rev. G. O'Sullivan, P.P., Limerick. " I hope that every patriot will patronise your very valuable book. Ireland wanted a work of this kind — and wants more." From Rev. H. M'Fadden, Si. Johnston, Londonderry. It will be considered as a great boon by every one, animated with a single spark of nationality." Rev. Henry Brevnan, P.P., Dyaart. " It is impossible to read it without admiring the deep research and un- d}ÍDg love of country which its learned author so beautifully displays throughout its pages.' Dani«i, F. Brady, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.S.I., Nth. Frederick-tt., Dublin " It is a proof (if evidence was wanting,) to establish the worth and high literary attainments of the author." JVom Doctor Cane, Kilkenny. " I promise myself pleasure and improvement in the perusal of it." From Mavkice M. O'Cokmor Esq., lAttowel. " There is a fire in you that warmsme in my old age ; it shines bright and strong through the medium of your pen ; and it would do me good to increase the pulsation of my heart by grasping your Celtic hand, your elegant preface is a powerful defence of Ireland." [N.B. — An accident deprived me of a mass of valuable letters ] 2 . I r -lilili'ii'rtifT' -■É|-|rBh-^--'--'-^'-^'--'*^"-- -"-■'-■-*^'--t^'^ PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. Of what might be found necessary to be said on the beaatiful structure and genius of our venerable, melodious, pathetic and vigorous tongue, I have given in the shape of notes under " The Dirge of Ireland," and in the abridgment of Irish grammar at the end of the work, and, therefore with that subject I shall not here deal, but will come to THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. The history of every other people on the globe has been written, read, and studied, whilst Irish history has been neglected, and until very lately unknown, and I might add, left in darkness ; at least in these islands. It was indeed cultivatedf to some extent on the continent by the learned of France, Spain, Italy and Belgium, whither in days of dark persecution our clergy and manuscripts were driven into exile. But in Irish colleges, academies, and schools we see the histories of Pagan Greece and Rome sedulously attended to ; the great men of those peoples, brought under the consideration of pupils; the history of our tyrannical oppressors, forced upon their attention. Learn it tbey must whether they will it or not. To this, I, of course, should have no objection, as the study of history is the greatest moral pleasure — the great civilizer — the great refiner— the grand thesaurus of knowledge — the great uni\ ersal teacher. However, with shame and pain it must be confessed that the study of our own history and the culti- vation of native literature are wofuUy overlooked. Very few prizes we see offered as inducements to the acquisition of a thorough knowledge of the architecture of our graceful, rich, polished language, and our intensely interesting annals. The deeds of Greek and Latin heroes of old have their names emblazoned in the pages of story ;— -the feuds and petty quarrels of their insignificant states, are delineated as though they were great wars and immense nations ; tbtrir naval armaments, though not so weighty as the fishing fleet of the Galway Claddagh-men — perhaps not more numerous,— are presented to the reader in such highly coloured language, in such poetic ornamentation, that youth is apt to compare them with the Crimean fleet or Spanish Armada. Their philosophers, lawgivers, are, and — no doubt— justly, held up, as models for imitation. At the same time we seldom turn to OUamh Fodhia (OIlav Fyola) who, as king, legislator, and scholar, was never surpassed. A s you take a walk through the delight- ful works on Ireland, you will admire on niches on either side of you, as you move slowly on, men distinguished in every profession and pursuit — 23 kings, princes, bards, chroniclers, generals, admirals, judges, prelates, priests, orators, senators. In fact Irish history is a glorious hall of science, wherein are to be viewed men pre-eminent in all ages, in all times, and in every art and science. And if quarrels existed amongst the natives of our provinces, or feuds amongst families, such was the spirit of the ages in which they lived. It was so in Greece and Rome. It was so in all places. The talismanic influence of " moral force" was not then known, or, at all events, it did not prevail. The sword decided everything. It is the study of the history of the ancient nations that has given such celebrity to their great men, whereas the illustrious men of Ancient Ireland, such as CcHmac O'Quin, and hundreds of the noble Irians, are left in the shade, though brilliant characters for the study of youth. When at school and in college it was to me a cause of wonder, that we were not made to acquire such a knowledge of Irish history, as was attainable at that time. This reflection became every day stronger, when I felt, that in polite society, it was deemed a disgrace not to be acquainted with the mannerfi, deeds, and institutions of other countries, as contained in their histories, but of our own there was no thought. Opportunity touched the spring of thought in my soul, and let forth the waters of reflection to stimulate me to dig into the hidden mines — the buried wealth of former writers — and amply was my labor requited. Again we find the extreme parts of the world explored at great peril ; the frozen regions of the north, the sandy deserts of the south, the torrid climes of the east, the woody wilds, and the swampy fastnesses of the west, every and all of them diligently explored, and elaborately written upon. Yet this old land whose history is more interesting, more engaging, and more instructive than that «tf any of them, — a land, which was once the centre of light and learning, the tranquil abode of arts and sciences,— a land, which, when they were all in darkness, emitted to them, generously the warm, and, vivifying rays of her enlightenment, — has no perfect digest of her history. Her own children and Her neighbours whom she conducted out of darkness and paganism turned their backs upon her ; she is neglected and spurned ; she was fast sinking and must sink into obscurity unless her true sons stretch out their bands to relieve her. " Zion stretcheth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her." Lamentations I cap., 17 T^ Daring my collegiate studies I was daily more and more struck with this deplorable inattention to the literature and history of Ancient Ireland. I was astonished at the singular fatuity by which all her renown was being allowed to recede into utter oblivion, as all traces or recollection of it had heeh almost totally disappearing from amongst us->-Hence it was that home years ago, I formed the resolution of going to work, and laboring ^ábii 24 to compete with others, who are producing books, by which to dissipate the darknesss, and whorebywe might again arrive at a steady view of the halcyon days of TRULY ANCIENT IRELAND, so that the glory ©four illustri- ous ancestors might once more be revealed to their remote posterity of the present aud after ages, as well as to the other civiliied nations of the globe— and, that as the pressure of tyrauny has been partially removed, a dazzling glare of her story might burst forth with accumulated effulgence, and confound modern tyranny. The greater the preasure, that for a time beats back the current, the more irresistible is the rush of waters, when the embankment, having yielded to the wear and tear of time, has melt» ed away. It was so with Catholicity whose power of truth has forced its way through terrible impediments, so that we now behold it with recreated beauty, renovated splendour, and pristine, primitive lovelinesss. la its blaze the enemies are either blinded, or have been charmed with its perma> nency, its innate indestructibility, and have been coerced before its altar to wor- ship and adopt its saving principles. The scoi ners might laugh as the waves of their polluted errors beat harmlessly though violently against the base of her immutability, but the Rock has stood, stands.and will stand imperishable as the Godhead which gave it an unchanging, unchangeable position. The pro. pagators of falsehood may despise the expression " halcyon days of Holt Ancient Ireland," because, forsooth, there were national broils. But the study of human nature will teach them that the first Patriarch, the direct work of God's own hands, and the first mother, who was also formed immediately by the same A 11 -Holy Being, had their good son murdered by their first begotten. The Old Testament will supply many lamentable instances of nearly a similar character, yet the days of the Patriarchs are justly called *' halcyon" in consequence of their sanctified lives. Just so in this coimtry the very time that war ravaged the land, the Irish Church gave birth to, cradled and nurtured a rich crop of saints whose lives have beckoned us to follow, and to brave every danger for the old faith. That the religion of Saint Patrick could not fail I was convinced, but that the language might not fail, I was not equally certain. Hence to my resolution of assisting in its preservation I have ever adhered without relaxation ; neither shaken by want of sympathy, nor discouraged by seeming apathy, I have yearned from the inmost depths of my soul for the ' revival of our soul-stirring, heart-melting tongue, and the restoration of nationality in all its integrity. Religion and nature has implanted in every breast this sacred desire, which may he quelled or stifled, but can never be eradicated ; the savage loves the sounds in which he first lisped his parents name, he loves the tree under 25 which he first amused himself with bis playmates, he feels that the God of his worsliip gave him an itiborn right to govern his own household, as a merchant his own concerns. What is true of one, is so of a nation of even savages, who ought to be helped to improve their system, but not robbed. This being so, ever iince I came to Dublin, in 1836, I proposed to myself ^ to struggle for the resuscitation of the Irish language, and to impress, on all whom I could influence, to institute an inquiry into the ancient history of Ireland, but with respect to an attempt to write and publish works, I feared the responsibility and dangers, especially as I had no capital but the revenue of the patrimony, given me by my parents — the profits resulting from the labour of an educated mind. Though tliis source of wealth might have been suflicient to support myself and family, I thought I could not make too large a draft on such an exchequer ; however, when the eloquent Poem of the Most Rev. Kerry bard was placed in my hands by my beloved and valued friend, the Very Rev John Spratt, D.D., of the Carmelite Convent, Aungier-street, I was tempted to make some risk, and hence I determined to undertake the present work. I trust that all my toil, my study, and ex- pense will ensure for the book that reception which may encourage me to persevere in my labours. And as to the imperfections of the work (I fear they are many), 1 trust to the generosity of my readers, inasmuch as it is a first effort, my first journey into a region almost unexplored, I mean as far as making it a school book. The Very Rev. Dr. Spralt kindly gave me an interesting work on St. Pairick, from which I copied St. Fiech's hymn : but which, as buing badly brought out, I hail much trouble in correcting. I had to compare it with an improved copy lest any essential error might be allowed to remain ; to a distinguished Dublin priest I am indebted for the use of a woik on St, Patrick and Ireland written in polished Latin by an eminent Spanish clergyman, the Hev. Joachim Villanueva, From this book, approved of by the late meek, pious, and lamentable Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Daniel Murray, I have taken St. Seachnall's " Life of Saint Patrick." These two last poems, with my comments, I sent to the Western Patriarch, the Most Rev. John Mac Hale, the illustrious Archbishop of Tuam, himself an eloquent Irish poet, and the first of living Irish scholars. That they met the approbation of so brilliant a scholar, thoroughly conversant vrith the structure of all the learned languages, bo unequalled a pillar of the Catholic faith, so fearless and uncompromising an assertor of all national rights, is to me ample compensation for much of my drudgery ; and, as the name of his Grace of Tuam has occurred, I must meet some silent, jealous whispers in a few words: — His Grace was reared in a parish in which tlie Irish language was spoken with attic brevity and fluency, and which his Lordship spoke from the first day he was able to lisp up to the present. í^JfW^ 26 His power of moving a flock to tears, or entertaining a private circle in this peculiar strain of Irish eloquence is the theme for general admiration. This being so, and his refined and solid classical education considered, it is evident to any man, unless one prejudiced, of Boeotian stupidity, or dogged ignorance, that His Grace, having from nature the poetic inspiration, pos- sesses all the requisites that constitute a poet ; and, as to the contemplative qualification, he has had ample field for the cultivation of it. He has had, supposing he never left Connaught, or that be never travelled, an oppor- tunity of contemplating and studying everything that was awfully grand or terribly magnificent in nature. When a child he could fill his tender mind with sublime notions, as from his father's door he looked in the distance upon that immense natural pile " Cnoc NsrHiN," a cloud- capt hill in the North of Mayo. In fact, what side soever he turned his eyes there were ctelum, monteg, et pontua ; a beautiful sky whose colours, laid on by the divine band of the Omnipotent artist, charmed the soul of the young student; cloud-covered mountains and ivy-mantled towers, majestic lakes, and the wild roaring of the Atlantic, all contributed to fan into a blaze the inborn spark of the youthful John Mac Hale. When first his Lordship's splendid letters, as Bishop of Maronia, whilst in Killala, continued to throw such confusion into the enemies' rank, he had to visit the wild and romantic Erris, therein the poetic flame was still more fanned— and oh ! Croagh Patrick, what a source to fire poetic genius ! Clare Island, Innisbofin ; in truth, all parts of Mayo and West Galway are highly suited to the cultivation of poetry. No one, unless he who has journeyed over these holy, haunted, enchanted spots of nature, can, from anything they read, arrive at a reasonable esti- mate of their attractions. The national and religious pilgrim and even the foreigner, to see them, and knowing their history, must almost worship the earth on which he walks. All tliese places have been and are the scenes of his Lordship's arduous, and often perilous duties, wherein he has had to encounter not only the mad waves of tlie deep but the madder waves of the spiritual waters. Why not a poet of the present day, as well as Homer of old, be allowed to shape words to answer his metre ? What are written sounds but mere signs of ideas, and, therefore, one shape is as good as the other, especially when either shape is intelligible ; are not heaven and nature as bountiful now as at any former time ? In fact, in proportion to the advanced state of learning, we think His Grace of Tuam, if time allowed, ought to produce much more polished compositions than the bards of old ; be has had advantages which thny had not. This we can fearlessly state, that, in our opinion, hia " Irish Melodies-" excel the original. His epic poetry »s well as his Irish hymns must convince any rational Irish scholar, that 27 as a poet and a scholar he stands alone. His Irish version of the first books of Homer's Iliad are inimitable. The officers of the Royal Irish Academy were most kind in showing whatever niy research demanded. To Professor Curry, whose friendly suggestions were of use, and the Secretary, I publicly return thanks. It is just to say, that whatever was required in Trinity College was easily obtained. Mr. Thomas Connolly, 10, Upper Ormond Quay, who gave me free access to his extensive and splendid collection of Irish works, and generously sent some of them to my house, has my cordial thanks. These, with what I saw in the Academy, Dawson-street, the one I bad myself, and one given by Professor Curry, enabled me to give a good version of a beautiful piece of epic poetry. May its persual have the same effect on others as it had on me ; if so, I will not have laboured in vain. The poera divides Irish history into several epochs — it begins with tlie creation of man, then touches on Pagan mythology; the several colonies that came to Ireland— The Milesians' voyage is particularly noticed in it ; it shows what the worship was liere up to the reign of Laoghaire (Lhayree)i then Bishop O'Connell sings of Patrick, and the triumph of Christiuiity ; then of the Danish invasion ; next of the Norman irruption ; of the Reformation, Calvin, Luther, Henry, and Elizabeth, and the immorality which prevailed ; of the great Earl of Desmond's insurrection ; the O'Donnell and O'Neill's struggle for native land up to the year 1601 ; of all the principal chiefs who joined them ; of those who reneagued country and creed for Elizabeth ; of the murders of Archbishop O' Kelly of Tuam, Bishop Bebcr MacMahon, Bishop MacSweeny, Bisliops Egan, Bishop Rickard O'Connell; of the 'nsurrection of Sir Phelim O'Neill; Lord Maguire of Fermanagh; Sir Cahir O'Dogherty, O'Cane, MacSweenys, MacMahon, the treachery of Clanriearde and Muskerry, the glorious O' Moore of heix, the O'Connor-Sligo, O'Connor of Baliintubber, the O' Connor • Kerry, and all the great men of those days of carnage and. plunder ; of Cromwell ; of the Charleses, the Jameses, and William ; of the traitors of former days ; of the fatal effects of division amongst the Irish. He closes with a pathetic appeal to God to the Holy Virgin, to eminent Irish Saints that his own loved Erin might be redeemed from the scourging ordeal through which le was passing. The poet must have been martyred or assassinated, as no account has been had of what became of him or where ha was iaterred. I did what I could to ascertain ; all to no effect. Thus, it was ooly a few days ago, Most Rev. Dr. Dixon discovered on the continent where repose the remains of a distinguished Irish prelate. There was such confusiou in those black days of persecution, that annals and records were destroyed even by Catholics, lest they should serve as proofs against their busted- ^ ■r; 28 dowD clergy, or that such documents would be brought up in evidence to prove that holy men were guilty of the enormout crime of being Bishops or Priests of the Catholic faith I I ! The regular intercourse with Rome — the stellar centre of truth — was interrupted ; there were bloodhound» by tea, as well as bloodhounds by land. Ecclesiastics, in order to be able to break the bread of life to their starving flockst were called, " Pat/' " John," &c., and wore any dress, however mean, that they might escape the vigi- lance of the Prieat-catchert. Some of them to escape notice, and to obtain a scanty subsistence, taught country schools, as did our Bard in the County of Cork. What an infamous class informers must be when Tacitus so reprobated the practice of espionage of Pagan Rome, as used in respect to . their provinces. The government that sanctions it, whether Christian or Pagan, must be not of heaven, nor its policy of the Bible. Heaven and the Bible can sanction nothing that is unjast or inhuman, but a heavenly pretence, and a trut/fful interpretation of the Bible made this fair land one scene of blood and confusion. These days can never return. There was not a leading point of Irish history, from the earliest period, which the Poet did not allude to ; I had to follow, and in order to do so, I was obliged to consult at least 250 works belonging to different nations and in various languages. I assure my readers that though the commentary be only small, yet if money were my object I would not do the same again. Nothing less than my cherished wish of creating a taste for Irish Catholic literature could have made me, who have no time to spare, undertake such a task. May we not hope that in every school in Ireland, rich and poor, college and university, henceforward, Irish history and the language will be duly attended to. The Catholic University, the Dublin University, have, each, an Irish Professor. But these gentlemen must not be mere nominal Professors, reading old stories, however interesting. They must teach the structure of the tongue — grammar in all its parts ; they will be required by the public to give value ; they must be teacher» rather than mere talker». When a good national work is to be done, people must be in earnest, or they must be made to be so ; sentiment may do for the drawmyroom, work is necessary to uplift a fallen nation, ** res non verba." Mankind in general are slow to adopt any theory, or any new system or improvement, be it ever so desirable, until they see it in full operation, and reduced to practice. Example is better than precept. I would entreat, and do earnestly entreat, to have an Iri»k class opened in every school and college throughout Ireland. But the conductors of these establishments may very naturally turn round to me and ask, " have you got an Irish class opened in any school íb your own neighbourhood ? Have you set us the example ? Have you taken any trouble to show us that it is practica- ble, to point out to us the mode, and to supply us with the means f Have you taken any steps to carry your theory into practical effect ?" 2d My brief answer to all these queries is, •• Vet." I have a class ia Irish, and Dr. Mac Hale's works are used ia that clas*. I have now added a work of my own, which, whilst it is a history of Ireland will enable the student to arrive at a knowledge of our language. I shall give a few extracts to show how valued our literature was by men and women of genius. Dr. Nicholson, the Protestant Bishop of Derry, 1713, published a work which he entitles, •• The LriahHittorical Library.'' He had been a celebrated divine in England, distinguished for great learning and deep historical research. He was subsequently promoted to the Bishopric of Derry in Ireland, and soon turned his mind to the history and language of this country. He states, that while compiling his Englith and Scotch histori- cal Libraries, " he had frequent opportunities of observing what Irith historians wrote 'at the same time." And then, with gre^t candour, he goes on to say : — " I am now, however, under a more pressing obligation, than I then ever expected to have been, of paying my dying respects to a country (Ireland) which gives me and my family the present comfortable supports of life." He states that be has made " abundant historical discoveries" since he came to Ireland, and only hopes that his " poor attempt will invite others to make much greater and more valuable improvements,'' for that he could only pay his " dying respects.'' The next is an extract of a letter from the Marquis of Downshire : — " The Ancient History of Ireland is certainly very curious and interest- ing, though it appears to us at present to be enveloped or mixed up with much fable. I, for one, would be extremely happy to see more dili- gence applied to its development than, I am sorry to say, has been the case hitherto — and I am convinced that the result would be useful, creditable and honourable to the Irish nation at large. I am. Sir, your obedient servant, Dowhshirk. *• Hillsborough Howe, Hillsborough." The late Archdeacon Trench, of Ballinasloe, wrote as follows : — " If some of the many Irish manuscript works, which now liu in darkness, were published, I think a great additional stimulus would be given to the study of the language, and we might thereby attain some insight into the ancient history of our country, which is now enveloped in night. We have some traditional whisperings, that Ireland (I tliink in th« eighth or ninth century) was the seat uf letters. But where is the proof? Perhaps in the library of Stowe ; or the Bodleian ; or in Trinity College, Dublin ; or scattered over the world, as in Denmark, &c. But we have none of these records ■T.tff > ■ .-. ^"^ 30 ushered forth to the world, to excite the industry of many who perhaps would feel anxious to know if our country were ever otherwise than barbarous. In fact (though perhaps to our shame it is spoken), we await some stimulant of this sort, to induce us to apply ourselves to a language which appears difficult to settlers to learn." 1 would urge on the ladies of Ireland to cultivate a knowledge so suited to the tepdemessof their heart. How charming, by the rosy lips of a beautiful lady would the song, «• The harp, that once thro* Tara's Halls," be pronounced in our own mellifluous language. **The Minstrel Boy,*' in Irish, as composed by Dr. Mac Hale, is as apt, as any rhapsody in Homer, to fire the soul. The poem, respecting Fionn Mac Cooil (Flngal), as every Fenian poem, has charms in it for ladies not to be found in any other language. To the expression of joy or sorrow, our language is peculiarly adapted— It rouses or abates, fans, or cools, in an instant, all the passions. The story of Ala wailing Fingal is most touching. Tbe ladies should feel that they owe much to a language, which was for ages and ages unceasingly employed in singing their praises, and lauding, in the highest and most ardent strains, their perfections, attractions, and beauty. Miss Brooke applied her cultivated mind to its study, and was so delighted with the beautiful poetry which it disclosed to her that she per- severed, and was at length induced to publish an interesting collection of *' Reliques of Irish Poetry," which she also, and very sweetly, translated into English verse, with historical and explanatory notes. The following extract shews her admiration of the Irish language and Irish poetry— " Poetry was cherished with enthusiastic regard in ancient Ireland, and had soared to an extraordinary pitch of excellence. It was absolutely, for age», the vital soul of the nation, and shall we then have no curio&ity re- specting the productions of genius, once so celebrated and so prized ? Besides the four different species of composition (the Heroic Poem — the 0<7e— the Elegy — and the Song), others yet remain unattempted by trans- lation. The Ronumce in particular, which unites the fire of Homer, with the enchanting wildness of Ariosto. It is really astonishing of what various and comprehensive powers this neglected language is possessed. In the pathetic, it breathes the most beautifVil and afi^wting simplicity, and in the bolder species of composition, it is distingtiished by a force of expression a sublime dignity, and a rapid energy, which it is scarcely possible, fbr any translation fully to convey ; as it sometimes fills the mind with idvas, alto- gether new, and which, perhaps, no modern language is entirely prepared to express. The productions of the Irish bards exhibit a glow of cultivated genius, a spirit of elevated heroism, sentiments of pure honor, instance» of disintgrested patriotism, and manners of a degree of refinement, totally 31 astonishing at a period when th« rest of Europe wot nearly mnk into larbaritm. And U not all (hi* very honourable to our countrymen ? Will they not be benefited, will they not be gratified, at the lustre reflected on them by ancestor» so very diiferent from what modem prejudice hat been ittuUinu to repretent them 7 But this i« not all. As yet we are too little known to our noble neighbour of Britain ; were we better acquainted, we should be better friends. The Britiab Muse is not yet informed that she has an elder sitter in this ide ; let us then introduce them to each other. But where alas ! is the thirst for national glory, when a subject of such importance is permitted to a pen like mine? Why does not some son of Anak, in genius, step forward and boldly throw his gauntlet to prejudice, as the avowed and approved champion of his country's lovely muse." Such is the opinion expressed by the accomplished Charlotte Brooke, as to the cultivated elegenoe of the Irish language, and the sublimity of its poetry — she who, by her own exquisite translations of it into Englith Poetry lias proved how fully qualified she was to form and to give an opinion. Miss Brooke died in 1793. Ladies have been the subjects of the greater part of the poetry in the Irikh Language, and it would, therefore, now appear to be a duty incumbent in a particular degree, upon them, to promote its revÍTal by every means in their power. Poetry, besides, is a province of literature pecnliarly suited to the fair sex. They are gifted in a high degree with that delicate and sensitive susceptibility so necessary for the preception of its exquisite beauties. We have, also, numerous instances in different countries and at different periods, of ladies having attained the highest perfection in the compositon of poetry, the purest and richest. In proof of this we need but refer to the heavenly poetry of Mrs Hemans at the present day. It is much to be regretted that the ladies of Ireland should have been so long debarred from enjoying that poetry which no other country has evo- yet surpassed, and which I shall not here attempt to describe, because I could not do so in language more appropriate or more true than that of Miss Brooke, already quoted. But the barriers which have hitherto precluded all entrance into this ancient and romantic region of literature are now disappearing, and the ladies of Ireland will be enabled to read the published works of their own nation, with less trouble, and in 4ess time than they, at present, expend in endeavouring to attain a knowledge of Italian or other foreign poetry. German cardinals are enraptured with it. The opinion given by Miss Brooke is sustained and corroborated by that of every man of genius who has ever examined deeply into the language iiod literature of this ancient country. These diatinguithed scholars and able men all combined in one sentiment, ■ ' .1 -• < rf '«?»R;wiptTy^=Híi!'?!5!B«swg[pe'''^'T^ 32 of sincere regret at the state of neglect in which they found this rich and beautiful language lying. They also invariably accompanied it with aa expression of equally deep regret that their own pressing avocations of life prevented their entering upon the task of rescuing or restoring it. Ussher, the Protestant Archbishop of Armagh, about 200 years since, and one of the greatest scholars of his day, says : — " Truly the Irish ranks amongst the very first of languages for eleffance and richtutH : but no one has as yet arisen who would apply his mind to it in such a way as that we might have it cultivated, as almost all other verna- cular languages of Europe have been cultivated within this age." The Prelates and learned men of a few years ago felt the same regret and the same wish ; but they despaired of any, even the most remote chance, of having this wish realized. They looked upon it as impracticable — a matter which there was no use in thinking of — and, with sorrow, they gave up the hope of ever seeing the Irish language cultivated again. But let them note dispel their eorrovo ! Let them no longer despair. The Archbishop of Tuam, the Royal Irish Academy, the Celtic Society, the Kilkenny Archseological Society, the Ossianic Society, Trinity College, and private individuals are supplying works. The chief things needed are elementary ones. These the demand will create. What I have hitherto written was as a stimulant, not as a proof of the beauty of the language. For all have agreed that it is the sweetest, the most copious, most vigorous of all. See Doctor Keating's praise of it, p. 60 of " The Dirge." See also my essay on Ireland, in preface to 2nd volume, in which is clearly demonstrated Ireland's early enlightenment and possession of letters, also the veracity of our national records. THE GENUINENESS OP THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF IRELAND. It is indeed a fortunate circumstance for our history that occasionally there appeared above our horizon such men, as Ussher, Flood, Valla ncey. Though not of Irish lineage, they appeared as historical lights, keeping alive truth and dispelling the mists of falsehood. The evidence of 3uch a man as Sir L- Parsons (a late Earl of Ross), and of others of that class, whose religion and politics differ from those of the nation, must naturally carry weight with it. The Earl of Ross wrote a most able work in defence of the Ancient History of Ireland. It should be in the hands of every an- tiquarian From it we quote largely in our preface to the Schooi, His- tory OF Ireland, 2nd volume, to show the genuineness of our history. We feel that no language we could use would equal the extracts in style and rea- soning. Our readers are aware that the immortal orator, Henry Flood, £sq.i of Farmley, Kilkenny, left by will all his property to Trinity College» to ^ collect and buy up Irish manuscripts, wherever they could be had, and to i pay UD Irish Professor in college. For forty years that college neglected to •V. - 7 • : •; • ' - f -r- f ■ ^j^r??»:" /flWf*««yt«;lS'->W^*-'. ! ^^T^'^^T^TW 33 do either, though they received much of the money. The Earl of Ros« pub- lished a work on that subject- As a Catholic writer I am bound to say, that the learned Ussher was a great enemy of Catholics, and the family of the Parsons were opprewors of the Irish, but when they give us a lift we have candour enough to thank them. And if my memory be faithful, the Earl of Ross was a supporter of Catholic emancipation. He was the first who got leave, before Emancipation, for the erection of a steeple and a bell in a Catholic church in Ireland. We recollect his having entered Birr, hia carriage, decked with laurels, on the occasion. It is to be lamented that there is no entire truthful translation of the learned Rev. Dr Keating. The one by Dermod O'Connor, of Clare, is false in many places, and it is said, that it was intentionally so. His Lop- don publisher, in 1727, accused him of dishonesty with regard to the sub- scriptions, and the Raymonds, of Kerry, charged him with purloining the family MSS. He sought to make the Mac Carthys absorb every ancient glory, and thus he did an injustice to other families. I am satisfied tnat an enterprising publisher who would bring out Keating's history in English and Irish, would invest his capital to advantage. (See Essay). WEALTH OF IRELAND. In the Royal Irish Academy we saw a copy of " Ireland's Dirge," in the fi/st stanza of which are to be found "the smallness of her wealth,'' whereas, the copy given me by Dr. Spratt, as well as Mr. O'Daly's, has " The destruction of her property," or " The melting of her wealth." Be- tween both phrases there is a vast difference. The one conveys the idea, that Ireland was a poor country, whilst any Irish scholar upon having read the passage, and having learned who the author was, and his aim, will at once see, that the former was not Bishop O'Connell's mean- ing. Generally, the text of a book explains itself ; so it is in the first stanza of " The Dirge." The author says, '* that his heart is torn by the reflection of the murder and extermination of the priesthood," to whom " woods, forests, mountains, caves are no sktlter," as he sings at the close of the poem ; the utter annihilation of his countrymen, or, a* the poet has it, " the devouring of her people," and, to close his plaint against England — he adds, " the melting of her wealth ;" this interpretation gives the exact scope of the author. The other is a manifest corruption, de- signed to throw ridicule on this nation, and to make persons suppose that Ireland was too poor to invite ambitious or avaricious robbers to our shores. In other words, to make it appear that an illustrious Prelate, whose grand uncle. Bishop Rickard O'Connell, was hanged, in 1651, with kit own bridle out of a tree near Killarney, by an infernal troop of Cromwellian red» coats, on the road«8Íde, said " Ireland was a miserable nation." We fear that our author met a worse fate perhaps, in the reign of Queen Anne, as 34 we could, after close inquiry, learn nothing of his death or place of intef- ment. We have many subscribers, both prelates and priests fi-om the south. Yet, all th^ information we could gather was, that he was a bishop, and that he lived in 1 704 — the very year in which most stringent, hellish laws were enacted against the Catholic religion, when a price was set on the head uf a prelate or priest Then it was, I am satisfied, he sang, " that for them there waa no remedy on earth*' Many holy ecclesiastics were then hunted down like wolves, driven into dreary, wet, hiding-places, there to starve. The hut judgment only, can reveal the deeds of blood, perpetrated under the guise of religion in this devoted land. After the lapse of ages, and taking a retrospect glance through the long vista, our heart is wrung, beholding in thought, the beloved pastors of the people, either perishing from huuger, dying in the woods, hanged in forests, torn by blood hounds (for such were used), and their sacred flesh mangled and scatteied on the road-ways or foot-paths. The mind recoils from the bare recollection of such deeds. The true sense of the passage alluded to is, that the sacred vessels, destined for the service of the altar, were melted down by the wicked soldiery who spared nothing, who demolished churches, made them stables for tbeir horses, and converted the monasteries into barracks, as happened to the magnificent abbey of Boyle in the days of the great O'Donnell. Hiatory says, that the Saxons destroyed the coins of the Britons that there might not be even such a record of what they were. The Normans did the same as regarded the Saxons. The English acted in a like manner in this country even brfore the Reformation. When she was Catholic she was not much less rapacious and cruel. In the twelfth, and after centuries she robbed the nativta. *' Sacra auri ames, quid non mortalia pectora cogis." Moreover, it would be wrong in any man, much more so in a bishop of the Catholic Church, to state that Ireland was a poor country. Our greatest enemies, the blackest traducers ■' Books of Reigns," ** Psalter of Cashel,** and the other incorruptible Irish records ia the Academy, Dawson-street. We may here, by way of a passing remark, tell our readers that the first war chariots were made in A.M. 3223, Rothacfaaigh being on the throne. Our history informs us that the Irish warriors rode in chariots drawn by two horses, and the foot soldiers attended them after the manner of the times of Cssar. In the year after the Creation, 3f>80, Aongus OUav (a quo Mac Gennis), having come to the throne, bestowed presents of gold ornaments on such as were pre-eminent in any science. In 3850 the same honour was con- ferred by Rnadh-righ (Rooaree) — Red King — from the Red flag. From him were descended Clanna Ruadh-righ (Rudriclans) — " the Red Branch Knights'* of ancient Ulster. He was of the line of Ir. This princely family was, for ceutuiies after Christ, masters of all the western parts of Europe. But cursed division weakened their strength, and limited their empire. In even 3952, when Connor, or O'Connor, was king of Ulster, Fergus, his cousin, invaded Connor, und the dispute ended in the ruin of that dynasty for many years after. They had three houses in Ulster ; Emain, in which the knights kept their court ; the house of The Red Branch (the war flags), and the " Sorrowful Lodging," which was the hospital for their wounded men. Cathaoir (Caheer) left by his memorable will, made about 122 years after the Incamarion, an immense quantity of gold rings to Ross, his first son. Hence he was called Rosa Failge (of the rings). From him the " O'Connors Failey'*— (OfFaly, now King's County), and many other illustrious families noticed in this woik. Cormac, who reigned A.D. 213, and who wrote the Psalter of Tarah, and several poetic works, amongst them one as a rule of life for princes, had at his table 150 cups of massive gold. Nor is this a matter of wonder as regards Ireland, as Virgil tells us of Queen Dido's sumptuous table, which was spread over with cups, goblets, and dishes of gold — having delineated on them the deeds of her ancestors for many generations^ longUgima aeries rerwn — (a long chain of facts) which Belus and his posterity were wont to use. This Belus of Phoenicia* was the * Th« land of Cbna (or Canaan), the descendants of Ham, mast hare been snl^jngated Dy " Clanna Phenius," hence it was called Phoenicia— a close similarity to some of the niannera and of the language of that eountrjr to our own leads to this irresiatible' con- clusion. »faw, p. 49. All the pagan chiefs had a Cromcruagh and twelve inferior deities around him> in imitation of the signs of the Zodiac. There was another celebrated oracle in Oriel (Monaghan, &c.) ; it was designated " Clochoir" (gold-stone;. The Rev. Canon Maguire, in olden times, of Armagh, in his Scholia on the cessation of image worship, gives a description of the Clochoir (whence Clogher). In it, and from it, the devil, according to Colgan, useS to speak and give answers. He adds, that upon St. Patrick's approach, and at the very point of the *' Sta£f of Jesus," without at all touching it, the statue was bent, and the minor ones were sunk in the earth, save the tops. This was the last Sunday in Summer, whence it wa called Domhnagh Cromduibh (Downagh CrumduflF) the Sunday of the black Crom, or devil. It is also termed " Dowhnagh Patrick," in commemoration of the saint's putting an end to demon deceit and worship. In 913 A. D., we find, by Mac Curtin's " Antiquity of Ireland," that Cormac Mac CuUinan, King and Bishop of Cashel, left, by will, large presents of gold and silver to the churches of Ireland. Brian Borivey, when he went to the north to receive hostages, made gold presents to the Church of Armagh. But, at that time, these metals were not, what they now are, an object of such worship. Rich lands and their products were more appreciated, and justly; for what is money but a token; and, by common consent, a piece of hard turf, of stone, leather, or timber, would answer the same purpose. The chalices, and all the altar services were of gold or silver, and should be so according to the discipline of the ancient Irish Church. Nothing was thought sufficiently precious for the celebra» tion of the Mass. The piety of the monarchs and nobles enabled the clergy to have them so All the coverings of relics and books were of gold or silver, or sumptuously ornamented with these metals and jewels. For many ages this covntry held sway in all the northern parts of Europe, and our kings carried home wiih them the rich spoils. Tacitus, in his " Life of Agricola" says of Ireland, " Melitu aditus, portutque per citmmerci» et negoeiatore» eogniti ;" meaning that our ports and harbooita wore better fitted for commerce than those of Britain. Hence, there was a source of great wealth. What made ancient Tyre— the Phoenician capital — so rich and flourishing as to be the admiration of the world, until Pygmalion, by his restrictive laws, checked her glorious condition ? Commerce. Her 3 -»Jf^_,,;,J,JPIP5K|J^ S^J^ff^tfflH^yc^-^wy^l.ys: .rr^j^^^miltii^^vfi^lf^i^gf^lii^.^^^isi^ S8 free trade, h«r evUghtenment, her excellence in aiapuf»ct;ures, }i«r cnltÍTati^i» of the fine arts, her respect for m^n of toil and industry, her character fpr integritj in her dealings, and her hospitality to Btranj;ers, attracts tQ hi^r coasts merchants fron^ all quarters. The best historians say the very same pf our own island. For we too had commerce, but our nnfortcinate con- nexipn witli England has robbed us of it. Hence our coinmodioas harbours firo without shipping, ii^ which nothing comes but raging billows, upbraid- i||g OS with the causes that lead to such galling, oppressive results. The Danes, during tl^eir power in Ireland, exacted " an ounce of gold for every nose." This exaction should be complied with, and to pay it the metal must have been plentiful. This plunder continued for 150 years ; y«^ wh$i| Qerald Barry — the reviler of the Irish-^came here, he s^tea, ^ AuTum quo^e, quo abundat intula.'^ — Expug. Hib., lib. ii. chap. 75. Hadrianus Junius, according to Sir James Ware's " Antiquity," page 70, wy». i . '* Et puri argenti vanat, qnas terra refostis Viseeribas, manes Imos Tiscura redudit.'' ^e Ulster Annals tell that 240 ounces of pure silver were collected in Ossory for the Coarb of Columcille, A.D. 1151. Cornelius O'Bnen, King of Monster, and other Irish princes, made large money presents to Dioni- sius, Cbristianus, and Gregory, successive abbots of S. James' Benedictines at Ratisbon in Germany. To the messengers of the aforesaid abbots, the Elmperor Conrade gave letters of introduction to the Irish kings. So mag- nificent were O'Brien's gifts to them, that the monastery, for stateliness, finish, and gorgeousness, surpassed anything of the kind of those days. They purchased, with a portion of Ireland's presents, lands, houses, &c., whereby to maintain the cloister ; for, even yet, " Supererat itiffetu copia peeunia regit Hibemia ; " there was still remaining a grest quantity of the Irish king's money. — Chronicle of Rensburg, in Annals of Emiy ; Walsh, in hi9 " Prospect," p. 440, The aforesaid King O'Brien, who endfsd his hply lifp in a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Bridget, in Kildare, sent rich presents to Lothaire II., through Irish nobles, in the time of the Crusades. In A.D, 1143^ died Turluugh O'Connor, King of Connaught, and Monarch of Ireland : he left to religion jewels of immense value, silver, and 540 ovnces of gol4. It is not necessary to go farther, as about this time our shores were cursed by the E^nglish, plundering bandits. Never was there a more barefaced c^li^mny than to insinuate the poverty of this island, whose very soil, whose very laborious peasantry, whose very rivers, lakes, fisb-aboufid|ng bays, coal mines, marble mines, stone mines, copper mines, silver ipines, and gold mines, added to the geniality of the air, are in them- selves wealth, unequalled by any other country on God's earth. Incidentally ■'yf'^fi!^W-'^7?pí^^~-^^^^^^^ 39 the reader*! attentiob ii directed to the quaatity of golden bracelets ths( were worn by the Sabinee, even their commea soidierst wheii they took th« ■ Soman Capitol, neariy 800 years before Christ, aa rcoorded io the first - book of LivyrGold was, in fact, most plentiftil, in some coanitries. T^# . Queen of Sabia, who visited Solomon, had a great quuitit^ of it. Thp . Sabines of Latíam were of eastern origin, and their worsbipi li^^e that of t|u| > Orientals, was directed to the elements — as to the San, Moon, SturSy, Asteroids, — hence their shirids, bucklers, bracelets, resembled the heavenly- bodies, as well in shape as in brilliancy. It might-be said that the shield. - of AchiHes was a species of solar system, because of its ornamentation. O'Flaherty says, that before King Cathoir (Caheer) fell in the battle of Tailten, he ordered his 8on,Ro8s Failge, to givel^ades to therestofhis sonSf and to the other nobles of Leinster, and that he presented "to Daire Barry on« hundred round spears, with silver blades ; fifty shields in eases of gold aiul silver, richly carved ; fifty swords, of pecuAar workmanship ; five riogs of gold, ten times mettled ; 150 cloaks, variegated with Babylonian art ; and seven military standards.'* Now this passage prores two facts : that Ire« land abounded in wealth, and that she cultivated the fine arts at a very early period. From the battle of Moyture — which took place before the days of Moses— down to the Anglo-Norman invasion, Ireland excelled in the fine arts, as our native archives, and even some foreign writers, attest. Several passages are to be met with in " The Book of Rights," as edited by Dr. 0*Donovan, whicli place beyond all doubt, Ireland's wealth, enlighten- ment, and her thorough acquaintance with everything that is characteristHi of a glorious nation and a polished people. O'Halloran gives, in seveml places, instances of the great wealth of Ireland. We BOW leave the reader to judge if this old land had not riches sofficient to invite the rapacity of oar im^irovmg neighbours, who gave such protection as vultures give lambs, " covering and devouring them." INAUGURATION OF THE KINGS OF ANCIENT IRELAND Even in A.M., 3075, as GioUa Caomhghin (Gilla Keevin) says, was thus Whe^ a king, whether monarch or provincial prince, was to be inaugurated, the princes, nobles (amongst whom were the druids, bards and scholars, the prelates) met at a given place, (such as Tara, for the paramount king), and, having elected him, they did him homage by bending the knee, as at a levee in St. James's paUce, London ; they then yielded themselves and their estates to him, as be sat on a throne in the middle of tÍMm, one of the highest rank having advanced towards the Ruler, having taken his sword from hia, and having presented him with a long, white, unknotty wand, said, " Receive. Sire, the auspicious sign of your digputy, and remember to . ..tfl^-..tfly^^^%3b.ud^- ' '■.' -'->''.' ' '■ . -'-■.. - '■•■'■': ■" >---J.--*-':^i?.-. .->»C:r-"..^J:^-jj -■■ift^r? IREL\ND NOT PECULIARLY ADDICTED TO DIVISIOíT. Notwithstanding th« piles of native evidence and of foreign hntoiians, attesting the sanctity, valor, amd enlightenment of our old conntry* stUl as libellers have been hired to strive to tarnish her glorious fame, it is my duty here to show that she was not peculiar in her internal strife. Though I bear no malice nor envy to any nation or to any person , yet I shall give instances of bloody feuds in other lands. I shall begin with the first inhabitants of this world— Cain slew Abel. I shall then proceed with Greece and ask my reader to call to mind their murderous strifes. Then 1 shall direct attention to Rome, whose first king, Romulus, killed his brother Hemns. Thus, the foundation of the famous '* seven-hilled dty," was cemented with the blood of a brother. We bear in mind tk« tebeliitM of Tarquin, the plebian inaurrection, the oppretsion OHtl murder of the deeentviri — the tyranny of the tribune» — the faction» of Sylla and Mariu», and the river» of blood flowing from their awordt— Catiline'» eontpiraey — the civil war» of Pompey and Catar — the total change of the republic ending in plain, lawle»», rebelliou» force and the annihUatian of myriad» qf the people— thirty emperor» murdered. — In the time qf Gal- lieuu» thirty men at letut »et ihenuelve» up a» emperor». Germany, in later times, eithibitá awful instances of civil contentions — such as the violent death* uin, an Englisnman, his majesty's tutor, "that Ehglftnd tras indeed a perfidioka and petvérte nation, a murderer qf their tordi, and worté thith pagan».*'' The bishops and nobles had also to Ay, so that for thirty years im one dated sit on the throne of Northumbria. There was oiie unbruken chain of internecine strife until the 10th century,' see " Mylius' England " or any impartial English history. After the Norman iuTasion we have the unnatural rebellion of Henry II.'s own children. The baron wars under king John and Henry III. — Edward II. '■ own queen, Eleanor, and son, the prince of Wales, conspired to dethrone Attn. The woful feud» of the houses of York and Lancaster — the oceans of blood that deluged the country for thirty years, under Henry VI. and Edward IV. — the murder of Richard II. — all are acquainted with the history of Richard III ! His grandfather, the e&rl of Cambridge, beheaded at Southampton, — the duke of York, his father — beheaded before Sandal. His three brothers, one of them slain in cold blood — the duke of Clarence drowned in a butt qf Malmsey — his two nephews, stranglei in their beds, besides eleven battles fought — in one of which 36,730 Englishmen were left dead on the field, besides the wounded ! (Echard, p. 520.) This was the battle of Taunton, in Yorkshire. Philip Comines, an English writer, says, " eighty of the royal blooá were lost in them," of whom was Henry VI. — a good and virtuous prince. The Usurper Richard III., was killed in the battle of Bosworth, after having swam to the throne on river» qf blood. His opponent, the earl of Richmond, assumed the sceptre, as Henry VII. — who by marrying the daughter of Edward IV., united the houses of York and Lancaster, and thus ended the terrible factions of " the White and Red tlose.'' All this 1 have from their own historians, and to do justice to Mylius, whose work is a very good school-book — he does not hide the faults of his countrymen. Nor does he act so unfairly towards Ireland as Lingard ; Mylius I take to be a Briton — Lingard a Norman ; all know, of course, that both are Catholic books. " Lingard,*' by J. Burke, Esq., is a well got up school book. We now leave our readers to infer whether Ireland was peculiar in her feuds. During the long space of 2468 years of the Gadelian monarchy, down to 11 72, A.D., it will be found that not as much blood was shed by civil wars in Ireland, as in 1 000 years in England. During the whole time of our 136 Pagan kings, and forty «eight Christiaa ones, there were scarcely I'-HiEiir V-tt-i h't^' - -. ^- - 44 as many fell by intestine broils, as there did in one half the time in the island of pur traducers. And what excites my indignation moat it, that «ome of our modern Irish romancers have the impudence to tell as ,tliat they find no characters, in Irish history, illustrious enough to make heroes of tales. These bear a great name, but very unjustly, as they live by forg- ing calumnies of the Irish people, of old and modern days, of peasantry and gentry ; still their bate coin passes current. They must know very little of the solid history of Ireland, else, notwithstanding all her feuds, they could make out characters as brilliant as ever adorned the pages of any book. The Red Branch Knights of Ulster suppy ample theme, bat libellous works ««// £e«/ in these degenerate days. ;^ THE FORTY-EIGHT KINGS OF IRELAND AFTER ST. PATRICK. As it is falsely asserted that there were no Milesian kings from the coming of St. Patrick until the arrival of the English though that most accurate historian, O'Flaherty, in his " Ogygia," gives them in regular succession, and the year of the reign of each, yet, I shall here cite a few foreign authorities, to disprove the deliberate falsehood : In the first book of the Polychronicon I find these words — which 1 render thus in English — " From the coming of St. Patrick, to King Felim's time, there have been thirty-three kings in the space of 400 years in Ireland. But in the time of Felim, the Norwegians with their leader, Tuigesius, occupied the land. From TurgesÍQS to the last monarch, Roderick, King of Connaught, seventeen kings were in Ireland.*' Thus it may be seen that a foreign author gives within eight of as many kings as O'Flaherty. Anselm, the learned Archbishop of Canterbury, in his "Thirty-siz Epistles," (contained in Dr. Ussher's collection of the " Epistles of the English Clergy"), written A.D. 1118 to Muircheartach (Murty), the great O'Brien, King of Ireland, thus writes, " To the glorious Murty, by the grace of God, King of I reland, Anselm a servant of the Church of Canter« bury, &C." I^nfranc, the predecessor of Anselm, and previously Bishop of Dover, thus says in his letter to Turlough O'Brien, King of Ireland, 1074, " Lanfranc, a sinner, and the unworthy Archbishop of the Church of Dover, to Tordelagh, the magnificent King of Ireland, benediction, &c." In the same collection is mentioned a letter of King Henry I>, to Rodolph, Archbishop of Canterbury, ordering him to consecrate priest Gregory Bishop of Dublin. This was A.D. 1123. These are Henry's words, " The King of Ireland has instructed me, that he and the citizens of Dublin, elected Gregory to be bishop, and sent him to you to be con* secrated. Wherefore, I order you that, in compliance with their request, you immediately perform the consecration." From this it would appear il^ísf'^W?^?^?'^^^^^*^^^^^ '.%J?.*-: 46 that at the time the tee of Dablin, owing to the confoaion, conseqaent ott the Daniah usurpation, was not subject to Armagh. The Psalter of Cashel, quoted by the learned Rev. Dr. Keating, in its allusion to Irial, son of Heremon, informs us that of his line, up to St. Patrick, there were fiftT-seven kings, and fifty after the same monarch. Such evidences as the above are quite sufficient to show to any unbiassed mind that there were, after Christianity, a long series of the Gadelian race of kings in this holy land, whose renown, valour, hospitality, liberality, and piety, formed a rich theme for the native bards and annalists.- ''^\ ■ ' It is worthy of remark, that though there was repeated contention amongst the provincial kings of Ireland, still the annals of the several provinces agree generally as to the principal facts contained in Irish his> tory. Thus each was a check on the other and each was sure to contradict, if either put forward a false statement of any fact. This tended to make and keep native records pure and unadulterated But, above all, the Literary Committee of the Triennial Senate of Tara was highly calculated to preserve the truthfulness of our history ; by it the historian, who put forth false statements, was sure to be degraded. No other nation on earth, of ancient or modern tunes, had such an ordeal of investigation. Amongst our kings and princes, jealous of their fame, and having different interests and V iews, there could not, by possibility, be a combination to corrupt the national records. Mutual jealousy prevented it. This is treated of more at length in the preface to second volume. Our space will not allow us to give an outline of the constitution of the Parliament of Tara, nor of the laws of Ollamh Fodbla (Ollav Fyola), and Cormac O'Quin, and of other Irish kings ; the first reigned twelve cen- turies, and the second, two, before St. Patrick. This topic is also handled in my essay. Who would read our national archives will find that no nation, ever yet, up to his day, has had so polished a constitution as was that of Tara. The reader is referred to Keating, MacCurtin, O'Halloran, O'Connor, O'Flaherty, Taaffe, &c. The Scythic civilization, so much lauded by Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, of the fourth century, and quoted by me in page seventeen of the " Dirge," streamed to, and over Ireland. BOOKS OP REFERENCE. ^ ' It would be tedious to enumerate, in this place, all the Irish works, whence has been derived our information on the previous facts. The "Sea- bright Collection," in Trinity College, is a book of great value. *' Psalter na Rann," being an abridged history of the posterity of Abraham, until after the death of Moses. The collection called the " Speckled Book,'* the ■■.t;ií^'.jt^í*_6.-'- i''.. ■,' '-. .'--"■■ . . ■ -. J' ..-' •■■.- fc.J.'.'.-^-.a..^:^i i^i^v.^r i»'^>i«5P^í!f'--"r'íi»-?íí'^jg^ífW"«5^ - 4() *' Book of Invasions," the " Book of Lecan," the '• Book of CIODinaeBOÍM," the " Psalter of Cashel," by Cormac, its king and bishop. Mort of this was a transcript from the " Psalter of Tara," besides some origittal prose and verse compositions. Ue wrote also a glossary of diffictdt Irish words, his poems, though not all illnstrative of Irish history, bat cbiefty on reli- gion, are most interesting. The " Psalter" is in the British Musaem } the compositions of Eochaidh (Aynghy) O'Flynn, as contained in the "Book of Invasions," by the O'Clerys, &c., are of immense interest. His poems on the colonization of Eire, present specimens of eloquence and diction not to be surpassed in any language that I have read. His poem on the Mile- •ian kings, from their landing, tu 3150 of the Creation; his poem detailing the building of the palace of Emain, in Ulidia, 3096. A.M., to Connor A.D. 1, down to its destruction by the Colla Uais, A.D. 331, and many more of still greater importance. The Annals of Tighernagh, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, who died A.D., 1088. He went back only to 3596. From this fact sonae dogmatizers assert, in opposition to most numerous, concurrent, and authentic authorities, that it was on that year the Milesians landed. Just aa if a writer may not take his start from any year he pleases. And so we find in the historians of idl countries. Such inferences from false data are very dangerous. Waa aajr. thing ever more silly than to say, " such a historian did not meiititttt •« <;ertain fact, therefore, such a fact had no existence." If a historian finds a thing well done by another he leaves it so, he then takes up what he thinks he may do better. Thus, would have acted Tighernagh. He left vrell enough alone. " Quieta non movere,*' was his maxim.* "The Roll of Kings," the «Din SeanchuS," the 'g ;yit! | ?^ r^- ^---r-i-y^ryj^^yrTTvry^ '^.vK:'>yf^/íy:-:^>^-f^^í^:^^'^^yyiíPí.- knowled^ and civilizatioD reached England, and the slow advance thej made i|i it up to the time of the Norman conquest, as her own historians record these things, but in doing so they take care to endeavonr to detract from, or to asperse our character. Such malighant jealousy forcibly rQ- mindfl us of Reynard, who scolded the grapes which he could not reach — . ., ,. ^,._ ^ ..,.,. The vain, contending for the prize ' • 'Gainst merit, see their labour lost; But still self love will say, " Despise ; - • What others gain at any cost ? I cannot reach reward, 'tis true. Then let me sneer at those who do." • Dishonest tourists have given such descriptive accounts of this country — as it was when the Anglo-Normans came to its shores — as would lead readers to infer that England was herself a model of perfection in learning, arts, sciences and poetry at that period and before it. We have met Irish- men and ladies who were under that impression, and who thought the ac- counts of her Ireland were true. Wright, a bigoted English historian, who assails our isle in the foulest language, and reiterating the calumnies of Solimus, Strabo. St. Jerome (when a boy), and others, certifies that in the days of Henry the II., this nation had the tree of religion in fiill bear- ing in a genial soil, and that no reform was needed in that respect He admits our learning at the same era. But we refer our readers to his works on Ireland and England as to the state of barbarity of the latter, when William of Normandy conquered it — I might say in as many days as it took centuries to make a fruitless attempt to bring us to subjecture — Wright states that in those days, such was the disorganised condition of London, that bandits, in broad-day light, in groups, walked the street, that no honest person could appear, that traders and merchants should fortify their shops and stores to protect their property even in the day-time. We could scarcdy believe our eyes when we read the account, inasmuch as we imagined that ordinary decency would have suggested to the lying Barry or Cambrensis, the cunning of not exerting his wicked genius to blacken our character, whilst that of his own countrymen was so bad. However, that basely -begotten cleric sought to corer the abominable deeds of his illegiti- mate relatives, who came here as robbers :— that they were such clearly appears from " Wrighfs Ireland." When Henry II. in 1164, sent the Earl of Arundel, three other noble- men, an archbishop, three bishops, and three royal chaplains, on an embassy to Pope Alexander III, four of the ecclesiastics made orations in ■■ '^ ' *'??*^^5^rsv' *l'?r." > 52 Latin, and then followed Arundel in an English speech, in which he says ; ** We, who are illiterate laymen, do not understand one word these bishops have said to your Holiness.'' This passage is taken from Mylius, an Eng- lish Catholic historian of the present day. The same writer places, in every century downwards, on record, facts, which will shew that as regard manners, customs, habits, police, architecture, houses, cottages, England was not before Ireland. The houses of most of the English aristocracy, up to the sixteenth century, were, according to him, no better than wooden frames with clay plastered into them — and very comfortable houses such were ; we have seen most beautiful ones of that character in the county of Limerick ;— our enemies used to describe these as mud cabins, never telling their readers that, with few exceptions, such were also the residences of tbe English gentry, of the same period. What are our brick houses but burnt clay ? Unscrupulous authors stop at nothing to effect the ends they have in view. It is to be lamented that truth should be sacrificed to sordid gain, and that malicious authors could bring themselves to inflict such an evil on posterity as to seek to mislead them by giving a false colouring of facts, or transmitting forged ones. The following facts are found in Tegg's Historical Companion, published iu London, A.D. 1835 : "Brkkches first introduced into England A.D. 1654 ; First Plate Glass for looking- glasses and coach windows made in Lambeth, 1673 — in Lancashire, 1773 (only 84 years ago) ; Post OrFiCBS first got up iu England, A.D. 1581 ; Mail Coaches established in Bristol, 1784, and in other parts of Eng- land 1785 (just 72 years ago); First Silk Manufacture in England, 1604 (it was in use in Ireland long before — long prior to the Christian era) ; Cloth Stockings (woven) worn by Henry VIII., but got a chance pair of silk ones that came from Spain ; this was the case with his daugh- ter, Elizabeth, when Queen. Hats first made in London, 1501, (worn only by few, and were a great curiosity) ; Stops in Literature 1520, colon, 1580, semicolon, 1599 ; First Stomb Church in London, 1087, (many centuries after their use in Ireland) ; Castles first buUt in England, 1140 (yet the Anglo-Norman Invaders, through the lyii^ Barry, charge our ancestors for not having had such, though there were^wne) ; Stone Houses substituted for timber ones (1666) in London, ovfa^; to the fire that burnt 400 streets, covering an area of 436 acres. Muslin first introduced, but not mt^nnfactured in England, 1781 (74 years ago — it was in Ireland long before that time) ; Musical Notbs^ fs in present use, 1330, (it is admitted by Cambrensis or Barry, that Ireland excelled in music centuries anterior to that period); Irish Towers built about A.D. 500, (those who could erect such grand specimens of solid architecture, which have laughed to scorn the ravages of ages, could, and did, build stoue ..itfil ■w^p^y^'" 53 houses and chambers at the same time, as we kaow from Ware, Arch* dall, & Co.) ; Brick Buildings, 886 ; Building with Stonk by Ben- oet a monk, 670 (monks are recorded as the inventors of almost all physical and moral refinement) ; this sort of building first established in London by the Earl of Arundel, 1601, at which time the houses of that city were chiefiy of wood, (yet our ancestors are described by Barry as barbarians, because Harry the Second had only a wooden court on his first accursed visit to Dublin ; there was a stone one if he would put up in it) ; Caps first worn in England 144-9, (up to that time, except for sol» diers, there was no covering in use for the head, but the national cap was long in use in Ireland, though at first it was bestowed only on the most learned, and was called the Doctor's or " Ollave's Cap")* With all primi* tive nations the custom has been to have the head without any cover save the natural one, the hair> In 1571 a penal law was passed obliging the people to wear a thickened cap, (something like a piece of colored flannel or frieze). Facts of this nature could be adduced to a great extent, but those enumerated, it is hoped, are sufficient to shew that our country was not behind England in things that are thought to be marks of material refinement, whilst Ireland was far and away before her in mental polish > artistic skill, and profound learning. 1 have written this preface — not to asperse the character of Englishmen — but to defend that of my own countrymen. I have written, not in offence, but in defence. ADDITIONAL. The different rubbings of the sculptural crosses of ancient Ireland, before the Normans, as exhibited by Mr. O'Neill, attest the refined taste of the Irish in that department. He shewed from the inscriptions themselves, as well as from the style, that these unequalled chef éCouvres must have been produced centuries before the arrival of Strongbow, and that the Normans destroyed the works themselves as well as checked the national progress in the Fine Arts. STONE BUILDINGS. The very name of Teamar (Tara) proves the existence of stone buildings, A.M. 3936. The tradesmen and labourers brought by the Milesians erected a palace in the barony of Leitrim for Tea-Heremon's queen. It was called " Teamar.*' In this word we have the I'adix of the Latin " murus" a " wall." Tliat Pygmalion's tower was of stone, that Priam's palace was of the same, that Dido's Carthage had stone buildings, no one acquainted with history will deny. Yet all these had existence much about the time of ihe wanderings of the Gadelians, as will be gathered by a close attention to the leading characters in the ./£neid, Iliad and Odyssey. See O'Flaherty'a Synchronism on this interesting subject. 4 I I - "ii'- IM tiinnk-i.JaailillMiilifcliH-i ,«^^rí^4•^^^/^^«:^•^:- rv''*".'?'^'-"! jr^-jf ■v^':^~^?T'!!!^!^?s<^^iví^- > 54 SHIPPING FACILITY. As to the objection urged against the early colonization of Ireland, it is most futile. The argonautic circumnavigation — the Grecian fleets. Dido's, and that of ^Eneas render the history easy of belief. Besides, coasting was the system of sailing practised at that early period — Necessity, the mother of invention, suggested that mode. But in truth no objection vronld be raised, had not unfortunate and calumniated Ireland been the object. We don't intend to satisfy enemies, but our aim is to confirm friends in their opinions. Th9 BttoKSBO SaiBLDB AND MiLiTAKT WSAPONs of the Greeks bespeak a refined taste in the arts, and it is reasonnble to infer that the Scythians, upon going to Spain, carried with them the knowledge of such arts. The language of " The Dirge." tells us that the Gadelians remained for some time in Thrace, Thebes, Crete, and Lacedemon. This fact is an evidence in favor of my opinion ; moreover, Herodotus and other writers, hostile to the Scythians who overran their country, affirm, that Scythia was an enlightened nation. I mean Scythia, strictly so called, that is the country, north-east of Phosnicia, having the Volga far to the west of it. We refer the reader to the quotations from the Ear] of Bosse for further proof. I feel I have already exhausted the patience of my readers, for which I apologise. In conclusion I have to sayt that if this work be in any manner a defence of my dear native land, I am amply repaid for all my labor ; if I have erred in the narrative of facts, or in the elucidation of lan- guages, such error is not intentional, and if I have offended any person, I ask pardon. ThefoUowing it a note from &Connor'» Diuertatiotu on Irish Hittory, page 141. — ^Tfae Linen Manufacture was carried on in Ireland at a very early period to a great extent ; and Dr. Lynch, author of Cambrensis £versus, quotes a description of the kingdom, printed at Leyden in 1626, in which the author states that Ireland abounds in flax, which is sent, ready spun, in large quantities, to foreign nations. Formerly, says he, they wore great quantities of linen, which was mostly consumed at home, as the natives require above thirty yards of linen in a shirt or smock. Moryson, secretary to Elizabeth, and another writer, who published some of his calum- nies in 1807, inform us that the Irish went naked ; and this they unblushing assert, as well in opposition to truth, and to the record containing the posi- tive law of Eochy Eadgathach, monarch of Ireland, who enacted, not that the people should wear clothes, for they were never without them, (and, were they disposed to go naked, their northern climate would not allow the practice) but that different colors should be worn in the different ranks \?í^í!Wf'íf!B(í.1í5SW^!^S8^i««ní^v^^ 55 j^rom the king to the peasant ; which proves they were skilled, at an early period, in manufactures, the art of dying wearing apparel, &c. This law» relating to colors, was promulgated many years previous to the Christian era, according to our ancient annals ; these annals are, no doubt, as worthy of credit, in the facts they transmit to posterity, as those handed down by Sallust, Livy and Tacitus, all of which are grounded on no other authority but that of tradition and the testimony of native writers, which is also pre* cisely the case with our Irish annalists. But the people, so far from going naked, were extravagant to a degree in their wearing appareh To instance, in one particular, the Irish fashion of making up shirts was so very expen- sive on account of the number of plaits and folds, that, in the reign of Henry VIII, a statute passed, which fbrbid them, under a severe penalty, to put more than seven yards of linen in a shirt or smock» SpeQcer observes that tji^ey wore saffron shirts and shiftSf which wpre also prohibited by an act of parUafnent, as «^«U as goldeoobitted bridles, spurs of the same material, and gild«d petronels or carabines. We never meet such embellish- ments among savage B»á naked barbarÍMS ; they are only to be found among nations of reAMd taste and civilizaitiap. The foregoing laws com- pletely refqte the oalnmBÍes of Moyson, as well as the Barrister who quotes him ; and surely he ought, as his profession required, to be better versed in the Statute Book. " The Massagetse have a dress and manner of living like the Scythians. They are either horse or foot as occasion requires, for they participate both duties, being spearmen and bowmen ; they are accustomed to have a battle axe ; they use gold and brass in almost every thing ; their spears, the points of their arrows and their battle axes, in all these things they use brass, but as to their helmets, their belts and their breast plates, they are decorated with gold ; thus, also, around the chests of their horses they put brazen thoraces, but on their reins, bits and other trappings, they are ornamented with gold. Indeed they use neither iron nor silver, for their country does not produce them, though they have brass and gold in abundance." Herodotus — whose very description is also given by Justin, was no friend, nay, he was the bitter maligner, of the Scythians, because they subdued his own country— just at the end of his book, gives the foregoing glowing de- scription of the grandeur and wealth of the early Scythians, and from that picture of their dress by an adverse writer it is clear they were not naked savages. It is argued that they covered themselves with the skins of beasts. Well, granting that they did, it does not thence follow that they were sa- vages. For eveff in our days the first men of the land and women think themselves very happy when they can procure some articles of their costume of valuable skins. For instance, gentlemen's vests, ladies' furs, judges' ;*'.^i*f"'?^'' '■??•' -í*?f?VW^^^ 66 ermine. Nothing can be more elegant than highly finished skins as articles of dress. They can be reduced to the highest state of finish. More than eleven hundred years before Christ, Abaris, an Irishman, gorgeously dressed) appeared at an assemblage of Grecian princes. In dress, wisdom, eloquence diplomacy and courtly elegance, he was amongst the first, as can be seen in my Treatise on " Round Towers." Again, it is falsely stated that persons who wear seamless garments are savages. Nothing can be more suitable to men's convenience in certain climates than such. Christ's garment was seamless, and a clergyman just after returning from a fourteen-years' residence in the East Indies, informs me that the seamless dresses of the natives are most graceful. I have thought it my duty to dwell upon this point, as many have been led into error. Trades of Ancient Ireland. — For an account of these the reader is referred to Keating, MacGeoghegan, MacCartin, O'Halloran, O'Connor's Dissertations» and several other eminent native annalists. The Scythians, (from whom the Irish), introduced letters, sciences, arts, and trades into Egypt, and into all places to which they traveled, or over which they had dominion. Scythia was a part of the primitive Iran or Persia, according to the above writers, and Doctor Parsons and the Earl of Ross. See my Essay on Ireland, also Preface to Second Volume of this work. r''i^^'Sgi^av;>iri(s' ''^^^^^^'^■■^^^^'^^rt^fKS^ A POETICAL HISTORY OF IRELAND FROM THE CREATION. The followinff poem was written by the Most Rev. John O'Connell, Lord Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe, in Kerry, who died, as well sis could be ascertained, in 1704. It is a most accurate history of Ireland from its earliest days up to his death, or martyrdom ; and, having been composed in elegiac metre, it was called THE DIROE OF IRELAND. In the former edition the Author felt timi4 to attempt an extensive radical improvement in Irish orthography, but the demands made on him by eminent dignitaries of the Church and sound Irish scholars, — aH approving of the few chanffes he had effected, — ^have given him a pleasing confidence to boldly undertake a complete reform of the hitherto vicious orthography. His close study of the philosophy of the language (especially during the last two years,) having diligently compared it with the structure of the Greek, which is itself only a species of the Pelasgic, once the language of Iran, or Persia^ has enabled him to comply with the wish of friends in this instance. He has been honored with kind and flattering letters from nearly aU those, who are thought to be judges of the Celtic in Ireland, and &om some in England, the Continent, and America, and there has been no exception taken. This fact gives him a pleasing assurance that he was generally correct. As this work wiM be stereotyped the greatest care will be taken, to the end that few errors, if any, will be found in its pages. It is intended as a standard work. ■ -J«B?5f5^S™-^?^Cií33R^^sf I^ W THE DIRGE OF ICELAND. Sfc:.-- -S^g.» t ., , - ■^rwTWíj'iíS^T^Ti; ;::;><9^^T^ y.^^^y^y^w^^^fpisewiw^^i^^fsm: rujHeat) N2i* i)-e)Re2iNN. I. Bjoi) «JO cfi|o8-f A a' ftj'J clíAb 6'k A iieubAÓ. A star (*) refers the reader to the notes at the end of this poem, and there will be only one for each stanza. The foot notes, such as this 70U are reading, will be marked by small letters. The foot notes to each quatndne wilTbe given in the same page or in the next On the suggestion of a venerated clerical friend of refined taste, an interlinear translation after the Hamiltonian system, was to be given, the letters shewing my reader the order of the Irish words, but as that was not convenient it must* stand as it is, as in first edition. It is to be observed, that as our chief aim has been to assist the student to learn our native language, we had rather give a literal than a loose English version of the poem. To give a graceful paraphrase of an original composition requires no thorough knowledge of a language. We have known parties to present the public with polished versions, and, at the same time, if asked to give one sen- tence verbum verbo, could not do it. But if a reader wishes to make himself master of a language with which he is not acquainted, a literal translation (as it is called) is that which will help him. He can easily polish it if he wish. But to give some idea of the poetic intrinsic value of the poem, an eloquent metrical version, from the pen of our beloved friend Rev. Charles J. O'Connor of Sandyford, Co. Dublin, a collateral descendant of Bishop O'Connell, and nephew of the illustrious Libebatok, is to be found at the end of " The Dirge." = represents, pronounced or equal; thus e- g. = exempli gratia; q. v. = quod vide ; s. n. = singular number : p. n. := plural number ; m. g. = mas- culine gender: f. g. = feminine gender ; n.c. s. = nominative case singular; n. c p. = nominative case plural ; g. c. s. ^ genitive case singular ; g. c p. = genitive case plural ; d. c. s. = dative case singular ; d. c. p. dative case plural ; as. = aspirated or aspiration ; ecL = eclipsed or eclipsis ; st. = stanza ; qust. = quatraine ; v. r. v. f. = see grammar in end of this volume ; v. pra. 1 = see preface in first volume; v. prse. 2 = see preface in second volume; v. A.M' = see Annals Four Masters ; (O'Clery's) v. A. M. G. = see Annals published by Geraghty ; v. K. = see Keating ; v. Mac C. = see Mac Curtin ; v. C. = see Carte's Ormond ; v. S. W, = see Sir Walter Raleigh, &c. &c a i)A = " of the," f. g., g. c. s. ; the masculine gender (ai)) singular nun»' ber is invariable; qa, the plural of masculine and feminine, undergoes no ''^yV^irWí:'i!f!^ím^Wr -W^^ THE DIRGE OF IRELAND ; BY THE MOST REV. JOHN 0*COKNELL, BIS&OP OF KERRt, 1704. I. The heui I reflect on the nobles of {the) Erin, The devastation of the country, and the ruin of the clergy, The destruction of her people, and the melting of her wealth (jewels), My' heart' in* my' breast^ is tearing.^ Tariation ; thus, i)a if]\i, the men; i)A b-feA}iy qf the men (an eclipsed letter requires no dot over it, or in other words, no aspiration) ; bo i)A ^reAtiTB, to the men ; the accusative as nominative, v. e. A ^t^, though in conversation we have often heard A f eAtt]b. For articles and declensions see grammar at end of this volume. \>AX)=ihe; Ai)i), o^i), li)i), aiJiJT. oiJ«)r» WiT, A .7. r =<» f when A, ], or r denotes in, some writers used to attach such letter to the noun after it, thus, bf fg ATQUic 'r A <)-t>1MQi he was out in the heavy thower; the last three words used to be written in two -thus, f'AQ o-&]olo]p. Plainly aq after f is the Irish for the, and should be written separately. Some remarks, which we believed we were the fint to have attempted on this point, and which met the marked approval of distinguished scholars, were expressed by a subsequent writer without acknowledging the source whence he got them. We shall say no more. We shall assuredly expose any such future practice. We have an Irish prayer, book full of gross blunders in this respect, but the one in pre- paration for the press by us shall be kept clear of such. We have seen U|Q, A]i) for A 1)]', in my. As much abuse has hitherto existed regarding this part of our subject we cannot yet quit it. The system must be exploded by scho- lars. Of late, A or aqi) is the form of preposition for the English " t»," not ]■ However each form is used as melody requires — thus, aqq. a before a broad vowel, ]i)ij. .]. ]l before a slender one. This is the rule CAO|l tte cao|1 ^X IcACAi) tte leACAt). In all languages the same system predominates. For example we have in Latin, amabam, regebam, in Greek, a 9r«ru cut »-i- ^v^» ««•• Tcv K»r»Kwnv> in English, gibbet, gender, gormandize. In ^hese instances you have slender to slender, broad to broad. Notwithstanding this the student will be often told throughout the following pages that as the rule is not universal in any language, so neither is it in Irish. Let it be kept in view by the reader that in this matter the Irish tongue has nothing peculiar. An ignorance of other languages has made some good Irish scholars fall into the error herein alluded to. The following corruption we would respectfully ik-.r WW^J^!ryW?W^^W!Wíf--.'^T^'si^ 66 II. T^A|téif i)A bíl^ÓDD ííeAÓ* TDAtt lé]5ceA|i,*» Mío|t n)AiTt puiDi) bo'i) ciije b^oi)&A,* 2lcc Naoj* V A cUiji), Setij, Caid, ir JApbécuf. suggest to the Irish student to avoid. Some writers divide the preposition ai)i) before a vowel, and this thef do because the words sound as if one. Surely it does not thence follow that they are to be written, certainly not printed, as one word. In French, «» am, det omit, «re pronounced as if oounatMe^ dayxa- mee ; but who would, on that account print them so — unnami, (ietsamis $ However, such a barbarism is in use amongst persons who are thought to be Irish scholars. They would maintain that ai) UAj^t ought to be printed Ai)quA]tt, or Ai)>i}UAjtt, thus inserting an euphonic i) where it is not required, as the 1) in aq fills up the hiatus ; and they wonld write Ai;i; At) UAftS *' *» '^ hour," Ai) i}Ai7i)UA]it ; and even if they use the hjrphen, they tear the q from the preposition or article, and prefix it to the word following. This error is frequent in some printed paper» of the Royal Irish Academy. It is time to put a stop to this barbarism. The mistake originated in this way i having heard two words soiinded as if one, they thought they might write them so. In every language, it is common that two words sound to the ear as one, parti* cularly in Oreek, French, and Italian, yet no scholar would ever think of writing them as one word . Homer and Lucian abound in instaiices of this character, ^v has other significations. At;, /ime, hence anntw, a year, At) c-Aq, when, Ai) OAiTt» " when" tlie Aour,— Whenever the words of the text mean when, they may be joined ; but they are to be written separate when Ae hour is sig* nified, thus ad UAjft. Some friends of the Irish language think tliat the system hitherto observed in writing and printing it is defective. They say that words, like these under consideration, ought to be always given separate, that wherever euphony requires the omission of a letter or letters, the apostro- phe (,') should be inserted, as 'quAiti, not ijUATtt : that wherever the euphonic ij, or any eclipsing letter, such as iij, b, 5, &c., occurs, a hyphen ought to be used thus,. At) c-acajii, not CACA]it, the fcdher. Others, on the contrary, are opposed to this mode, aud call it an innovation ; they add, that though this «ystem might seem an improvement, so far as facilitating the study of the study of the language, yet it might be doing violence to its native origin and peculiar structure. They urge, that Chreek authors, particulariy Homer, abound in compc/und team»— prefixes, qffi»et, infixes, elisions, eraser, &c, stiU there was very little interference, on the part of posterity with^eor^na/if. The apostrophe, coronis, breathings, and accent, a»- used by die Oreefks, are observed by Irish writers to some extent. We must say, that die accent was ^^^^^Í9^'^5í?!f ? •"™^5W- -^!?W^^'n(^^^^^^^^'^W^^^^3^^^^^^^^*^'^ ■ 67 II. After the Deluge, as is recorded (read) There lived not a portion of the generation of people That did' not' drown'' the* force» of* the* powerful« flood,» But Noah, and his children, Shem, Ham, and Japhet. not introduced by Greek wnters untU 200 years B.C., and then by Ariatopha- nes, the comedian of ByBantiura, according to the traditional Athenian intona- tion. The primitive Greeks, as welt as the primitive Irish, spoke and wrote purely, without the use of t^ a«c€snt ; b«t as men po'Qceeded frpm the source, marks were requisite to preserve or restore original ^sce and melody. As to the point in dispute, we are to remark— that even in Greek, innumerable instances might be adduced in which, though there is an omission of a vowel or vowels, the apo8&(q»h« is not imerted— thus v«»r«, for «» «vfw, ** the same iMngt" T«XA« ft» T« «tAA« *« die other ihimgi^" tie pastim ; ^laUncea of crasis— w^»vrv4''H Sea ^fi trimtmt, pasHm. Betwaen these ^inioi». we adopt a middle one. As to the hyphen after the «^nte '^ h," and the eclipsing letters, we agree wiUi Ae improvemait suggested, and gemenUf with the use of the aposlniphe. We have read in an Tiish prayer-b«ok this word bob, instead of bo b', and many such inelegant «(mtraotioRS. See Irish Gvammar at the end of this volume. In our mind, th^ are barbazous, and ought to be discontinued. At the same time, weiad«imihur eentraeticint in Italian, tíius aoi, for c(m, or rol, ia or It, and many of that class. We find ** def padre," for ^' «fee/ jMu/r«," in Spanish; not «ven an apostrophe is used. So also in German. Notwithstanding what has been already said, it is to be remembered that ttie beauty of a language may be injured, if not destroyed, by a cumbrous insertion of marks ; and that the facility aimed at may t>e adfeeted by a few clear prefatory (4>»ervations, bearing on them, and an occasional note. Though the marks have been much used in the English editions of f icnch works, yet we are satisfied the best ancient authon in Fvanee did not generally apply them, if we excq)t the apostrophe. In fact, the absence of them is an evidence of a primitive tongue. In condusion, we beUere th at tlie use of mariks was unknown to the ancients.. We recollect that, even when ourselves laegan our Greek Grammar, it was a contracted one, and when we required a Lexicon, &c., it was contracted. In course of time, die system was dunged. So it will be with tbe Irish ; the difficulty of rendnii^ all matters in manuscript, imposed the necessity, and caused tbe absence of almost aB marks except these used fur vowels or contractions. Homer is fuU of marks and with advan. tage to the student. The partídes are sounded with the wmds fcefwe or after them, o, ir.ASttr, A'r» Acur, A5ur, ocAf, onii. ' q-5pe]ce. The sound of 17 before 5 cannot be given in writing, it must be learned orally, just as the terminalional "• n" in French, which having no :ii-;^k 69 III. But alone there was in Erin, Fintan, the prophet, without drowning in the Deluge, 'Twas not his swimming, nor running gave safety to him, But the will of the High-king ; that is the wonder. 1 The hour (when) Noah spent, without folly, without lies, Much time, and the end of his life, (dn,) He went to Limbo to visit Eve, And left to his children the world wide. equivalent letter or combination of letters in English, must be learned fh>m one who talks the language purely. i)-5tté|ce. — The i) in this place is for euphony — the possessive pronoun a is left out for sake of metre. This line, the interpretation of which is " The torturing of her people, the melting of her wealth," has been treated of by us elsewhere. The author throws his feelings, through a long vista of time, into our's. His language, so expressive and affecting, moves us, as it evidently did himself. He saw the victims of torture undergoing the excruciating ordeal. He must have witnessed the inhuman execution of Bishops O'Cmmell and Mac Egan, on Fair Hill, near Killamey. We picture to ourselves bis generous nature recoiling from the mere reminiscence of the racking, mangling sjrstem of punishment of Crom well's party. In fact, to those who undentand the language the last lines present a beautiful hypotoposis — • ; i " bjoi) 190 ittoi&'te ■*''')' cI]a5 &'a t^éubAó." Pronounced beeun mo chreea si um okleev dhawrayboo. ^*5t^1^&* A notion has been created that i)-5 is a difficult sound ; — but this is a mistake.— To pronounce it a person has only to apply the tongue as in the words the, that, thit ; the only sound heard will be that of 17 with the tongue pushed out between the teeth, bo > d-saBati, dhun nhoa-ur. A lisper never sounds the words, on nhou-ur, unless with the tongue pushed out, that is precisely the sound for q-5. Nothing can be easier. J a'iq*, aq 11)0, in our copy was uip, contraction for ai; n)o. ^ b' for bo, a particle set before some parts of verbs, it would appear as if used for the sake of euphony in some plans, in others arbitrarily. It means to, fif, bo, to Aim, to it, aUo, two, not, tn, «n ; as bó-beur Ac, not mannerly, or ^*fimannerly. bo, when negative before a slender vowel, is by some written *>ó]. bó.bAiAc, not mortal, immortal i as can be learned firom the example given, bo aspirates, though not always, thus bo cefAli, was crucified; where c is not aspirated, bo c&r r^, he crucified ; the past tense passive is not aspira* ted — the active is. 5 1 70 V. 2lt) ^t*l^ f^]}}* V^^]}^ Seri) t^AT* céb cij^b,* 'S ad" 2Jf|»nip* ceAf T:^A]n, Gato, tji^T* PAomAb ; i)o c^]c AD 6uttó|p cnm jApbe?;»!]*, N| ftA]b DA rDA|tcu|DD A€;P C^AéítA|t 'f AD* c-if^pi) ID'b]C, 2l6ATb, ir Civ]D, 2lbe]l tr 6i»bA, 'S bo TDAfib CSX]v ?lbe^l 5AD éADCO]]*. , SjAnaA II. * Latiq, ile^ttur. i> bAop&A, /t&tfonaa, the middle t> heiqg quie8c«Qt ; vn eupbouif t> is inserted, or added to the end of words in pld AUthprg— thus x]^, T^VPt ÍV^t pro. (in Munst^) sin, sem, «u», (in Conn^ugltt) fkaif, f^ien, «fmn, Ip the middle of words It is quiescent where it is only euphonip ; but when it Í4 fi_ fíidici^ {Murt of the word, it must be sounded th^8, loqtiub, nuiitoub, a biiukbird, hutbAOQb^, popukUion, or people, qb = i)t). In luch as the l4»t, the ^' b" may be a ■uhstitute for *^ q,'' or merely ariitrary. Ttw p^ should, pf npc^ssitj, some- times introduce it fbr melody. *'pu]i}9," ^ 8i|>g^ Pfi^iit Ígm9-—^0W^t persous, bAOQA or bAoqftA, popul^Uon. Stanza hi. •> Hedie^ Aiji). é]n] 017— dative case — See Grammar at ead of this volume, at Ist declension waa articles. « Hence, "fiiith,'' <* iq, and b, thus dotted before bioad vowels, have the sound of M w ;" u A ti)i^cA]tt, Am mother, a bACA6, Aw Iwton, but before e, « ^ they sound *' v;" at the end of words *' v^* is the sound, whether the words are bEoad qr sleqder, as CAoiq, for khat/uv. However, in Connaugfat these letters, nhenjino/, seem to have, in some words, a protracted sound, nearly as ^' wv." and the Conacians pronounce 6 final, in many instances, like <'ff," thus bub, pro. 'Ou/Ti the tongue in pronouncing, being gently protruded and pressed out between the teeth. 81, her, does not aspirate, as a bAOjo^e. In some placet these letters are altogether silentr-8ee Grammar. * Hence, rato, wheel,' also |tÓT5, rf* . - • v,, , Stanza iv. ■ fr, or any eclipied or deadened letter, does not require to be aspirated with a dot or with an b after it, which is equivalent to a dot. The student will 71 (The) Asia East got Shem as the first partj And hot Africa got HatQ> Trho was not bleesed, There fell Europe to Japhet J I would take as fthare the jpá^^ lasf^. « Ví. After the oíeiiticJti» éf the* wofid,* ihortly» aftere that,* There was liót 6f thb llvlBg but four, in happy esdstelice, Adam, Cain, Abel, á4id Ete, And Cain killed Abel Without one ftlult. please observe, that the dot and the I) are used in the poem, to accustom him to the use of both. 1*hi8 HóA iliiist be catteAlUy aiMidguiáfaéd ftom rl^n, or fAT», Wett^ preij " tfmer," whereas roln i» pronounced " serh^" th« '' r" to be sounded roughly, or with a rough breathing. This is easily understood by the Greek student, who is acquainted with the use of the asjiirated r. •• Aliter, clii)i). <= Hence dominus, and domain. Stanza v. * cét> cu]b, is also writteh c&«b cVipy it could, with grace, be givefa éébc|t>, the shorter the better when equally intelligible. It is monstrous to be encum - bering words with letters that are not essential to the radicity ; the synocope is of frequent use in the Irish Wtltitigs, ttá are (he epinthésfs, prodúlésis ^ apocope, paragoge, tmesis, aphsreais^ metathesis^ elision, ooesuhi, orasis. •> '5ai) for )r Ai), " and the," also used for 'r ai)i), " and in." — Ham, as a part of tbe curse entailed on hiibself and his (^spring, for laughing at his father's wealmess, got as his inheritance, hot Aftiea, that even their color might be a brand of infamy. <^ In Munster this % is usually sounded, but Silent in Connaught ; it is gene- ntUy silent in the mkldl* of words. This word might be translated-^" he took tbe end," « " I would take," trtt]t)g being tlien a part of the verb— the «gn of the potential mood. FUiiJi). «irf; Europe being the end of the world. The latter interpretation is the better. Stanza vi. • lAf* é*c— «ee dii^tbongs, also consonants in grammai'. c-réiri) nf.h\t— «« gmmáiái', as abore, also, rules under Ist dedensioú. There is clearly a •*»k of the historic chalft lost here, as the transition is abrupt. However the P9et ÍBttodtiees this verse, it 8eem«, merely to make his imagery the bolder, by P»MeMirtg to the rewler's view the first assaisin, Cain, «nd the flr* ^EMht- docker, B«m ; A gfttnd^ comprehensive stteke of poetic traeeiy-j-Ml* WWii— , ?s^i^?«^|^!«''?*?^íjí^??^ ■ ">N 72 VII. )Y ó CbATi) bo 5e]i)' 1JA 1j-ACA]5'' 5^10 béAfA ; 2lclAf* A|t A n)-b^o6 leAc ija fpé^|te, jf , Aei) c-fúil A c-ceAt), Pol^pbénjttT'* VIII. B]t^A|tettf,* A|i A jiA^b céub líiTÍ) tbéittfSeACr 2l]t5af, 'i) A ceAW, FeA]t céub léitt-li«1f 5 ; 'C]CAT)'' ÓAÍpAÓ*' be]c c-CA||tb A]|t n^éfle, 503» "><^c 3oiS/ ir A cu||tp 5AI) lé]t)e. IX. Ciclopf, Cei^cAUftuf, Ce|ibe]iuf, 6|iicf, 3oft50i) *>o Si)1o6 clocA bo 6Aoi)t)e (bAOi^]b) ; 2t)]t)ocAUfiuf b]ceA6 ija 3t»^^5a15> N]tt)]to6, ceAiji) ]r Kí5 i)A peiijije. X. «D'eASÍA Ajtíf 50 b-c]uc|rA6 ai) 6íle,* í)o TtjeAf Hi«)tto6 cojt bo 6&aijatí7 (ÓeAijAó), Bttó b-íi^fTtbe ceAtjt) ijiv** ^a |teulcA, T^í ija|i* c|tíoci)U]3, béif A f AecA^i». with them immediately are placed, in fresco, the monsters ; as much as to hint — behold the evU effects of sin. * Y for Asut) &c. StAKZA VII. a *' fiavnm mac nhee nhawr veevin tkrayha." As we write for two classes of readers— those who know the language, an d those who do not, we thought right to give a key for pronouncing the first line. b Some write f:ACAi5, and A5A]5. s Atlas was a great astronomer ;— a chain of mountains extending through the Barbary states to the Atlantic, was called after him, as from its top he made his astronomical observations. Hence the classical myth, that he sup- ported, on hid shoulders, the heavens. The myth about Hercules having got under the load until Atlas brought him the Apples of the Hesperides from the Aladeiras, originated in the fact that Golamh, or MUesius, assisted him in making his observations, as the latter had been on his way to Oadeirs, Hodie, Cadiz. The mythic Hercules was the real ililesius. 73 VII. Ham, son of Noah, that was not' of happy deeds C traits J. It is from Ham were descended the monsters without man- Atlas, on whose shoulders was half of the heavens, [ners. And Polyphemus, (with) one eye in Ids head. - VIII. Briareus, on whom were a hundred hands of thorny fingers. Argus, a man'' of a hundred* seeing^ eyes,® in' his^ head.* Titan (that) swallowed' ten' oxen* at** a meal,* Gog, Magog, and their bodies without cover, (shirt.) IX. Cyclops, Centaur, Cerberus, Eryx, * Gorgon (that) made stones of persons, Minotaurus, (that) devoured the Greeks, Nimrod the chief, and king of armies. X. Through fear^ the' flood^ again' would' come/ Nimrod' resolved* a tower» to make* (That) was of higher» head' than* the* stars,* A thing' that was» not' finished after* his* labour.* d One-eyed Polyphemus — There was a nee of giants in the south-east of Sicily, called Cyclops ; so called from having a circular large eye in the middle of the forehead. Of these, Polyphemus «ras the chief. For an account of these giants, the reader is refened to Virgil's £neid, also to Lucian. Stakza y For the history «f Briareus and Argos, see Lempriere's " Classical Die» tionary," wherein will be had a full descripti For these names read Lempriere. c This must be gen, plu, as decern taurorum, in Latin. If such were not so there can be use of c, as the accusative case does not suffer eclipse. - d ^Ae50|5, son of Crog — see rules for genitive case, under Ist declension in grammar. a6 ^ oo at the end of words of more than one syllable — thus, 6aI)»u6 ghalpoo— in monosyllables, aw, as pA6, 5pA6, pronounced raw, grow ; in fact the 6 is silent, the a being sounded aw, as being before an aspirative consonant ; every vowel so situated, is, by position, long ; I know no exception ; ajo, aij, Ap, 015, »T5. A15, A]6, ujc, = ee. ■L^ 't>i_ ; ■W^f^^!^y^^^' it. Ó^k]f)rj\%]6 iDUft»|itt)9 be i)a f A*HAtb>* Ni H**» '^ ^1<^ So b-6t8óé Aft AOD 6u]&, ill. 2ll]t* Ao CAUrb d ^Attiof b'* b-pfeAfeAtt)0 1 NioTt beAj le^f ^A» bo bf A5 6|fte*ct. XIII. r»?,?Ji ^h§ pepple? It waa not UtU« to his» ik» l^igth h^ waa listeaing. XIII. ■■ ' ■ <; He' t\iwbleil^ 4own* with» hia« ftpd^ ThemselTea ^d the hilla on tap of eaoh other, - They are yet burning in their members, TuiWiig w^tlj;4i^GuIty, * groaofflg ^ii4 » gPF^^ming, STAKflA XII. > This word means artizans, from rAo6, (pronounced tee) kiuneiedpe, and peAti, man. The reader will always ^nounce A|6, o]d, u]6, A15, o^j, ufj, A]c, ofc, u]C, ee. x coming before e, i ^ sh as ff = she — English— she, ha ; but before a, o, u, it is s, as in sat, sot, suf. b f40|c, labor; feAjt, man — laboring man, or laborer. ' ' ' ' t SflBia £nsh schelan would read lUAr546 a ^T^eusA» '* clftffing their Aaad*,** but we ^wfer it as it stands is t^e text^ aa we fmtA it. W« Qev«r wish to tamper with a text, especiaUy when it oo^vtyq geod Mnae. tarSAil 4 i>.5att5A6, to wi fc ig t» /Mr intm^«r», ia excellent «en«e. 5t»U5 Í4 a b^fig^ of a tiee, and by a figure, signifies a member of the bo4f . Th^i^tee, xrh^fr we understand t^e words of the authcir in reference to the piin^ of hell, er (mlj to their being plaoeá under the burning ^tn^ the t^t retftisMA is eví4eptly genuine. T|iis is poetic language, having vef^renee i» Jove, wh^ he si^pdiiied the Titans who assailed heaven. i> bftfCA^. I don't see the use of the »l«inder vowel at all 19 ti^lf v«?4i V the ^OHiad of die syllable i» peri«ct Hitl^out it ; hQwevev» I let it m^4 *» I ^WQ^ it, thoogk \ caadep\a the use of them. A vigoiouB toMgns miMt lutve p^iúpng useless. I^ belongs to the first eeiuijgation, »a b\»AUji, /^M4in^ 76 XIV. ^ij it)AiáitT]ti leAii), bo bí* A|i t)A fAe|tA]b,* 'M-uAi]i A 6*^A|t|teA8'* cloc, bo be]|ic]b* C|ié 6ó, *N-ttA^|i A 6'íA|i]teA6 C|iAT)t), bo be]|ic]b Ael_í?6.* Stanza xiv. > '* 7*A« «t% Mpenn/ffiidian^ «»Ao to T15> O' rAo6, kruncle bile, from the Greek, bo is snmetimes a prefix or sign of the infinitive, as bo ceAfAo, to torment, of the past tense, as bo ceAfAf / tormented. In prose, this word could be written without the broad vowels, as it could in verse, if the metre required, according to the rule '* slender to slender," and " broad to broad." >> A has several meanings ; in this place it is to be translated which, the re- lative for AnuAitt, " the hour," ot " when ;" it signifies Aw, hers, its, theirs ; sometimes placed before the infinitive mood, the presmt, perfect, and future tense indicative, con. for ai), the interrogative particle, for ai;, tn, for A5, the prefix of the pre. part., &c. . >jpsCT5'?»sp'ní!w?7'ranpF^í^^ *■ r">í"^v>'?T^,WB;^!f?v»--f5f!p»^^-í 77 • ■•*'.-■ XIV. The silly' master* that was over the artizans / Of Nimrod's tower, and his labourers : When he asked for stones they gave earth to him, ' And when he asked for timber they brought slime to him. = SAecAjti, laborers := rivjc, to dig or push, and l^eATV, man ; a digging man : these were the workmen who attended the artizans — the f A0]tt.CftAi7i), darpenters, and the jrAO]tt.clo|c&, the masons. is here the prefix of the past tense indie, 6ía^iha6 for bo* ]AttTtA6, he asked for." |a = ee, at all times, therefore the accent over f is a mistake. W'e may here note, that the author, as far as we could find, has uniformly kept to the rule caoI lé caoI 'r leArAq lé leAZAt)- However, grammar commands a deviation, when the broad or slender vowel is an essential part of the word, so that another cannot be substituted, as in the word bóib, which is contracted for bo, to, |b, them. Both prosody and etymology prevent the carrying out the rule in this instance ; there will occur other exceptions, which tlie careful stu^ dent can easily distinguish, fb is also ye, and ófb, con. for bo, to, ]h. We are anxious to be explicit on these words ; a close distinction can alone make a stranger to the structure of our venerable language comprehend the manner of using them ; 60 ib, the accent on the f, " to you," suffers apostrophe, and is written bfb. The observance of such rules as these obviates the interfe> rence with the venerability of the structure of the text, by the interposition of many marks. This ought to be avoided as much as possible. The 14th, 15th, and 16th verses are literally grounded on the Book of Genesis (which see). * Nimrod's rower— this tower is thus described by Straho :— >" It was 660 feet high ; it consisted of eight square towers, one above another, which gradually decreased in breadth : this, with the winding of the stairs from top to bottom, on the outside, rendered it somesort like a pyramid " Though . Babel, in the common acceptation of the term, means " Confusion," yet might it not very easily be identical with Baal, its. founder, (according to some writers) by the epin thesis of " &,'' a thing usual with early authors. The aim of the designer of the tower was clearly, not that it wouM be a place of refuge in case of a second dduge— its circumscribed dimensions at top precludes that hypoltiesis, as it terminated in a cone or point, the ascent to which was by a spiral stone staircase, op the outside — but the intent must have, therefore, been the wild object of assailing heaven, as is said of the mythic giants— and herein is explained the myth ; or the men who deified Baal, and worshipped him in their adoration of the sun, moon, and stars, on which they looked as his great agents in working out tíie machinery of general nature and pro-creativeness— > thought that by the aid of the tower they could walk into heaven in case of a deluge. Most positively this tower afforded the Greek poets, whose writings are only a rehash of the Pelasgic ones, the theme for their romances, as to the assault of the giants on heaven, and their crushing defeat by Jove } and the Hebrew doctrine of fiery punishment of sinners after death gave rise to 6 ^r5r?^rss7'?:^í|PBWE?i«5í^ 78 XV. B] CA]i)c |ro le^c a* Ttj-béAl 3AC Aeij-ijc,'' Nf jiA^b TtO]tt)e"* fit) AC A Acc AOi) sue,* 2I1) ceAD3A 6Ab|tA, bo tbúltj b-6ibe]t. the heahenish notion that under ^tna was buried Enceladus, transfixed with Jove's thunderbolt, and that as often as he turned his wearied side so often was there an eruption of that volcano. Reason,_ without the aid of revelation, has ever led, and will ever lead, to monstrous and wicked errors. , Stanza xv. a A TQ-b&Al, " in íAe mouth," 1 is used before a slender vowel, and is transia- ted in } before a broad vowel we use a or ai)1), pro. on. We have already noted that when a letter is eclipsed it needs not be dotted ; ti)>béAl, pro. mayul ; 6, thus marked, invariably sounds ay ; it does without it when the last letter of a monosyllable ; all vowels in such position are long, a, o, u, e, i, ^ aw, ó, 00, ay, ee. <= I without an accent, pro. as )( in hit, í as e« ; the latter is its natural sound in every language, except English ; in Irish it never, unless joined with some other letter, sounds as the i in life. This last sound is an innovation amongst some of our Latin scholars. We are forced occasionally to tolerate it, thou£^ knowing it to be a corruption. This, and other prepositions, signify in. This copiousness of our language gives a fluency to the speaker, a facility to the poet and prose writer, as he can take the foriu, most suitable to his metre or his taste ;,the same may be said of other prepositions. See remarks on vowels in preface to second volume. '•= AOi) or Aei), as the vowel following may be slender or broad. A bfob b'fob, con. for be fob, of them, must be distinguished from 6ó]b, to them. * Could be Ttlii)e« : /^ Con, for Aoo-bui^e ; aot).5uc, acq one, 5UC, voice, in the previous line we had Aei), here we have Aot), each means one, in one place the slender vowel ] followed. Therefore, it was written Aei) ; in ^ latter place, the broad vowel "■ u" came after, hence aoi). It occurs to us, fmit if a slender voifel be pro- nounced broadly, the preceding vowel may be broad, as ttjbéal. — Uausteplura deceit : " Qnem penes arbitrium est, et jus, et norma loquendL" ' We must never, ibr the sake of melody, destroy the radix of a word. Yet a license is allowed to poets. We refer tiie reader to our remarks on tiie language that was spoken by the first patriarchs, which are to be found in the chapter on Round Tower» in this volume. The numerals A017 or Aei), bo, cause aspiration, thence upwards they do not; but treAcc,occ,i)Aoi, beic, cause eclipsis or mortiflcatum, aoijsuc should be wrtten aoo 5Uc., It is a manifest corruption to join such words. What *TíT*r*í^^*?PPy'^^ 79 XV. They slipped avr&j quickly, and separated together. There was speech different in the mouth of each of them, There was not before that to them but one tongue, The Hebrew^ language* (that) Heber^ taught.* caused this error in printing Irish was this : — The original writers or transcri- bers found it inconvenient to be raising the pen at the end of each word. They preferred to let it run to the next. This they did for dispatch, and to compress their manuscript into as narrow a limit as possible ; an expeditious writer or copyist of the English language does the same at this day. He will finish an entire line without ever lifting his pen. It doel not thence follow that a printer ought not to print his words aaunder. Ignorant writers or copy- ists of the Irish language, made the manuscript as the word sounded on the ear not as grammar demanded. Hence, we have met some manuscripts that were perfect nonsense and disgusting, and what makes this evil still worse is, that the ignorance of some of them is incurable ; they fancy themselves more learned than all others, and will not, therefore, yield to the force of common sense, because of their dogged pertinacity in pre-conceived notions. However, we are satisfied that a little time will rectify this mistake, when it will be found that there are hundreds of learned Irish scholars to be met with. Time, the grand developer of all things, will prove the truth of this statement. There are, at this moment, many native Cionfodhlas ( kinfyowtas ) in Ireland, though they do not shine in print. There is no field for them, no encouragement, no patron to sustain a writer. If an individual venture to publish to any extent, he is sure to fare as the patriotic Barron of Waterford, who devoted his life, and his entire property, to the revival of the language ; he got in return a broken heart. Notwithstanding all this, it is fortunate that there is even one small field for the advaneemeut of Irish literature, even though a monopoly may be, and is greatly complained of. Rivalry is salutary. It purifies mat- ters, as does agitation the waters of the deep. I like to see . honourable emula- tion, because it creates an earnest that work will be better done. Let me here add that the one language spoken at the tow'er is an evidence that the tradesmen and laborers must have been Shemites. Because Holy wrik and Bishop O'Connell attribute the cessation of the w«rks of the Tower to the confusion of languages ; the language of my author states that Hebrew only was spoken, and that Fenius came at that very time from the eastern shore of the Caspian, to learn the primitive Iranian, or Irish language, which remained with Heber, and which was spoken by the first peAttf^ (person). Adam (a quo Persia). The tongue of the Chnaites— the posterity of Ham who were the dominant party, was a corrupt dialect, owing to their emigrations South Westward. Our native annalists tell us that Fenius as well as Heber dissuaded their followers from going on with the impious work. Either then the Shemites must be supposed to have adopted the primitive tongue, as it must be ■ ■^f ■if5;«35(!^5?'?'w!JWP5'í^^ 80 ' i XVI. *t)o bj po t)-Art) 1*0] y« p|t(Oi)0fA c|ié]5ceAc, 21 cósbí^il* ceAT)5CA ija b-c^o|tcA '^é]ij^eAcr.' admitted that the Shemites by command of Baal or Belus, not Nimrod or Nim- brotbus, built the Tower. There is apparently something that needs be reconciled in this whole pas- sage. The poet says that at this time (when the Tower was being erected), Niu), the son of Fenius, (or Fenius himself, as most authors say,) sent out several deputations to collect the dialects which were then spoken in all the variaus parts of the surrounding country, and that on their return he incorpo- rated them into a Univerity on the plains of Senair, or the old land, whereon Adam, during his state of innocence, enjoyed the delights of Paradise. Now, in order to reconcile facts, as set forth in this passage, we must assume as true what our Irish old writers and tradition tell us. They say that Fenius came up to Senair, the cradle land of his ancestors, to learn, 5ttc A^t t>-ci5eA|ii)A, (ignorrantly, gortipem,) God's voice, or tongue, which he gave to Adam, and which the best authors now call the Irauian, or Irish. The reader will keep in mind that Persia and Iran are names applied to the countries lying between the Euxine. Levant, Caspian, and Indian Seas, as far as the mountains, west of Hindoostan and Tibet. We must here say that we claim the honor of being the first to give the roots of " gortiyem," improperly termed humana lingua, as it is the divine language which Ood gave to Adam in Paradise. Common sense is in favor of this analysis— .at which, after many years consi- deration of the word, we have arrived. The very fact of Fenius having come to learn his mother-tongue, is an evi. dence that he spoke it not before, but another dialect, which grew out of a new combination of circumstances, and the continual emergence of new objects, presenting to the mind fresh ideas, which required the exercise of the lingual laboratory to forge new names to express them. The Scythian King had therefore a language of his own and not that of Heber, which he came to learn, and the Hamites had one of their own also. Therefore in order to account for the language of Holy Writ, about the confused tongues, we must set down the sinful infidel portion of the Shemites— the immediate connections of Heber, as the architects of Babel — but against Heber's will. It must be here likewise noted, that it was after this confusion of tongues that Fenius set out to collect the dialects of the dispersed tribes, as well as of these peoples, who had previously to the dispersion, various systems of the Iranian, or Pelasgic language. Gadelor Gael, who came from Greece, as head profes- sor, arranged the Greek and Irish in school form. They are radically identical as they were beyond all doubt, primitively but one — the Iranian or Pelasgic* Time, place, distance, and circumstances generated new idions. i S!^r^'??5=^;i:T!s^?FfF?f*?sp''^E^'-^^^^^^^ 81 XVI. There was at that' time* au aceomplished* prince,* In Scythia, Niul, the son of Fenius ; ^ He sent twelve and twenty and forty,* (72) A» collecting^ the languages^ of the countries^ together.* Stanza xvi. a i)An) fO)T), pro. nhomson, "that time," sometimes written CAi) foi), pro. thonscn, in Munster is thon-sin. x before the broad vowels is pro. as «in sat but before and after the slender vowels, pro. «A, as heard in sAall thus Seixi}, pro. shown, " ./oAn ;" SéAi^ur, pro. Shmfmus, ^^Jamet." ~In Connaught, ro and ru are sometimes pro. sho, shu ; but as zax^ aoo fo, pro. Ihor on sho, " com« hither,^' Aijij f ub, " thither,'^ pro. on-shud. When the student will be reminded that the h is not a letter, but an aspirate, he will find that s in English, when preceded or followed by a slender vowel, « or i, is attended by an h or aspirate ; and when by a broad vowel a, o, or u, there is seldom an h. Hence, it appears, that rule refers as much to the English, as to Irish — ^nay to all languages. There are, however, some exceptions. b Ephiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, a great writer of the fourth century, and who died in 403, says, '' that the monarchy of the Scjrthians began soon after the flood, and continued to the captivity of Babylon ;" he further adds, " that the laws, customs, and manners of the Scythians were received by other nations as the standards of policy, civility, and polite learning, and that they were first after the flood who attempted to reform mankind into notions ' of courtesy, into the art of government, and the practice of good government — see edition of his writings by Dians. Petavius, Parist, 1622. The primitive or early Scythia exactly corresponded with the present We s tern or Independent Taitary, though, in after days, it comprised a great portion of Europe and Asia. The reader will please recollect, that as often as Scythia whence IVIilesius emigrated, will be mentioned in this work, the author means no larger a territory than Western Tartary, having the Caspian Sea to the west, the Beloo Tagh Mountains to the east, Siberia to the north, and Persia with Affghanistan to the South. Persia, at the earliest days, comprised all the countries to the Caspian, Levant and Euxine Sea, and was called Iran or Eiran, " Sacred land," because of its purity in religious matters, and its fame in learning, and because in it was Paradise, wherein was the first man, Adam, A^ céAb peAfttA, hence Persia. c This word, by the insertion of o for the first ], would read in English pro- nunciation, " Scotia." ^ from him, " Phoenicia ;" (because, for a time, some of his posterity ruled the Hamites,) also European civilization. It is said he built Athens, in Achaia, in Greece, see Mac Curtin's *' Antiquities." ■> Sometimes cAesAb. ^y^'f^^^'^^^^f^w^fy^'r^ "■™PÍ?í?:>'«'C?tí7W37!!'^^ 82 XVII. 21dij rio cftui 01316. f50|l 50 rAecjiAc, Ba bc, 5-e, b-p, Ike, in these places the second letter is silent ; but to omit it would destroy the integrity of the original term. Stawza XVII. • Kmv't by apoeape for '• moijeib " coiqije ^1«» " « meeting wiA them," or " of them," that is, he made them Professors in his University ; the first we read of that was ever established. From that day down to this in which we write, the Scythic race, wheresoever it streamed, has been proverbiah for its fame in all the walks of literature, and pre-eminently so the descendants of the Milesian Irish colony. i> TQAC pro.* moghy ''a amallplain^ ti)ACA]tie, a vast plain," resembling a sea. "' The plain of Senaar." re^O» oU, neutt, tire, but much better is reAO, old, A]\x, oeuniry — as we would say, ''■ the old land of the first man, Adam," was the ancient Chaldea, (though Mac Curtin, in his " Defence of the Antiquity of Ireland," says, *'this plain was in Achaia.» ) From this it is seen why Dr. O'Connell asserts in his poem, " that Athens (in Greece)^ be- longed to the Oadelian8 by right of Feniusa." If this is so, then that renowned city must have been built by the Scythians, who, as Justin, in his second * rro.=rronounced. >. Í^P^i^s^J^:'fr:'r7^'^:r^^'*?f7^^-^^ "^ • '^ i«e|C, or n>ic, son, or, o/ son, as in Latin so m Irish the form of the gen- itive singular is the nominative plural. The gen. sing, of masculines is aspi- rated, but not the nom. plur. Yet the gen, sing, of mas. nouns beginning with " r " suffers eclipse, as tM^'J ai) z-xa^A]^c, the priests mountain. How- ever nAtjufscóitA, "■ of the Saviour" seems to us sweeter than aij c-fl*. Noun» beginning with this letter and of the masculine gender have no eclipse in the gen. plu. This is peculiar to r< and indeed it would be more graceful not to mortiiy c, in the same case, nor in any case as b, and c, are nearly alike in the same cases. Feminine nouns are aspirated in the nom. «tn^., not in the gen. sing.^ their gen. plu. suffer ecUpsis ; if the gen. sing, of masculine nouns be eclipsed, the same case plural of the same word will not. .^W*é;"r'W*;ji!p!SI*l^:í?Í-!y?J|!*í;*f'™ ?P?^S^'3P^ 84 XX. So 'é At) cAtn bo b| 2t)A0ir' 'f Ai) é>5ipc,* ' 'S pobAÍl jf|tAel ^o 6Ae]tb|tu]b ;* , i, n Pbí^ltó pAllf A, píoctijtt|t, bAé|t leif» )f ScdcA ceAi)i)f A, l!s,i) bo* ÓAeiJIJACC. XXI. •Do |tu5 2t)A0ife A tt)tt]Dqit Tfé]t) \e]x 'Cji)^ A1J ^uiTi KuA]& fUt) 5AI) eirl|t)ij j" So called after Gael, the Linguist, whom Niul so much respected. The Professor must not be confounded with Nial's son ; the last syllable cut off*. c Gaodhal Glas, Gadelas. Niul called his son by Scota Gaodhal (Gael), or (Ghayvlj, out of respect to his tutor of the same name, who digested the Irish tongue into form, and who was also his relative, being descended of Oomer, son of Japhet. The reader will have learned, that it is said, when Gaodhal was young, he was bitten by a serpent ; and Moses, through the in- tercession of Aaron, having laid his wand on the child's arm (the part injured), it was instantly healed, and the place of the wound remained green, which in Irish means " Glas.'' Keating and Mac Curtin give this story, which is not lightlg to be denied. Before the United States of America was populated, as it is now. Irishmen emigrating used to carry with them a hazle stick whose touch was considered death to the snakes. Niul relieved the Hebrew people with provisions and other things ; and we are not, therefore, to be surprised that Moses, the divinely-chosen leader, besought God in favour of the generous prince and his child. We are moreover told, that the Hebrew chief pronounced a blessing on the posterity of Gadelas, that wherever they ruled, serpents could not exist, ^nd it is a fact, that wherever they reigned, as in Crete, Thrace, and Ireland, serpents have been unknown. It is even remarkable, that in the parts of Great Britain occupied by the Celts, or their progeny, adders and snakes do not infest. Moses likewise predicted, that learning, in all its lovely |5f>3r5«*7"'^' '?r*P*™''T!?»^,«7^^*-^Er™'!»í~, . 85 XX. It was at that time that Moses was in Egypt, And the people of Israel in bondage. Pharoah [was] false, cruel, oppressive towards them, And Scota mild, full of generosity. XXI. Moses' brought' his* own^ people' with^ him,' Through the Red* Sea,' safe without hurt. [them» The' king* Hhought' to bring them back and annihilate So' that' himself* and all his host* together* were* drowned.* shapes, would be spread in every land wherein the Gael would gain sway. This has been literally verified. For, in this island, the infernal tyranny of the Danes, and the abominable Vandal spirit of English rulers could not up» root learning from.the Irish soil. What but the Divine will, powerfully ma- nifested, could have saved it. Even as late as the days of bigoted Anne, mountains of precious Irish manuscripts were burned and otherwise destroyed. We need not harrow up the mind of the reader, by alluding to Elizabeth's de- molition of Erin's noble literary structure — "Heavens! whole ages perish there.' Just so, Ireland's faith cannot fail *■ such was the promise of the angel Victor to St. Patrick, as the poem on which I am writing, states. How vain was it, then, to strive to root out either the language or creed. They are, each, based on imperishable rocks —on God's word. They can no more fail than truth be entirely pushed back to the ever^flowing fountain whence it gushes. They are as immoveably settled in this holy old island as the im- pregnable rocky ramparts which nature has thrown up along our shores to beat back the waves of the tyrant ocean. The raging billows of persecution may menace, as often they did — the iron rod of penal laws, may again, as for< merly, be reddened to lash and torture our anointed Priesthood. The tempest may howl and the storms of heresy rage, but all in vain ; Ireland's Church will never fail ; God its source, the blessed Patrick its founder, Mary its shield, and a devoted Hierarchy its faithful guardians. Stanza xx. ■ 'r At) ésipc ; by close observation we have found that this t^V hitherto set down as a preposition^ is not such, but is compounded of r, '^ in," and At), the definite article '*■ the." For example, tat) o-cift, pro. son theer^ *' in the eauntry." Now, as we have no inde,finite article in Irish, the Irish worda given by us, must contain a d^nite one, and that is evidently found in f'^t), 7 «;'„«-.-•,,:(;'.';'•■>,•?•-' ' v'r • ~?^ ^5?^^TT7r^*f?^'^^ 86 XXII. o cuA]b Af x]v 30 LAcebéiDOt)' 'S bo sluAfCAb Af lé })-\on)4>.S* "^jxeu^^c. XXIV. ^' 1")ci3 foifi leo 3uf Ai) SqcjA, *S ADU b'éi]t^3 u|t|tívi)» ibiii' 'f A D-3eAlcA XXIII. They were for a time in the city of Thebes, To them belonged Athens by right of Fenius,* They went thence to Lacedemon, And they departed from it with many Greeks. XXIV. They went east to Scythia ; It was there arose a strife between them and their kindred, They returned back through the islands of the Greeks, Thence they sailed to (the) Egypt and Iberia. StA>(Z4 XXI. a hree un murrhroo-s slawn gunesfUhyn. b b-f]UeA6, vi/ZAoo, in the copies we read ti)|lleA)3, which is clearly a cor. ruption. c The preposition aijt) before this word used, to be improperly divided, so that one i) was placed before the ein, and the A, elegantly ; in Irish the preposition with the noun or adnoun is a form of adverb, as it is sometimes in French, avec rapidite, rapidity. c 3utt X}oc re ctiioc are the words of the copy — " until he settled in the country." We have made it " untU they reached, &c. Stanza xxin. a &Ó bf n^b, " they were" the copy has it, " he was" using re (shay) in- stead of nA*» (sheeud). However re would do very well and would mean the chief for all the clan. It might be more poetic. bAtjCébé, "of Thebes," the copy has \J.^T}>ér^]A, "■ of Hisperia.'* We read that the Gadelians were for some time in the city of Thebes. As in French so in Irish we use the article before the proper name in some places. •-■^JTiiifT'nrr'i?^-^^? nl' - ^ 88 XXV. J flejbce 5-CAbí|tí/ n)}c 2llcutDei)A, jbljt Oftcisi^v* If ojleivu CbftecA ;* The capital of Laconia, whose inhabitants wrote so curtly, that all pointed brief writing is styled laconic. * Gadelas the linguist was from Oreece, and was nephew to Fenius, and this perhaps is the allusion here. Cadmus of the Greek writers was the 6a. delas of the Pelasgi. See preface to 2nd volume and '" Essay on Ireland." Stanza xxiv. a uttT^SVQ. I have considered this term more appn^riate than ]n)tteAr, the lailer denotes ttpetty quarrel. This is evident from the fact, that Ti)ó|t, ^'greaty* is added when tlie idea of a dangerous dispute is to be conveyed; but the for- mer term implies " contentio" a contention, not for a part, but for the en- tire possession of a thing See Ainsworth's large dictionary, he writes: *' Contentio est non at parte sed de ttta possessione." This was exactly the case in the matter alluded to by the poet ; the struggle was for the sovereignty of Old Scythia, between Riflore, its king, and his kinsman, Eagnon (Annon), •on of Taith (Thagh), the former having been slain, and the Gadelians fled to escape the rage of the descendants of Nenual. •> 3nél5i for SneuS'AC' e ni)»i the b is only euphonic, as the Greek poets had their euphonic », the Celts used b. The Greeks, according to their provinces, had their mf», tea, it' ', the Irish had its particles to secure melody, for which it stands pre^emi. nent. The patriotic Keating thus writes of the Irish language. « 2lr miMr AP ceAi)5A Atj 5*0161156, 3uc, 5A0, CAbAin^ coisctiTce; 3lÓTt, 5I&, 5I105, 5Ar&A, Sé]n), TttAittC) rulcBUr&A. C|A CAbtiA ceAt)5A AT T^'^ViJ^Ay C]A lAp]Ot)r) ir léA5Al)CA, Uaca ijittce x))o\\ n^ic l|t)5 , CuAtteti) irocAil bo conjAio." " Tho Irish is a language completely sweet, In aid of which no foreign e'er did meet, A copious, free, keen, and extending Toice, And melliflnent, brief ; for mirth most choice. Although the Hebrew language be the first. And that for learning, Latin be the best. Yet still, from them the Irish never was found. One word to borrow to make its proper sound." The Irish as spoken now has many foreign words. *!ifs»^?»^*-3SW5*PiSiv''?-^"^^^^ 89 XXV. A storm arose and the winds raged against thein, At the Cabiri, sacred to the son of Alcmena. Between Melos and Ephesus, Between Ortygia and the island of Crete, Stanza xxv. » b' for bo, the sign of the past indie , as of the infinitive, for too 'A\\toATg. ^ Also C5AC, 3AOC Ai)t:A6. "a tempest," An, intensitive f article '■'■very" VAto,'-''lortg,' 5A0C tijOTt, '■'• great loind, ' '^'^ a storm.'' " "■ Carbin" is a name the poet gives to a promontory on the south-eatit of Italy, and which, as we find by the third book of Virgil, was, with the whole territory, sacred to Hercules, the son of Alcmena. Strabo says, that in the city of that place was a colossus of brass to Hercules ; that it was built by the celebrated Sysippus, Alexander s statuary ; and that Fabius Maximus brought it to Rome, and placed it in the Capitol. Cajia taken literally, means " a head,''' also " a friend" it signifies also " a gammon^" likewise a " headland," but somewhat winding or crescent-like. Hence CAftbiop, " a lofty head'and" the promontory of Licinia, where Juno was worshipped. To the west of this promontory lay Scylla and Chary bd is ; the latter on the coast of Sicily, and the former on that of Italy. CATtb|i)i) is better, though we allow the text to stand. The reading of a passage in Virgil leads to the true interpretation of CAii-b]iji), and only when we had a former note in print. CAti-bii)i), for CAtii)- b|t;i), " stone promontory.''^ CAtxbitt, mountains of Phryg^a, in Asia Minor, on the coast of the Egean Sea ; they lay south of Troas. Deities, called after them, were worshipped here, in a most obscene and wicked manner. This system of worshipping was practised in Colchis, west of the Caspian, and in Samothrace ; especially in the latter place. These deities were supposed to be most powerful in their guardianship of sailors and warriors. Hence all chiefs and princes were initiated in Samothrace.— V. Her ii., 51. Strab. 10. Pan. ix., 22. There is much dispute as te who were those gods. The author evi- dently sets them down as tqic SHerbetjA, '■'•sons of Alcmena," daughter of Am. phytrion, king of Mycens, and her mother was, according to Plutarch, Lysi- dice. She gave birth to twins, viz., Hercules by Jupiter, and Iphicles by Amphytrion.— V. Pantheon and Her. ii., 43, These are now called Guebres, as can be seen in Moore's Account of the Fire-worshippers, Caunterv Syria, and Egjrpt, &c. The horror the Clanna Fenius, or offspring of Milesius, conceived regarding them, leads to a belief of what the author (Doctor Par- sons) of *' The Remains of Japhet,'' states, when he says, that the Scythians who first colonized Ireland, believed in the one true God. Melos, lying between Candia and Peloponnesus, famed for minerals, iron and wines, much written about by Thucydides, ii. Pliny iv., 12. Sicily is clearly this island, whi^ the translator of Keating ignorantly calls '' Gothia." The comparison of factK leads to this opinion. ** Also ASUf "anrf,*' 1, also Í, ioir- sw-y-^-'- ■■.w^c^^''v'-^fwí^^ 90 XXVI. jbjft ScilU* r)A z-zovx) b-cAefSAe,** jf CAjiibbif bA5A|tAc, bAOJlAc;*'' i)o h] AT) 2t)u|i|iuA6AC* 50 b|iji)* CAeb le^f, ^ ST^ii^lS rS^o^lce, If Í 6'a |té]ceAC. XXVII. jrr Ai)i)|* A TTj-B|0f*5it]t), bo 5A]|tiDeA6 Hecf 6e,* "puAiTt Ife SA^rS^, njATi ADinj " 2t)]lef]uf" " 2t)ílé *6Afp3i]i)t)e," Aijijf A* i)-3AO]6e]l5. e OticÍ5iA, also called Delos^ a little south of the Archipelago, and north of Crete, or Candia. The latter was, at a very early date, inhabited by the Mile- sians, whence some of them migrated to a place lying to the south of Troy, where they built Milesus, of which place was Thales, the celebrated astronomer. There is another small island called Ortygia, in the bay of Syracuse, south west of Sicily ; there is a grove of that name near Ephesus. In the former the fountain Arethusa sprang up. Melos or JVIilos is an island north of Crete. Ephesus, a city of Ionia, 60 miles south of Smyrna, in Asia Minor, celebrated for the temple of Diana, which was burned by Erostratus the night of the birth of Alexander the Great. Its architect was Ctesiphon. Its length 425 feet ; its breadth, 220 ; it had 127 columns, each the gift of a king, Pliny xxxiv. 14. This temple was rebuilt, and continued to be thronged with votaries until the days of Constantine, when all Pagan temples within his realms were overthrown. How beautifully does the poet group the places in regular geographical positions. Throughout the whole work can be seen a rich vein of talent, and refined literary taste, evidencing the polished learning of our anointed clergy at the very time that hell and wicked men conspired to annihilate prelates, priests, education, and the Catholic religion. (How vain are the efforts of weak mortals ! ) We are, in all these respects, at present, blessed be God, in a glorious position. — '* Dens nobis quis contra " StAHZA XXVI. a Scylla— dangerous rocks on the coast of Italy. Charybdis, a whirlpoid ou ' the north-east coast of Sicily. Here the Trojans apprehended great dangers, against which Helenus, King of Epirus, warned them. Numberless pages of myths were written by ancient Greeks and Latins on this passage - Vid. Virgil's ^neid, b. ilL 1. 480 ; Homer's Odyssey, b. xii. c. 13; nynitt. sea, fiVtAb, red ; signifying that the monster lady had golden tresses. *> c-c, pro.', sfté, '• essence^" cefi^e, "fire." 5fteAi) the q, being single, signifies -to engrave. We should have sooner remarked, that for the ease of the articulating organs it is necessary that a broad vowel come after a broad one, and a slender after a slender. Let any reader experiment on this theory and he must agree with us, thus : e, i. or i, e, there is but the slightest change of the lips from one sound to the other ; the same can be said of a, o, u, whilst there is a very perceptible change from e to — from o to e (try it) whereas slender to slender, broad to broad, is graceful easy and natural. It is so in music — the movement from high to low notes, or vice versa, is distressing on the vocalist or instrumentalist. = Terrific, boiling Charybdis. _,, ,^ ^ d \}]i)rt meuia a pinnacle, hUl, promontory — figuratively, pitch qf the voice. Its translation in the line is '* melodious." b|Tt|i}0}t means the same. ""'' Stanza XXVII. ' ■..-•-^-r > The copy has, in first line, s-cac A]tt, city, this could not be the true reading because strangers would not attempt a landing in it without first reconnoitering •^y?yr ^/ ? iy i *^y ?gT^gif''^e?q^ ^ 92 xxvrir. Cbuifi 30 BAT)bA CAtr)All |to(Tt) 3bAo6lu|b ; O b-G>lí>iiirS«oíl cfióÓA ]r O'LAesAnie/ )r 0'CobcA]3 b]i)t)' bo f^ijijeAÓ Afi cfeAbA]b. . XXIX. Bile,* 2t)Ac É|teo3u]i5,* Af) "Ciii 'r A 3AelcA, 'S A f ein^i* ")AC bo bi i)A lAocitAib,** 4)0 7t^t)oeAbA|t ]o6bu]|ic bo ija bfeecib," 'S bo 3IAC )i pA]|ifiiJ3e TÍ)ACA]|ie* "Cécif. XXX. 2QaC ItJA^C éfieOSAIt) )c,* If AOIjbA, O 'd iu-BitA3Ai)f]A'» c(3 b** A b-|réttCAi^ ; "CuACA be Dadat)'* 3AIJ CA^fejb, 3At) bAOi)i)Acc B bo lbAftbAbA]t lé b-Abu]&,» At) A01)-^eA|l, the place. Again, there is internal evidence in tRe history of Spain, at the time, that there was not a city in that part of it, wherein they made a landing, unless we suppose that there was one built by the Phoenicians, said to have settled in Oadeira, (now Cadiz), more than 1500 years before Christ. b A 9.5AO|6le|5' ; some would write Ai)i} i)-5AO)6le]5', but the double 17 after a ; in the proposition, is not at all requisite ; the eclipsing t) preserves the melody. It is inelegant to crowd language with letters that are not necessary ; nhayilig. StAWZA XXIX. a This verse alludes to the council of the chiefs, held in Brogan's tower, in Oallicia, in the northwest of Spain. The place is generally called Briganzia. Here, after mature consultation, it was decided, that the intrepid, learned and accomplished Ith (Ee), son of Brogan, was to go to Eire, to reconnoitre the country, in order that he might be able to inform his friends how best to attain their object. We are told in history, that, before he left Oallicia, a sacrifice was oft'ered to Neptune for his safe voyage. The translator of Keating men- tions, that Ith (Be) sacrificed when he landed in Ireland. This matter is written of at much length in the Book of Invasions. The poet here states that it was the uncle of Ith (Ee) and his children that sacrificed. We cannot ascertain upon what authority. We would be inclined to interpret the stanza thus—" Éile, and six other sons of Brogan, and their kindred," meaning ^^ir^T'íSíflíwggs?*^^'''^*^ ■^i^^^r^y-Wr^f^^^si^^'^S^^--' -yf-i^-' XXVIII. Adverse winds, and a cloudy (foggy) sky, Wafted to Banba a time before the Gaodhalibh, ^^ '^ Renowned* O'Drjscoll and O'Leary, : ' ' .* And tunefuP O'CofFey, that played on the harp-strings. XXIX. Bile, son of Brogan, the hero, and his kindred, And his six sons, who were champions, They made a sacrifice to the Gods, And Ith took to the expansive plain of Thetis (the sea). XXX. Ith,* the good' and noble* son' of Bile,' Came from Bragauza to visit (to explore) ; The Tuatha De Danaans, without beauty, without humanity. Him did murder with despatch, him only (the only man.) Milesius (son of Bil^, his sons, &c, assisted at the sacrifice. Bile was the eldest son of Brogan, pro. Broun, the other sons were Broa, Fua, Meur-heivne, Cualne, Cuala, Blaa, Eivlenn, Nar, Ith, pro. Ee. ^ Iaoc^aiB, Warrior». — We have seen this word written lAocftA, ftlsQ UoéAjb, to agree with the last syllable of becfb. c A slender rowel, whether accented or not, is generally long before a dotted 6, or ^, ore, and indeed, with few exceptions, all vowels before aspirated consonants, will be found to be long. The few mistakes that would accrue from laying this down as a rule would not be worth noticing. For instance, ti)AÍA7tte is very short in Connaught, yet if sounded maiugheere, it would be intelligible, and not very unmusical, this once understood, the accent might be often omitted, as béeqb— the accent and the letter e might be left out. <* This wcMrd means a large plain ; hence, metaphorically, the sea. Stanza xxx. ■^ The good, and noble warlike son, 1th (Ee). — The reader can plainly per> ceive that Ee, here mentioned, oould not be a son of MU<, or King Milesius, but his uncle, as he was the brother of Bile, son of Brogan. The term " Mile" was used in Spain to denote the Miles, or warrior of the Latins. The Bourkes of Irish descent are fond of this name— there being rarely a fiioaily of distinc» tion of that name that has not a '* Milo." Other families have the name " Myles," thought to be a corruption of Miles ; but it is not ; for the Irish 8 »5í?'^*V''':«?"x'?'^7?"^ 94 XXXI. jr |:uActbu|t ^e^fiSAC slACA^b ija fSéAÍcA j 'Cbtt5<^t>A|i'**= Ti)íle njioi)T)A,'* ijíifi bjtéASAc, 3o b-tíu]3bír |i]05Acc ir pu]l, ad *éi|t^c/ of it is n)AO]l ttl5. Yet the true translation of these words is babi king. We cannot learn how Myles became the conventional interpretation of it. O'Flaherty, in his Ogygia, tells us, that, the Milesians landed in Eire I0I5 years before Christ, which was the fifth>year of Solomon's reign, but Keatingi O'Halloran, Mac Curtin, and others say the Invasion was 1298 years before Christ ; of the world, 2737— after the Flood 1081. b The b after the b in this word is what is improperly termed the sign of aspiration, and causes the b to be sounded as the English to ; but before e, or «, it is sounded as v — thus, vjo bl)éul, pro. mo vayul, my mouth. The author of this poem, as may be seen, generally uses the dot as the sign of aspiration, which would be with more propriety denominated a melody, if we could so speak. The i before the a in the end of the word is inserted because the word after is a slender vowel — carrying out the rule CAol ^e CAol 'x leACAi) ^& leACAi7, which is peculiar to all languages. It may be here noted that b and tb, at the end of words are in Munster always pronounced as v, but in Connaught nearly as uw together, thus— lAti), according to the Momonians, pro. Ihav ; according to the Conacians, Ihavev. There may be a few deviations. <= Oo=6o A — 6o belongs to tiie verb after a (them), and is the sign of the infinitive mood in this passage ; it is also the sign of other parts of a verb, as was already explained. The English of a, in this place, is them ; it likewise signifies her, him, its, who, which, that, tc, in ; is also a prefix of the tenses of the indicative mood ; is likewise a preposition. d Tuatha De Danans, were either persons descended from Dauan, a lady of a direct line from Nemedius, or, according to some antiquaries, cuaca, nobles, be, or beire, gods, b^i), song. This colony, agreeable to the last explanation, was divided into three classes — Nobles, cuaca, gods or druids, bee (dhaye) or befce be b;!vt), gods of song, or poets. They were a very learned race, and were, we might say, worshipped on account of their learning, especially in the necromantic art. For an exact account of them see historical notes and chapter on Round Towers. e le Abui6, with despatch, or quickly, vernacularly 50 c.Apu]6 — Aotj-^eAti, pro. ayunar — this term, in this passage, signifies the man, that is, tlie match- less hero, or it means Ith alone was killed. W^e may remark that some copies have A^x) a leAbAé, in his bed. This is nonsense as we are told that Ith (Ee) departed from Carmody's sons, (A.M. 2736), brought up the rere of his 100 select men. As to the word Aoi; feAi[\, it is supposed that it is identical with "^^^^^^^t^^^^^VT!:?^!^^^!?!??^ T'?v'^fS?T^ 9o xxxr. Report^ of liis death^ •came^ to his kiusmen, And they became angry, having got the news, ' They gave a thousand oaths, that were not falsified, That they would get a kingdom and blood as an Eric. ini)-^eAt*, lot; s-peAti, Aotj-peAT^, ai)i) b-treA|t,but we think not, and we are of opinion that the latter words, denote marrioffeahle, and the former is to be translated as above. Stanza xxxi. a This word is comp. of po, to, l)'A]q)C, came, b A hikjx (teaunsh), of his death — a, his, pro. as a in ask — fourth sound of a ; this sound, even in English, is not carefully observed, it should be, as it were, a ask, the a to be articulated tvoice but quickly, a, hers=a in hat, or like it, very short— the | in his]x, is the genitive sign, the nominative not having it. ° c or cb is the same sound as A, tlius CÍ5, r))]5, pro. hee, came. It should have been remarked before now, that I), placed before a word beginning with a vowel to prevent hiatus or gaping of the mouth, is exactly the same as the aspiration in Greek. Any one who has read a Greek grammar knows, that there is no such letter as h in the language ; but that a reversed comma (') ex- presses aspiration, and the ordinary comma (') is the lenis or gentle breathing, not causing any change in the vowel over which it is set. A philological question very naturally arises here. Would it not be consistent with strictness to make the same distinction in Irish as in Greek ? We will not assume to determine, but we must observe, that as the Greek f is sometimes aspirated by having dot(*) over it, so is tt, in Irish, in the end of some words, and the mark might be the same. In the Greek poets the aspiration was for some time ne- glected ; instead of it the digamma was used — n was likewise used, and is still. But experience proved, that from the disuse of the aspirations, melody was lost and disphony had set in ; the beauty of Homer was in a manner in- jured, and it was dreaded, that innovation would have completely destroyed the grand work of the Prince of Greek poets. Hence the use of the aspirations was re-assumed. Wherefore it is also clear the use of marks in the Irish dia- lect is necessary to protect and preserve its purity, as well as to facilitate its study. Wherever this waá neglected, we know that we can find but the heads or tails of words in the bastard dialects of our sweer, vigorous language. d Ti)]oqi7A. A stroke over ij makes it tjij. T" — neither accented — pro. as short t in nit — fo, eeu, as cfoc, keeugh. Sometimes the letter o is used poetically, and then in such case the ) is sounded, as though o were not at all after it. It would be much better to reject it altogether in such places a« n)]oi)i7A and write n)ii)i)A. r.;i |^^5B' 96 XXXII. 3UcAib AD Aifiri) 'f A lo]i)5eAf 30 sléAfbA, Se|r]0|t** njAc'' ri)Aciin)CA, n)eA|t6A 2t)bllenuf Se]f|0|i* T»)AC Bblle,** DiV|i b-|ruTiuf a c-cfiAecA6, jr cIat)t) n)]c j|i,* bo CA]lleA6 boij cfeAb bul, XXXIII. ' 21* riuf]0|i* ejle, 3At) AinTiur, éibeA|t,* 6]|teAri)ot) KUA]|i ]tAc, ^f 6aij6a, ColfA'» buAi) ]f 2l]Tbi]t5íi) cfté]5ceAc jf 4Doi)1),* bo CAlUeAÓ a 1)-ÍA]tCA|t BéA|l|lA.'> e énjc — This name means a compensation for an injury inflicted. The Brehon laws inflicted an éj^)C proportioned to the crime and rank of the cul- prit. Capital punishment is an impolitic punishment. Stakza xxzii. * We tliink that the word xejf^ofx (sheshur), is an interpolation of some liand, who did not know the history of the sons of Alilesius, or that the poet merely meant, that only tit sons of Gk>llamh (Oollay) attended the Council in Brogan's tower. For we find in Keating, that eiffht sons arrived on die coMt of Eire ; these are their names — Donn, Aireach Fabhruadhe (Fuviove), Heber Fionn, Amergin (Avereen), Ir, Colpa (the Swordsman,) Airanan, and HeremtHi. t> This would be rt)e]C or ii)ec, if the word after it had a slender vowel in the first syllable. £ugene Curry, Esq., the weU-known Gdtie antiqnarfaui, has made a very nice remark relative to this word, and, as far as we can know, original. As it stands in the text, he says it signifies youtt^fuL We dont recollect having ever heard it sounded unless n;AC;3ii)CA, which means getterouat whereas n)ACAi)CA is youthful The former interpretation in this passage con. veys exactly the idea of the poet, who intended a compliment to the yotiag princes : but assuredly the term youthfttl would be a irigid one to express eulogy, that word being applicable to even the most criminal or ignoble^ and at best mtans only a lad of about sixteen years. Persons may be yout/^ui and bad, but the whole scope <^ the author goes to compliment the MUeaian race, and, this taken into account, n)AC'At)ZA might be a fair reading. f«AH (far) iQACjvQCA is used by the country people to denote a Icvnd, generous man. iQAc iQAC;!xi)CA ti)eAtt6A is a high ealogium on the sons of Milesius, " the kind, courageous aonti" kind yet fearksa, humane yet fn/r^pid^, is a most graceful expression, not to be surpassed by any poet who has ever climbed Parnassus, or wooed the Muses. i-v» i'f'^i'r .?'■. ^-v • p íT \j^^ »~^«>»!w~ \=i;' V 97 XXXII. Tbej prq>ared an army, and their well-equipped fleet, Milesiua*' six' amiable,^ stout* sons,' Six sous of Bile, who were not easily conquered, And the' sons' of Ir, who was lost on the first landing. xxxiti. Their othw' progenitors, (were) without doubt, Heber, ^ Heremon^ who found luck, and Edna, Colpa, the valorous, and Amergin,* the virtuous, And Dotili, that was lost in the bay of Bere. c The poet must have here, metri causa, written bjle, for btveosAi), as we find by the authority already given that six sons of Brogan^ or Broan, not his grandsons by Bile, accompanied the expedition to have revenge for the death of their brother. Their names are Breagha, Cuala, Cualgne, Bladh, (Blaw), Fuoid (Fooid. Murtheimhne (Murhevne). Keating gives another, EU>h- linne, son of a Breogban, but as he inserts another family between him and the 6th name, we itittit this Eibhlinne (Eviling) was not a brother of the six. See Connellaú's analysis on Cinfodhla. d By this the author only means, that six sons of bjlé (Beelay) came to Ireland, not theU he hoi only six sons. e The sons of Ir, who was lost just as he was about landing, c&ub bul : in our own copy it was c&Ub CAÍ, first battley which is plainly wrong ; for he was drowúed on the coast of Kerry, and not killed in battle. This correction we have been enabled to make through the kindness of our friend. Professor Curry, who allowed us to see two copies of the poem in the Iridi Academy, Dublin. The copies he showed us diSet in some particulars from the one we have. Each of thon has errors reqpiiring to be removed by the aid of history, gcogm- phy, etymology, syntax, and prosody. The laws of Irish poetry are very simple and beautiful. A knowledge of the 6t«ek poets is a help in reading the bards of ancient Ireland. Without such a kaowledgei, a " more reader" of the language would destroy poetry, as he would £u)Cy ctrors wlieie there are humonious beauties. He would imagine, that letters and sffUables, inserted or omUtedt as the case may be, to suit the metire, would be a heineiiiB offeace against orthography, etjrmology, and syntax His want ot a knowledge of rhetoric would not allow him to recognise so (kigrant a heresy as to use one case for another — one tense for another, &c. In fact, unless a man is natsrally a good Irish poet, or that he is thoroughly acquainted with the laws of poetry generally, he is an unsafe guide in that respect, no matter how wdl he may talk, write, (» read the language. 98 A.M. 2737 A.C. 1298 4035 when Christ was bom, according to some. XXXIV. 21 c-coi)CAe* C|A|tfiu]6e*'' a i)-iAficAfi G>]]teATjij, pur reArA — that fourteen years after the death of Heber, Heremon died at Argidross, in Iduah, KUkenny, and this was in A.M. ^52; from this number take fourteen years, the duration of Heremon's reign, and there will remain 2738, in which year, on the kalends of May, the Milesians landed at the month of the Slaney, in Wexford harbour. Here their landing was prevented by the -^i^iSy^wyjiili^iiTi^ii :=»¥K»^5?-- 99 XXXIV. In the county of Kerry, in the west of Erin, They disembarked at the river Skeine, There is at the end of Currawn, yet without decay, The rock, whereby was lost sillily Enna. Tuatha De Danons. Thence they steered S.W. to Inver Sceine (Kenmare Harbour) ; here, having disembarked, they marched to Sleev Evlinne, or Seev Phelim, in Tipperary ; thence to Usneagh in Meath ; MacCurtin Bishop MacCullinan, Polichronicon, and O'Halloran, agree very closely with Keating. Captain Philip O'Sallivan sets the fact down as 1842, A.C. We were anxious to fix the date of this fact. * c-coT)ZAe, pro. 50t)rAe. — GurUhay (in Connaugbt) Goonihap, in AIun> ster. b CiAtt-ttÍ5 — King Ciar. From him are descended the O'Connors and O'firennans of Kerry. " Port," Greek, juXt*, ^ make port; Hebrew, *' Cala," rested, éjtte for é|tteAi)i}) by apocope. In the copy before us the word is CAttttU]5 ; we have made the change for these reasons : the word in the text suits the metre ; again, we are of opinion that e^tttiu]5 is a massive rock, and may not be high or shelv* ing, such as are the craggy barriers of our sea-girt isle — the imperishable ramparts, placed by the hand of providence along our shores, to beat back the fury of the angry element, and to serve as towers to an united people— if such we were — the more securely to resist, from their cloud>capped tops, the a^;res> sion of rapacious invaders. d Currawn is a lake one side of the rock, and at a small distance from the river Skeine. There is a small river, we understand, adjacent, called " Enny," after Enna, one of the Milesian chiefs, who was lost here. • 3ai) citAocxxft (gun thrayughoo), tmthout decay, in another copy we have read lé péAcujijc, to be seen. *■ CATtlXAlS, a massive rock, c^tAis, <» shelving rocX:— such as may be seen along the water's edge, near the Bailey light-house at Howth. The Carraig is seldom very lofty, though it may be vast, whereas the craig, or craysy are often very elevated and precipitous. They are then designated cliffs. Lofty rocks or eminences, but not of wide dimensions, are sometimes called AU-b]i;, rock'promontories, as there are some promontories not of rock. Hence, Albany as that country abounded in rocky head lands, or AlA-hlXt), while rocks, as there used to be a perpetual snow on their tops before they were reclaimed. Thus A]lclúit>, means rocky angle, or comer, an appropriate name for Cnoc Heremon now Fort St. Michel, a most romantic rock, in form of an island, on the coast of Normandy, in France. It could also be called Ailcl|Ub, rocAr wall, the natural rocks ascending from hbi'.TilLCJ'. •^^^^^^^l^^j^^»W^!^'^^S!^^^^T^f^?'f^^ 100 XXXV. e, 4)o"* cAbA]|tc tt)A|i A|i}rtj Ain )ij|f o]l5e. the base tQ the summit like utalU or 6racAta, arms. This must be the A]lcluib to which St. Patrick alludes in his " Coafessions," as it couid not be the Clyde, in Scotland, which can be seen in our notice of the saint farther on in this work, to which the readez is referred, t CuqbA— sometimes written 6a&0A • i)t>i &i) =» 99* It is on this account that a Connaught man always pronounces l«ondon, Lvnntm ; however, when t)& belongs, the on« to one syllable, and the other to another, each letter has its own sound ; also, when b is used, an eclipse b is sounded, and the letter after it is silent, thus, as AQ-Q-boftur = *g in nhort», n-horus must be pro- nounced, the tongue being in the position as in the word the. The O'Haydens claim descent from this prince. Stanza xxxv. « bo ^I'l-In these thiee words, the English of which is " He was," we have an example of the simplicity of the Irish, when compared with Greek, Latin, Frencbt bf remains invariable; add v)b, the English will be / u)a$ ; add cú, and you havp yotf teere ; and so on by adding the pronouns — not so in the otbar languages mentioned, the verb and of course the pronouns are varied, that is, a different pronoun prefixed to a different form of the verb. This servj^ as an example for all the Irish in all the tenses, active and passive. Another instance of its comparative simplicity in the present tense active, bUAl —add n)é, cú {thoo)^ f^ (pro. shay), xiv (p«>- shin) rjb (shiv), fl^b (sheeud), and you have / strike^ Uum strikestt &A> The Latin runs thus — each person, both verb and pronoun, having a different form — ^go cado, tuctediSf iHecadit, &c,— the English as above. The Greeek— Ey* rvwrm, rv rvxrur, # rvirru, jtc — English the same as before. French — Je frappe^ tu frappes, nautfrappout^ vous Jrappe», &c. Italian— /o^ppo, iufrappi^ eglifrapp-e (frafpe9) wnfroppiamo^voifrappet e, eglino or egRfrappeno — the translation is alrsady given. It is unnecessary to collate farther. Hence it is seen that Ae Irish, comparatively speaking, is easier than other languages ; but the fact of its not being commonly in print, instead of manuscript, has made it appear difficult of attainment Another circumstance has tended to make it seem difficult. Signs and contractions were much used in olden times» resem- bling in a manner our present system of shorthand, rathw phonography. This was almost unavoidable, there being no printing, and all public and private documents, works on literature, science, arts, poetry, &c., being of _,-^^f^:'^^^^^^^^!^-'.. 101 . xxxy. There were three queens in that" quarter»' \ vie c-{ Each' woman» of* them* asked' oi* jjer^ hHsbeB4»'.!:;-ci I- Her own naue^ daring his i^n • ;^. •, , ,. :/J 'jfi{7* To give asfui ap^lUtÍQn to Ims,|lilg^.f-! .7 '; ^■•- ( necMsitj to be preserved, solely iu MSS. No nation under the sun produced so many, such varied, learned, and important works, without the aid of printing as did the G«<^T-thouj;h fingUflb VaadalÍHQ ha» left u» «nfy a' mete (irinnant of them — the more vgluable-^like the best of the people, having been exiled or destroyed. But Providence has still preserved to us the materials for an Irish literature. The laaguage, like tíie Catl^QÍLe faith and people, oould not be rooted out of the sojl. They are iadigebous. Had printing not been applied, when it was, to the Greek, we would be less acquainted with it than foreigners are with the 5ao|6]Ii5. Qe for bo &, of him', qf it. We find it sounded with the accent when the o is omitted, as in the latter form, this word is the past, tense, indicative fA^t orfA5«|l, to find; it must be carefully distinguished frbilr FUAft, cold. $ame writers mark the u long ; this we think is not necessary, as it is alwaysTong before A, and soucded oo ; the letters jtM, in tiiis word, are a corrupt extension of Miles, " warrior." How it oxidated we cannot say, but use has now es> tablished it Spanith MSey,atSíitéi Aijnr a 'ij-5Aa|6e|l5, the x) is by prosthesis placed brfore the letter 5, a hyphen is placed between them by modem writers— this is not wrong in this place. The Greek poets prefix, a^, and infix, withr out scarcely any marks. The Irish bards did the same, as melody déman3e|| — they left the rest to the j^wnmarian. At the same time we are bound to remark that some transcribers and writers of our vigorous, euphonious toi^e comtiút grave errors in uniting words that should be writtien separately. This tbqr ISnt because they are pronounced together, French words are conunonly sóun'tted as if they irere only one, yet who would jumble them into one— thus, "q^n* eat ce ^e disent les joumaux," pro. kesk dig lajf joumoy " what is the news ?** " qui est ce qiii,'^ pro. ki ay iki, " who ;" how ridiculous it would be to write the above phrases '* questceque cequi }" '* il est en Jhaut," jn». *é!ai/ ainó, yet no one w It is in the Celtic, ' Jti;i &^' inldoMst every language seme words are so ^ken that in^etTAey i^nn m á^iitQÍ(iíiÍ yet It has never been known that a scholar Wrote or transpBlied them as bói^. And though a licence noaj be extend^ to poetry and t6jaaavitfni>t^ yet in prase and in printing the less the licence the purer And beita will b^ the Taqgnayc. . The fbOowing jiotes were intended for another place, ,but were overlooked, as we]l éé tiie previous one : SpsSn'was' cafleA Hesperia. The Scythians called' places west of thpnsdves lar, Iber, iberia, "west." The Greeks called places westward, Hesperia— 9 ^■Mv^vj^^-:f'*^r^s"-'^fr?f^^'f:^^ 102 XXXVI. ■poóU,* BAi)bA, A i)-A]i)ti), ]x* B||te* ' ^AC Cú|ll, tt)AC CeACC, If tijAC 3péii)e/ ' j 3-CAC^* "CAilqciji)* A CA^UeAO 30 lfe]|t ]Ab. XXXVII. O CftUCAO AIJ bOti)A]l) 50 TtJA^b^T) A1) IaO f II)"* ' T^it] Tijíle bl^ASAi) f A|ti|ie cú^s céubA,** Mi ÓeACA^S ó 'i) i)-3leo be clo|t)i) 2t)])]lef]Uf, 2lcc B]|ieATÍ)oi), clAijt) jfi, ]f é>ibi|i.** from Hesperos^ " the end." In the copy which we saw were written both eAfpAlQ and t>]or5A|Q — the latter word we have kept and omitted the former. This we did, feeling that Dr. O'CtHinell had not used both words. The passive-past may be sometimes same as the active participle, as ce^r- a6, tormenting^ bo ceAfAo, was tormented. The consuetudinal present form is formed by adding CAtt to the root— thus Ur, to light, pas. pres. lAfCAtt» / am in the habit of being lighted ; or by placing the past participle after bjoni, as bioiD UrbA. T On?A, also Ai)VA (ai)t:a6) tempest^ error of thy, alias, deliuling stars — Or. S^sipoe. Lat. Spheera. The h in this place is prefixed to prevent the hiatus — it is but an aspirate. In fact it is in every language. How common is the practice even amongst educated Englisti persons to pronounce words without the aspirate " h.** Bite, son of Brogan It was this Brogan who built the great tower in Oal- licia, north of Spain. In this tower council was taken to be revenged on the Danaans for the death of Ith, pro. Eeh. btteo5uip, or AII) — the ) is inserted as the sign of the genitive in words whose terminations are Ai), oij, ott, W(i, Ati, &c. -r > -, ■ 5a = *r A, and his kindred.— 'BUe was the father of Golainh, pro. Goll- hawv ; in Alunster, Gollav. Miles or Milesius, in Latin. bfon; lof5A6, / am used to be lighted— to be burned. lé|5ceAtt aij fOITSeul 5AC Aoo t)otbi)AC— The Gtospel is usually read each Sunday. Civ]n), or c ji^iQ& céAfbA, / am Just now tormented, that is, this very moment. This past present form (so to speak) is formed by adding the past participle to the auxiliary verb. It corresponds, I might add, with the Latin perfect pas- sive which is made up of the past participle and the auxiliary Sum—GaUia est divisa, *' Gaul is divided." However, this passive foim of the verb is trans- lated aft {he Latin present passive. There may be found some variation fVom J :?^'f^!^íf=5r??«f'j^i^9E?^^ «• '''W^^^'^ 103 XXXVI. Fodhla, Banba, and* Eire® 2í?erí their' names/ ' Their three husbands fell together, C Mac Coll, Mac Ceacht, and Mac Greine, >^ In the battle of Tailtean the)» were* alF lost.* XXXVII. From the creation of the world to the morning of that day, Three thousand years, besides five hundred, (teas the period,) There did not go from the fight of the children of Milesius But' Heremon,* and** Heber, (and a)^ son^ of Ir.* this rule which the reader will himself be able to understand. The passive voice of Irish verbs is much easier than that of Greek or Latin. In both these languages each person of the present, imperfect, and future indicative, both active and passive, is different — not so in the Irish, the verb or participle (the latter also being varied in Greek and Latin to agree with the persons) continu. ing invariable in these tenses as well as the participle in compound tenses — the pronouns alone being placed after the verb, in simple tenses, and after the past participle in compound tenses. !97o^ to praise, the o having a middle sound between short S and short u, as the same syllable in the name MoUoy. ^olcAft, ii)é, cu, &, \x)t\ or ri>7<), T^, }b or ]ot>, / am praised, you are praised, &c. Hence it is evident how easy is the Irish passive verb. For sounds of vowels, &c. beginning, see Gram, mar of this volume. This word is the Latin rex, " king," the Celtic term is T^fs = t^i, sometimes tijos or ttlA5i if a broad vowel follow it. b See note on the Tuatha de Danaans and the landing of the Milesiana, where this stanza was explained in extenso, also note on first stanza. r ° tJfob = theeiv, ef them, t>ó|b ^ thoughiv, to them. d A, (Aw, *; iy^ 1 > ••'>'■ ' "' ■> "■■■ ■' ■ • ■ ■■»,„- • I- :8tanza XXXTII. " -i a The variation of time between the author of my poem we have already alluded to, and said that it was not to be- wondered at, úiat authsn would diffiir in their chronological accounts, whereas it is not agreed upon, how long our Redeemer was on earth. O'ilaherty makes the time firom the Creation to JUileoua' sons ezpeditioB 2934, being 206 years later than Keating. Bums' " Remembrancer'* !^;recs within a few years of Keating. By O'Flabertjr'B calculation, therefore, the plantadon of the Milesians is 200 years later. Calvagh O'Moora or O'Mowe, a nobleman of great landed property, and a great antiquarian, makes the landing ot the Milesians to be 3084, A.M.,ftiom the Deluge, 1277, including twenty -one yean of Ab r a h a m . . Tba« intenraDcd, as O'Flaherty asserts, accoiiding to the Annals of Doqegal, 980. year; between Partholan and the arrival of the chUdren of QoUaiql» {fiulkn,) 96B,«ecor> ding to the Book of Cluanmacnois, and 965, according to himself. The computation given in the poem we find in the Annals of the F«ur Maatos, who have followed St. Jerome in his Chronioon of Eusebins. The Septuagint computation, according to St. Jerome, is 2242 years from the Creation to the Deluge ; from Deluge to Partholan's arrival. 278 -^ 2248 «c 3620!. Therefore> as according to the Annals, the Milesian Invasion took place in %09, A.M., there was an interval of 980 yean between Partlwlan and the MlWarians. From the arrival of the diildren of Milesius to the Birth of Christ, •««didiBg to the same Annals of the Four Masters, there elapsed 1694 yews, whtdi Úa» apfpean ; a^e •/ the world, 6194, at birth of Ghiist as the Aimals have it, arrival of the Milesians, S600, aecofding to same authority ; MOaámm aii4ved ia Lrdand 1694 before Christ was born ; add to this, backward to PavtikSaii, 980 ; therefore 2674 years is the period that Ireland was inhabited before the Chriktian era. We have given authorities— unquestionable. O'F. thus computes;-the Floi» 1666, A.M. ; Ark floats, 1 ; Partholan arrives 313 after Flood; 1969, A.M.; add 966; MUesian Invasion, 2934, A.M. Such is his cqa^ttt»tion. But the Psalter of Casbel, the Book of Invasions, and *• Tns ^fWií^m^^f>!^lP^^rr^v^^W-^ " JST'T-C'" 105 -"^ XJ.x\in. The Momonians all are descended from Heber, ? ;, i'' JProm HeremoD, the O'Neills, and all their kindred—^ / From the race of Ir, who was of great glory, (many hotlages) Clan Rory, hospitable,* learned. -' -^ ' , -': - * , " BeoauM they entertained the bartb. Al(X^v» or Japh^ "^," bjr^^he distinguisbed aatiquaiy» Doctor Panons of Jjondon, A.D») 1767* "lU.cpB^Min Doctor Keating's accouot, as aim Mac^^urti» and O^HaUono, viz.4.]ií. 2737, B.C. 1267^4004. MacCoxtin, in bia '' Vin- dication of tbe 4ntíq«;dty. of Ireiand," agrees with the compatatiop of 27S6 given by Keating. As we are satisfied that the last named authors were best acquainted with tb^ native tcoigue, and were, consequently^ bet^ ai)le to explore (and proved they, ffploied) tbe critical waUu of Ush Chronology as contained in our native writers, we are convinced that more reUanee is to be placed on their account than on that of modems, who know not the Gaelic, and who, therefore, theprize on what they bear from othcia, that can — if tbey 80 plea^— deceive them. Some mercenary writers affect a great love fior a Icp^wledge of our antiquities, yet they will not devote themselves to study the vehicle on which they can ride up to the soorce. Tbeylot^ for knowledge in this way, in order that they may find wherewith to draw their hmp-bladt tendi over tike bright character and fiune of our illustrious «viceators. But when diey will have looked through tbe telescope into tbe vlata of past agc«, and if Aey will not allow pnqiidioe to dim their mental vision* they jnuat eon- fcss that Bngfai>d,ewp in Christian days, and all parts of Eunipe, lEklLliresMit totheirvifewablobdietpietuieof internal discoid and family nuttdera thao oitt be found in the history o£ Ireland, when yet she sat in~tbe darkn e ss of i«A«. delity. In our worst pagan days we had no «ft/on/ princes miudotd is a tower to place a debauched and dcfionned nnde on a ricketty throat ; nor bad w« in sndi daysa fiuhor maBséd,«ari« said, to bis own daughter. Tliese an unna- tuial acts, perpetrate scwcdy by brutes, and £ton which even thei?. instiBct has been knownito-receiL—iSM Pn(/bee, tiko nott -.ij ;; j •! ; ir'r <•« ■í(f'AV3»;i-:r;lr..7r>í^^ /«.- "Hominibus intense nulli fines; neqne enim agrum ejiercent: necdcmius illisulla, aut tectum aut sedes est, armenta, et peoeia semper pascentibas, et ^W -;w!7í^5í5í'í3T«'' "™'^'"™>'''^ *?■;'.■ ■ /V*' X 106 XXXIX. ^r lortJAÓ** |ií5 |ieACcn)A|i, |ió|6t)eAC, I 'Pais ir pi^^ic" ir File r^obftAc, i "Cb^^loIS A|i 5AC cAob bo 'i) tbéi& f II). per incultas solitudines errare solitis. Uxores liber6sque secum in plaustris vehunt, quibus coriis imbríum hyemisque causa tectis, pro domibus utontur. N^ Justitia, gentis ingenlls culta, non legibus. Nullum scelus apud eos furto vius : quippe sine tecti munimento pecora et annenta babentibus, quid ialvum esset, si furari liceret ? AuTum et argentum non perinde ac reliqui mortales appetunt. Lacte et melle vescuntur. Lana iis usus omnino ignotus: et quanquam continuis frígoribus urantur,^ pellibus tamen feaínis tantum utuntur. HaecK continentia illis morum quoque justítíam edidit, nihil alienum concupisentibus. Quippe ibidem divitiarum cupido est, ubi, et usus.^ Atque utinam reliquis mortalibns similis moderatio, et abstinentia alieni foret ! pro» fecto non tantum bellonim per omnia sscula tenris omnibus continuaretur ; neque plus hominum ferrum et arma, quam naturalis fatorum conditio raperet. Prorsús ut admirable videatur ; hoc illis naturam dare, quod Orsci longa ■aplentium doctrina, prseceptisque philosophorum oonsequi nequeunt ; cultos- que mores incults barbarae collatione superari. Tanto plus in illis proficit Titiorum ignoratio, quam in his cognitio virtutis. Cap. 111.— Imperium Abísb ter qusesivere, ipsi perpetuo ab alieno imperio aut inlacti, aut inviciti mansére. 2 Darium, regem Persaium, turpi ab Scytbia summoverunt fuga: Cyrum cum omni exercitu trucidavérunt: Alexandri Blagni ducem Zopyriona pari ratione cum copiis universia deleverunt : Ro- mannmm andivere, non sensere arma. Partbicum ec Baetrianum Imperium ipsi condiderunt. Oens et laboribus et bellis aspera : vires corporum immense." IV hat a noble character, even in its primitive state. Those who carp at Ire- land's fkme, because of her former feuds, will learn through a retrospect glance of Grecian history that that immortal old land was, during the most brilliant periods of her renown, a vast theatre of internecine strife, bloody fueds, and continuous revolutions. Such was almost the universal system of mankind in days, that have long since merged in the great ocean of time. We will not here refer to England's history, but refer the reader to the preface of this volume. It will be seen on a close inspection of our history, that fewer feuds existed here than in any country of antient times. The influence of mohal roRCE has, of late, swayed the minds of statesmen, and the was principle and physical force rejected. *> " cUin)," not "ti^AC," is used for melody, either denotes "a son," though the former is generally applied to children or posterity. Stanza xxxviii. tiA 97u)Tbqi5 U]le.— The author here says, that all the original Momonian :'^5^*S' ■■•■•■■- -"^' 107 XXXIX. Many a king, lawgiving, brave, Chief of territory, and people holy, ' ' V ' Prophet, and prince, and poet, satirical,^ ^^-^ ;. ■ :U Were descended on every side from thaf *line.* - clans were descended &om Heber — the son of Milesius ; that of Heremon came the clans of O'Neill and the other illustrious families of Ulster, as the O'Donels, the O'Canes, O'Dohertys, the royal Mac Guires, O'Oa^agbers, Mac Manamans, Mac Mahons, Mac Donnells, and that from noble Ir, who was drowned at Scelig Michel, off the coast of Kerry, sprang tbemagnani- mous chiefs of Emain, the bravest, and most renowned of whom were the O'Rorys, in Armagh, clanna noRi, or budriciAns, (See many of the name in note under 29th Stanza). Ueber was the only surviving son, to whom was given the territory, now called Down and Antrim, and his posterity got Desmond— the present Cork and Kerry. CUt)i7A Ru5ttA]6e, ttl^ttAc, é]5re. The O'Rory dans, hospitable, learned. Only about twenty-five of this tribe swayed the sceptre of Ireland, but their renown in learning and arms was unequalled. They had a continental fame for seven centuries, during which they were the dominant power. Doctor O'Connell would ignore the existence of the Ithians in South Westmunster, but that is an error, as their posterity are there to this day — The O'Driscolls, O'Coffeys, O'Crowes, or Cruos. ^ 5e|i)eA6 — Sometimes this word suffers apocope^ and is written 5eiQ,' 571) 5eii)e'. In almost every respect we have found the structure of the Irish and Greek to be nearly the same — and no wonder, as Gael, son of Gomer, the Professor of Greek, digested the Celtic. When we say " Gael digested" we mean only, that he gave languages an eeítM»ií*ona/ shape, not that he made them, being aware that God himself radically instituted them. Hence, the dignity that has ever been accorded to the knowledge of languages. Every other science, or species of knowledge, except revealed religion, has been devised, produced, and acquired by man's industry, but the primitive tongues were directly given by The Omniscient to mankind. How sublime and noble must not,then, be the science of speech. What the stuccoed firesco is to the noble mansion, such is lingual education to the man. It refines the manners, it cul- tivates the taste, it purifies the motives, it engenders self-respect, which ensures a just regard for others, it elevates the thoughts, it gives birth to high aspira- tions, it creates energy, it removes sordidness ; it supmnduces self-reliance, it produces and fosters an innate love of virtue, it keeps alive an undying patriot- ism, it checks vice, teaches man his own nothingness compared with the Crea> tor, and finally it sublimates all the ideas. ■^ This word is asserted by St. Fiech. *ij ■ Vrt;.-, ^^,.^_i^ 7. >,'■ •,.-■" ;.-••. •,.-;.-- C .■■tk.-..^: '..ivii.-i-. -;*itf jtV, í)|A|tn)tt|b bo t)|o6 Ittc ]f UtlOOeAC,^ , , i . <> Of manif hoitage», and figurativdy, qf grtat poysttt P^ ^f gf*"* sert«r9- ki(y. SfAl, the genithre caM of whieh^ #■ weQ *> nojnioatlye pltual, s^jlle i» a hottajft^ ahuiáán Miiig [ S^aQi a pledge, as oloiheay'eatOei, lands, gen. «tn, and nom. ^o. sA. ihkijfotUaity of Ir havie been generally the most eminent bfehelWiierians. • '"'• ; :..■;, Staitsa xxxix. t I, {If ^019*6, iMO. omvmw u to — «r, another fimn of vCt ^^* Or ir— 'written ^^nogtaphically— Tiaeuru» iknr», Ut dieente mittfee, Foy, Utfloyee it» feéie fi be v b t t u fh, *• Htmig er §agh tkem eMm vayid shivn. A^aw ; 0, uai^o belbrea«piráted oónéohants, é,' 'P^dift ee in the same place, hcnoethe actoeat J« not ■ncffnary, loi, fo, f»,Maani, iherdEbre the accent «ver 1 ia Botwfdf«d:-~&)metÍBiesA;t>, u 'aiiÉtbrami in after 7 by tte poets ^ this makes tfae|tf«nuncia*k>B • Uttic confiised t thai f fo^q, in which the o is a poetic in- acrtistt, as ?t,iMibmiuámalimpaAo£fAobftAÍ. * TbatíSbt, TfaL,ÍTom Ix- ^PremhimteaaOUn FJMfo, «• great a fauyiMr ottHuiu^e^fon.-'SimFnhg». The poctdecanotmean that ihe Fhma orliMiinilttia, were^ Acofifrii^of Ir,but«tilytfaebimTestof>all; uaca ^^ from them" has refansDoe to Heber, ileremitn, and Ir. ^ ■•■'"■■; '^ :•■■.;■ v. 11 -btahza XI.. ■ -^ :'/■?- .'^ .•■|>- a FlAin^t ijf par mgoge, fbr f f«9DA, being the datfre "[ia. for the nom., the same ecears frequently in fi[«mer, as metre required. Uaca, pro. ooha, from fftem ; ir|Ai)i)Ai6, the datlTe «aae for the nominstire fjAtmA or ifé\i)e. We have often heard Iiitb prtisdien address -dieir flocks, A feAjtAfb, tnstead of A ^tn— where -Che^iEve was used for the Tocatire case. Virgil -uses uriem for ffffs to saH die metre : ** U-rtem ^uam slatao, vewtra «it.** Homer abounds in fn stances of poedcficence is gMng one case for another. 6nteAi)i) some- times written ceA|tbA BeAllA,*** jf Coij&t) 9QaoI, f eA|i n)]Uce ija 'Feiije. and Helen of Sparta, &c., therefore, these persona and these places existed only in the brains of a silly historian or wild bardic novelist. Now, who would not laugh at such drivelling sceptics. The B«v. Dr. Drummond, ■ays, " the era of Fionn and the Fenians, is as distinctly marked in Irish history as any other event it records." At A.D. 283 in Ammals Four Masteks, is recorded that Fionn O'Basgin fell at Ath Brea, near the Boyne. O'Baoisgne, and Fionn Mac Cooill represent the same person. In the book of Ballymote and Leuan, are given the pedigrees of Fionn, Oisin, Gall, and •ther Fenian chiefs. Now such authentic and grave works would not have recorded the names of fabulous kings. As to Nuagadh Neacht, he was so called from the fairness of his body. " Sneacht'* means " snow" — hence the term implies, that he was fair as snow. He succeeded O'Edersgcoill, or ODriscoll, as monarch of Ireland, A.M.3970, or about thirty -four years before our Redemption. He gained a victory over O'DriscoU in the Battle of Almhain, or Alien, in Kildare. His rule was only of six months' duration. He was descended of Breanain TefSia (Teabhadha), of the line of Heremon. He fell by the sword of Conaire the Great, son of O'Driscoll, his predecessor. From this Conaire, were the Dalriadas, in Scotland. It may be as well here to explain the term — Riada — Conaire II., who reigned after " Conn of the Hundred Battles," whose predecessor was Cathoir (Caheer) Mor, was married to Conn's daughter, the princess Sarah, by whom he had the three Cairbres, or Carberrys : their names are Cairbre Roighfada, the eldest, Cairbré Bascoin, and Cairbré Muisg. Bascoin and Muisg had, the former, territories in Clare, and the latter, the country to the east of him. The Collas —the sons of Eochaidh Dubhlein (Eagha Duvlayn), by Oilean (Illhayn), daughter of the king of Albania — and the posterity of Cairbr^ Roighfada (Riada) Longamanut, fled from Ireland, for refuge to the court of their grandfather, A.D. about 315. The father of these warlike, ambitious (the word Colla may signify either anibitimu or carnal) youths alluded to, was brother to the reigning Irish monarch, and took the crown which the bravest of them, Cotfa Uaia (noble) placed on his own head, though he did not wear it long until himself and brothers were expelled the kingdom. Their relative, Muireadhach Tireach (M ureeugh Theerugh), or Murty, regained, having ascended the throne of his rjsfííTTWír 111 XLI. Goll Mac Morna, who made havoc, Kielty, Osgar, and Usheen (Omli) the wonderful, Olas Dann, Mac-an-Ghearda Beara, And Conan, the bald, the unlucky man q/^the Fenii— - father. It «as from this moDarch descended the Clanna Neitt (or O'Neills), and those of the same tribe in Connanght. They were all Here> monians. Such is the learned Keating's account of them. It may be interesting to the reader to learn the derivation of DaUriada — Roigh (Ree), — the part of the arm between the wrist and the elbow ; — -fada, long. Hence the contracted form, Riada. His hands reached below his knees. Hence the word Rontes as applied to districts in Antrim, see Annals of " Four Masters," in several places by Doctor O'Donovan. There was another Datl (tribe called Araida) Arraee, called aflter Fiaghra (Feeughra), Aradia. These occupied the eastern parts of Down and An- trim, and never left Ireland ; the former clan inhabited the western parts ef the same counties. See Annals of « Four Matters," A.M. 2250, 2859, and A.D. 10-106, and many other places. In A.M. 3099, the river PfieAc AbAjl (now Newry) sprang up between the two countries. The Collas, after three years' stay in the land of the Picts, Atumed to Ireland, and, instead of punishment, received generous forgiveness, and the greatest marks of friendship from the monarch " Tierach." He gave them men and arms, to enable them to make conquests for themselves and their children. They invaded Ulster, and destroyed the splendid palace of Eamhain (Evan), which was built 350 years before the Christian era. This is the time assigned. « Uf for A5ur, ocAr» Acor, dif. from Af, " it is," in the first line, nont* (shinshir), ancestor of Mac Allen of Duneden or Edinburgh, in Scotland. This agrees with Hector Boetius, Keating, Charles O'Connor, O'Flaherty's " Ogygia," and other antiquarians, of whom Rev. Dr. Keating is the most venerable, and most learned— though O'Flaherty is the most critical and accurate. AijO bo leA5A6 f bo c]tAecA6, M], |íA|iAO]t ! bo leAij bo 3bA0|6eAluib, ^'®1T*15 fw^Tte^r eACA|t|iA,t If cfeAb* olc. XLIII. 6|b]|t Q>6^]v 2t)b6|t ir " Cbotju/ ctt3 céAb cac" 2lQUA]|t bo |t]3ijeAbA]t 63k. le^c b'6]|ie, Í)'e]|t3]6 3leo ry^j} b-^u|iuf a ]t\í5]b r 605^9 b] ai)i), {Lhowir may idher bread 1 Owen vee on) " I spoke between Bridget and John, {who) were there." The relative often refers to the latter noun only. Attention to this peculiarity of it will render the understanding of some clauses very easy. Between Eogan (Otren Mor), and Conn, who gained a hundred battles. The manner of connecting the sense of the verse is this : —There were many bloody battles between these most valo- rous and illustrious princes — in most of them Owen or Modha'^Mogha— was victorious, until Owen became master of one-half the island. It was then that the bipartite division — known as Leath (Lhagh) Chuinn — and Leath Mhoda, took place — Conn's half and Mhoda^t half. For Eogan was also called Mhoda, besides two other names. From Dublin to Galway was the line of demarcation —the northern part being Conn's, and the southern Owen's. I should have said that the mother of the latter was Beara, daughter of Heber Mor, son of Mioidhna (Minna), king of Castile in Spain, and that his father was Modha Neid ; Conn, of the Heremonian line, and Owen of Heberian. Conn was designated as of " The Hnndrad ■ ^•^^•sr^v- . .nfy^z'P^'^T, :^- A14 XLIV. Cof AQCAÓ, CAbA|tCAC, CAbATttAC, Cfté^Jt^AC,* Nl TtA^b foilri At) cttei&itbi P-éllti!)i),'* 2lcc b]tA0i6eAcc if beATb^A^seAcc if f Allf acc bée^. XLV. 4)o 5Ab )up]ce7t ^otqaO senile, S^Ajt 6] A flA^cif If caIa]tÍ7 Ai)ry'é]i)-feAc})c ; Mepcupe ^ A 6]A A|t ai) tDtt]]i b]tAOi7A]5b ; PIUC6»» A1J 1p]0TJ1), ir 1)l'» At) AOI)'A]t.' Battles," because he triumphed over the provincialists in many a hard- fooght battle. He made Cruachan, in Roscommon, his grand provincial palace, but, after, as numareh of all Ireland, he visited Tara, where he fell by the hand of an assassin, prince of Ulster, whose name is Tivbraidhi Tireach (Thivreei Theeragh). Fifty rufSans, disguised as women, hired for that purpose, attacked him, when he was taking a solitary walk, unattended by his guards or courtiers. But it must be here remarked that success forsook him, since he himself caused the death of his rival, Owen, as some chroni» ders have it, on the very morning that they were to fight a pitched battle in Magh Leana. His brother-in-law fell by the hands of the invincible 60U, son of Morna, a Connaught Fenian chief. They flourished in the 145th year of the Christian era. O'Halloran denies, that Owen fell by the sword of Conn, and says, that 60II slew both Owen and his Spanish ally and brother .in-law in open fight» just as the day appeared. The fame of the glory of two such champions and of their posterity, reached far and wide, and was the fertile theme for bard, poet, and other writers, from their time down to this day. And I grieve to have to say, that some of the leaven of division, fomented so many centuries hence, still is visible in this nnhappy land. Whereas men ought to reflect, that each province has had its good men and its bad men. It is training and nature that form the character, not the toil. Oh, may heaven grant my countrymen the spirit of mutual toleration and an oblivion of unchristian feelings and jealousies. Irishmen of every province and of every creed can only prosper and be happy by union and by love. In imity consist the welfare and security of aocdety. How expressive these words of the poet :— 115 XLIT. Though they were full of generosity, Valorous, beneficent, munificent, virtuous. There waa not the light of the faith in Erin, ! But druidism, diablery, necromancy or sorcery. XLV. Jupiter^ 'had' many* vataries» ' , As God of heaven, and earth. Neptune, the God of the expansive^ sea,» Pluto of Hell and of wealth, and he hut one man. Ah I why wiU king! forget thkt they are men, And men that they are brethren? Why delight In human eaoriflce 7 Why bunt the ties Of Nature, that should knit their souls together In one soft bond of amity and love. > ' Stakza xliv. . * Homer does not contain a more beautiful or sweeter passage than this stanza. The alliteration and rapidity of the second line is hardly to be equalled. The flight is lofty as an eagle's, the language is rigorous as that of Oisin, and sweet as that of Fergus, the Fenian bard. The system of worship practised by the Irish people when pagans, was the most harmless as well as the most exalted and rational of all pagan nations. See the Earl of Rosse's learned work in vindication «f the anti- quity, enlightenment and civilization of ancient Ireland. His Lordship's work should be in the hands of every antiquarian. See also chapter on Round Towers in this volume. Stakza xtv. ."' - > It would be as improper to write a i}-i)e]i}^eAcc as " u nhomme," for " un homine," though sounded as oonum, one man. b Some antiquarians hold, that Jove was not worshipped here ; but this is mere assertion against authority, and likewise opposed to the fact of the worship of the Pagan Irish being identical with, and in a measure, similar to that of Greece and Rome, as can be collected from what we have written elsewhere on aodent «rt in Ireland. Such was, however, only partial. e HewasOodof Hell and riches— thus implying that the abuse of zidics leads to bis dark realms. : 116 XLVI. 4>' AÓftAÓ ctt|b b^ob b^A DA 3n*Ti)«/ I Ca|b e^le ac a Kac A,^uf KacIca ; , il)AT*r> BACCUf, Ciipib ]f Pbebnr Slpollo 5llC lDA|t 6]A 1JA c6]lle. j XLVII. "^ . ^^ 4>tA t)A t)-3Afbije éttlcA!) béttl bub ' *' Pai), b7A baACA]ll]5e 'ija c-CAeftAC ; .^ .' .^, > ^"^* P^ii^r» ééi?ttr, t:fec]r, f '^#ílliS/N^i^ jbéul* BeAijf A^Ó ija CATtjiAise» lé]ce. XLVIII. í)'élf C|tiofb bo ceAcc a c-colu]i)t)* bAeijÓA'' í)bA bl]A6u]i7 c|tí-&e]c ^f cejqte céAbA, 2t)tt]cí6<^ 2t)bllco, ní' Aori)CA, 4)0 ctti]t PAb|iAC*» ctt5Afi)i) V ^ clé]|te, 2lf fé bo ceAjAjfs .>7l5fí~ ,;;; -..y..-.-7^. .-;r;-. ,■ .- . •■■■■-. .■pnj^ 117 XLVI. Some' of them* adored^ God* of the* aun,* r r . -. V Another' part* of them," the moon and stars,,. , ;. v : ;•• Mars, Bacchus, Cupid and Phebus, ,f,,> .. ,, , r ^ .^ j Sage' Apollo* as God of (the) Wisdom. XLVII. Vulcan/ oftAe blaeknumt/i^f as God» of Smiths,* -^ " '• Pan as Deity of Shepherds, i ^- v t • Juno, Pallas, Venus, Thetis, ; The Sybil, the prophetess of the hoary rock. ■ XLVIII. After Christ came in a human' body* Two years, thirty and four hundred (432) ] The pigboy of Milcho, king of Dariada, ] Came» from' Rome' back to our ransoming.' XLIX. Celestinus, the holy* Pope,' Sent Patrick and* his* clergy* to us,' It was he who taught the Incarnation fthe GoapelJ, Jem» Christ to the people of Ireland. friend tells us that Jbhetii is a corraption. Had he referred to an old mana» script to confirm his assertion he might have gained credence, and would hav* done a service; if he felt confident in his remark he should have added that Ibheul or Aordhfheull was not to be met with in any writing before the 18th century. See historical notes on this stanza. --■-.-:-. ^ i . --.. Stanza xtviii. . e — €=5, e.colu]i)i) bAei7dA=5aUii7Q, dheena : when a letter isedipsed or mortified, an aspirate over it is not requisite, thus a i;-buii)i)e=sin "inAtitfinr, in a person. b See Historical Notes. -.;.>i.-,- e Milcho was a chief or a prince of the country, called Dalariada, comprising part of Down and Antrim, &c. d That is, St. Patrick. The star refers to Historical Notes at end of this book, on our Saint's life. •*T»w«í3tvi:;;«^ í- V 1 ■■»^'"."71 118 L. 4)o bA|fb A le^TQb if A Q-bAOjoe AefbA; • m ■ 4>o clAO]b A9 \i]i' 51^ 5«?^ beACAYfi a 6eAt)Ari?, i ít)Ac le]f3e, Né]ll 1:IaoiSiaUai5, tAejAi^te.* ^^ LI. 21-f C|taA6 At) cai)|tA6 A|t a ^]i]obAji, 4)u]T7e 6 'i) ij-bu]i)e bo cu|i aí5 ^195^5 ;* 4>b& ceA$ AQ c|5e lAf a6 ApoAfeiirpeAcc 'S A c-6 i^AC bd|C|:|6e 6 a 4>|A^ 5é]lleA6. LII. jnjle if ÍÍíasIap ;i: ,,:,.,,; ^ Saint Benignus wasapnpil of St. Patrick, and his successor in the See of Armagh. He wrote many Msh poems still extant. He was author of tha " Book of Rights."— See notes on Patrick. •'^'r >'. 'v'*--*?'™' r- =^T'-*^TWf*r J ■'*i7»-%W'?iTpiW'r7^-5?5e™e^.- IfiO LIV. i)o UbA^it jof A béul A^n béul leif/ "Cljuj 60 léAb^Tt If b^cAll njAH "S^hytxth, TfXfw^ 60 A be^c M)X) A** b|te]C|ori) A|t ^b^^o^^wib,* pAnitAlf A|t SiOl) luAl) AD lftlltf3|tlf . LV. T^bttS 66 ceAC|tA|t* b'Ai)n)At)i)A]b ^^^^Iac, i 4)o bfte^c 50 yX^ytyox 3ac SACAjti?'* f Ae|t U]f ; í)eA|tbA|8 ©ib^T), bo b^ ijAeitjcA, » 5ttl* c|ii ceAC|iA]t bo Ctt5 í2t)AC 4)é* 65. LVI. í)'eA3lA cleAf , If beAttc if bAojAl,* 2lijc]C|tifc bo lu]5 ATi SbAOOAltt^b,"» i)o 3eAU AT) bile a cu|t A|t é||ie,* SeACC «T-bllAÓIJA |t0]ti) ÍAfAÓ t)A f|ifeine.' LVII. 4)o JeAll, At) b&t) bo Ttl5T)e' b' A]t i^AOti^ACc, 21 b-pttT)c At) bii^f 3AC bu^tje* béA|tf a6, H6 (bA TD-bÍAÓ A C-CAf) DA C|lí TtAlQI) 6eÍ3]OQAC» 2I1J c-AtjAii) bo bite^c* 6 ]f|iioT)D t^®T* l^lf* STAKZA LIII. a Or Airar A17 — M before noted, the article is set before names of cooatries e*ActtAr — It occurs to us that this word should be ceACAtt, as it means shnpljr foutt whereas ceAc^tAtt signifies 4 men. b After tto]ib the pronoun e is short, elsewhere it is long 6:=ay c Ailbe or Ailve, Bishop of Emly, in the time of King ^ngus, when St. Patrick visited that province, which was then not composed of die same oonn> ties as now. Deighlan or Deicolus (Ceile De), the pious, was bishop in the country of the Desies or O'Deisles, County Waterford. Ivar of Begetin, and Ciaran of Saigar. Ciaran is called th« learned^ because he was eighteen years in Rome, and taught theol<^ therein.— See notes on St. Patrick in this volume. <* This was an epithet of pre>eminenee for learned ecclesiastics, though in its literal acceptation it signifies a scribe or scrivener, a scholar, as also a clergyman 01 cleric. ISl ^ LIT. Jesus' did speak, face to ftice, with hiin, r ? "• Gave him a book and crozier as jewels; '-'^:^ ' c » ■- • Gave him to be judge* over the Gaeliv,t ' -^"^ •-v'' Watchiug on CalVarj^ the moon of the Last Desolation* Lv. Granted to him four Irish* souls* • . To bring to heaven each Saturday free with him ; Evin, that was blessed, asserts. That' the son« of God^ did give 'twelve* to him.» • LYI. Lest the cunning wiles or danger Of Antichrist would rest on the Irish, • He promised a flood to send on Eire r Seven years before the bnrning of the sphere. LVII. He promised,* the' poem,' {iAaí) was* made* for* our* sancti- ficatiou' (Thati) at -the point of death, each person who would say. Or, (if he were in danger,) the three last' verses," The (hiaj soul to bring from purgatory free with him. 8TAKZA LIV. • See notes om Seachnall's and Fiech's hymn. As IMoses will sit, on the last day, as judge over the tribes of Israel, so will Patrick over the Irish. *^ Hence Satamus, Saturn. Literally tn Aw judge. STANZA IV. • We think ceACAfi would be a better word. >> See Colgan and St. Evin's life of St. Patrick ; also the life of Deighlan. — See note on Stanza liii. t>é, fi, of t>|A. b is to be aspirated in evoy genitive case, except be. • *^Thre0 /ours did give." — The author writes ihree fours rather than fi0e/M to suit the metre. ^ . _ -- _ STANZA tvi. . '"''"■!"■'"'; „:';',■ ';" . ■ The reader's attention is called to the melody of this beautiful line. 123 1)-in?|i) PbAb|iu]3 A b-AiiJifi) A 9-5aoi6«|15, 4[)0 |t]jDe' SeACIJAll* TOAC 4)Ai|tftA|tCA, i 2lcA f^ A3ttTi)f A b' TpeAbA^Ti ftfe c6]le, )f b'o]ibttiJjTU* A be]6 A5 fftAitAjb é>||teAQ9* LIX. ^h^ ceAb ctti iiic]b eAfpos 5AI) cft]le ; • Cú]3 Tijíle f A5A|»c, b] a6a, bé]]tceAc ; SeAcc c-céAb eA5lA]f bo \i]p)e ai) DAOtbr** "Cn^ fic]b bl]A6Ai7 bo rijA^Tt ffe i i?-6]|t^iji)." LX. 2lf ]oii7a6 tDA]5b]0T), b]tiii3ib5eAl,* beuf ac, o 1*15^»* t|tei6eAt)Uf ; í)eA3At)AC, CAt)017AC, clé]|teAC, t)A ijAOrt)," bo b' ajijti) Ai|t ént^i)!). See St. Ciaran's (of Saigar) prayers in behalf of Ireland, in HÍBtorical Notes, stanza liii. e The fulfilment of this promise is not opposed to the promise, that there would not be an untoerto/ deluge— nor to the decree of an universal fire. The Father of Nature has made exceptions, and can make exceptions from a gene- ral rule. See notes on Seachnall's hymn in this volume. The paraphrase of this verse is this. Patrick promised, that any person who would say at his death this poem— Seachnall's — or in case of necessity, three last quatrains, he would free his soul from Purgatory, that is, the soul would- not go thertt.. Stakza lvii. ■ We think diis word ought to have two i) as the accent falls on that letter ; but no dictionary spells it so. b How like the Latin /er< it this word, having the same signification. ipsT^T^^Kvitv-f'.ir- í ■ 193 IiVIII. PatrickV hymn, its name in Irish Seachnall* * wrote" it — the son of Darerca, It is with me (/ have if) in memory, all,^ And I do order the "men* of Ireland^ to* have* iC. Lix. Two hundred a«i? sixty bishops without wives, .-: Three thousand priests, holy, poor, . ; Six hundred churches this® saint' established/ ,.; Sixty years he lived in Ireland. , ,, ; LX. It is many a virgin, fair, graceful. That took the veil and made abstinence ; • . ; • ■ Deacons, canons, an^^ clerics, > ' ^ The' man* who was* born* with'^ happy* lot,' ordained. LXI. The kingdom all did rush to sanctity. There was fear, each day, and love of God in them; As long as lived the warmth of faith without decay, " Island of Saints" was the name of Eire. Stakza lviii. > This word proves, that the writer was a bishop. 1 direct or orebr— the anguage of a man invested with spiritual authority. No layman would use such a term. A layman may eiSvise but not order in spirituals. See this hymn and notes on it, in Seachnall. Stanza i.». • • 5A1; c&ile at the suggestion of a friend, a change was iatmded, bat re- flection made us see that the author's words are diose ot th« text, showing he celibacy of the clergy; not 16 eé)le. b The number of years was thirty>three, on the authority of Rev. Doctor Lanigan. • ^-^.^ '■.; .••.■.y-,-u;;i».;'-'i:;, . Stahza lx. » The most eminent was St. Bridget of Kildare, who wrote an Irish poen in hmor of Patrick. She was aunt of Cogitosns. — See Ware. ' -ry %;■ •*Tf.'7. >* -T^fV'i ^^slrí'r?^'^^i-íi LXII. No 5ttft CAf AbA|t i)AI)A1|t b* A tjelljujAO,* ?l lo^ijseAf Iai&i|í Ui) bo lAecAib,»» 4)o bttA]8 V15 catijaU 1 c-ceAiji)Af ija b-é]|teAijij. LXIII. i)o f AOfi BfttAij Bo|tO]ri)e BAijbA o 6A0]tb|ta]b, ) c-CAc CblttA9ACA|tb ilojije A1J ceuf bA ; Jf At)i) bo T^Ajtb, (318 cA^UeAO e pé}i) le^r») l.AOC]tA6 LocIaijq u|le le b-Aoo cac. LXIV. í)é]f IJA ttl05ACC ATlif bo f ACftAO, )f baAi7T)Af LocIaiji) ^copAÓ le b-Aeij-cAC, T^b^S cIaiji) i)A c-cA]iAb T)-Ai|ie 6' a cfe^le, 2I3 bojAÓ Y A c|teACA6 t)A iD-bA^lce Y b' a ftAebAO. b A man may be a cleric, though not a priest ; those in minor ordert, are called clerics. Stakza lxi, * f]\\eA6 was in our copy ; the verb in the text is in another copy ; it is a more general term than filleAé. The poet uses a figurative word, cu]lleA6. The people, as well the penitent apostates as the pagans, rushed, torrent>like, to adopt the doctrine of Saint Patrick, though, by all accounts, the Apostle had much to contend with before he gained many converts. But when the eonversion once began they flooded to receive the holy faith of Rome. Mr. Williams, a worthy antiquary, writes that he has a copy of " The Dirge," in which is " irlleA]6," *' dropped into." Decidedly this word conveys the sense which Doctor O'Donovan, in a note to the Annals of Four Masters, expresses, viz., that it was only gradually— or, to so speak~one by one, the people dropt into the faith. By F|Uib it is implied that some had relapsed into idcdatry. Hence it would seem, that there were many Christians in Ireland before St. Patrick, though Palladius did not succeed. " Returned to righteousness," intimates that many had fallen away. The seed that Palladius planted had almost died away, or was choked up with the weeds of Paganism, as happened in Ooa, and other parts of India^ after the death of St. Francis Xavier. Subsequent Missionaries found Paganism and some {«inciples and practices of Christianity mixed up together. There is undoubted authority to shew that ?W'*7- 125 LXII. In that manner they spent a space of time happilj * Until' the Danes^ came to oppress* them, In* strong* ships' full of warriors; They gained/or a time a head in Ireland. LXIII. Bryan3 Boiroimhe* did' free» Banba fromS thraldom» a.d. i03i In the battle of Clontarf iAe Friday of Easter ; It» was'in'it'^tf killed/ (though» «himself » was^ lost^ thereby,») The host of Loghlin, (nearly) all by one fight. LXIV. After the kingdom again he freed And the triumph of Denmark he staid in a single battle ; Sons' of friends* took* jealousy» of each* other* A burning, destroying, and dismantling towns. even in the second century some Milesians taught the Gospel here before the bishops alluded to above.'! The Neophites, having not been sufficiently ground- ed in the faith, soon relapsed. Stanza lxii. * OivpAti, compound of bivij, 6oW, 1=eAtt, man. The Danes are called, in the Irish language, OubblocU^ATS = Black Sailors, bub = black, loc, lake or sea, and I005, ship. Hugh, the First-Sucker, succeeded to the throhe of Ireland, A.D. 813. In his reign the Danes first invaded Ireland, though some writers state, that after they'had been beaten out of England at the close of the eighth century, they came to Rathlin, an island off* the coast of Antrim, and laid it waste. b lAeÍAib, also lAOCttA. After Ireland had groaned for a long duration under the demon oppression of the Danes, until endurance was longer impossible, the Irish chieftains, once in their lives combined, and expelled the invaders. Would to Ood that we had now that union of purpose. However, it is to be feared, that nothing but terrible persecution'ean effect so desirable an end. Tet come it will — and sooner than is imagined. As in a sketch, such as a note, we could not do anything like justice to the glorious Brian of Clontarf, and King O'Connor, of Connaught, who supported him at that famous battle, we must refer the reader to our second volume. 11 126 LXV. We could not discover, in any records, the very unfavorable character of Irishmen in this Stanza. Stanza lxv. ■ This verse is explained in the next. Wamen and wine subjected our lovely isle to seven centuries of persecution, not equalled in the history of the world The rape of Helen was not the source of such woes to Troy an w«« O'Rourke's Dervorgilla to Erin. It was in this year, 11A2, s synod of the Irish Church was hold, and waa attended by Cardinal Paparo, at which he distributed the Pallia to the four Archbishops of Ireland, in token of tb« purity of the Priesthood «f Ireland. Beme of the latty were guiky of wrong, and were condemoed by the above Council, which some say was held in Drogheda, not in Kells. Stanza lxvi. * See Historical Notes. b Leinstcr Murrough, IVom whom the O'i'avanagha. 127 LXV. Habits the worst, and most wicked that are possible To be on earth, were for a time amongst the Gaedaliv, Women exchanging with each other. And* their own married' wives forsaking. LXYI. Mac Murcha, Kzt^ of Leinster, it is in that way he seduced ^^^ jjg. The wife of Tiernan O'Rourke, Lord of Breffnej ; That^ gave' anger to the paramount King of Eire, He took his property and his land from him as a penalty. LXVII. *Th€ King^ of Leinster* 'went* proud and wrathful a.d. ii6 On that account to the Saxon* King' and put himself on him. Asked of him aid against his kindred. And promised him Banba as the price of his service. c Roderick O'Connor of Connaught. — The stars (*) refer to Notes at end of the book. See second volume at A.D. 1152. Stanza lxvii. " Mac Murrough, or Mac Murcha, having landed at Bristol, went in the first instance to the Bishop of St. David's, in Wales. This prelate introduced him to the Welsh king, father of Nesta, the concubine of Henry I. She was themotherof Robert and Meyler Fitzhenry, by King Henry. She was after that married to Gerald of Windsor, by whom she had issue, Maurice Fitz. gerald and David, the bishop alluded to above, also William, father of Ray. mond le Gros. The aforesaid concubine's second husband was Stephen of Cardigan. The oflspring of this nomÍTiaÍ marriage was Fitz-Stephen. Wil- liam de Barri, the son>in-Iaw of the above ahaate woman, had four sons, Robert, Philip, Walter, and Gerald. The Utter, tíirou^h worldly and ambi< tious motives, became a clerg3rman. The Church was the only hopes he had, all his illegitimate and sinfnl connexions being needy adventurers. His name will be for ever held in detestatioB by every lover of honour and truth. Him' self was so much ashamed of his hellish calumaies, wickedly uttered before Archbishop Cummin, at a Synod in Christ s Church, and nobly refuted by Alban 0*Mulloy, Abbot of Kells, on the spot, that he fted from Ireluid, and never again dared visit its shores. But he vented his qileen by using his dia« bolical pen in seeking to blacken Ireland's character. Seme writers say he was 128 LXYIII. 2I17 bA|tA l)eT)Til bo b' a^ij.i? &o '0 jiecr ri»)» i)o ^uAijt 5 b-PApA bulU' le b-^IF^^^cc, CeAftc ]f c|ieib]ori) bo feAf aH) 1 i}-6>i|iti)t), jf Aitbciof PbeAbAin bo b'^ol 5AC pe^le. LXIX. 2t)AC ^AOl* IJA Tt)-b0 CA|l A||* boi) cAe]brA, T^buS le|f Triji Sb^^CfAij fo Ajiitju^b slfeAfbA JAjiU Sc|tAt)3bó leó Ttjuft léAbe|i ; Cit^oc Ai) rS^I^' ^<* JAbAbAjt 6]|te. LXX. 2t)]lé occ b-picic bl|A6u]r) ]f Aeij T)-bé]c í)o b' AO]f bo Cbniofb AijDfio, 3AT) b|teA3A; , Or, 8traight>a>head, direct. e It may seem strancre to have two particles before the infinitive mood ; the same occurs in other languages, thus, in French : "pour dire," to iay, and this, though the very form implies " to," which is not the case in Irish — at least, not so generally. Stanza lxviii. > Mac Geoghegan argues that the Bull was a forgery. One thing is certain, it should be held as void, our crown was our own natural, inalienable property. The Pope had no power, by virtue of his spiritual supremacy, over our tem- poral affairs. Hence his bull should be treated in that matter as wcute parch- ment. The illustrious O'Connell treated documents of that nature as such, as can be learned by reference to a speech of his in the Repeal Association. What is true of one person must be true of any number of persons, or of a nation ; now no man, capable of managinj; his own afikirs, it is agreed on by all, can, by any law, be deprived of his property. But the Irish sceptre be. longed of right to the nation ; therefore, the transfer was contrary to right and 129 LXVIII. The second Henry was the name of that* king/ ' & 1172. He got from the Pope a ^wonderfuf Bull^ Kight and faith to establish in Ireland, ■ And the supreme rent of Peter to pay each festival of Patrick. LXIX. *The son of the Bald, of the kine, returning from that quarter Brought with^ him* Saxon* men' with^ finished^f armour;^ A.D. 1I68. Earl Strongbow with them as leader. It is i\\e finale of the history — they took Eire. A.D. 1172. LXX. A thousand, eight twenties, and one ten years* Annals 4 Was the age of Christ at that time without mistake. Masters. They were kind, civil, virtuous, Good were* their laws, faith, and morals. nature, and wherefore it was an unwarrantable act and a robbery . Though some say the Bull was forged, yet we believe the contrary, as we find by history that Pope John, a long time .afterwards, in the reign of Edward, alludes to the Bull of Adrian as a " /icti document" and upbraids the king in strong language for the robbing, persecuting conduct of England in Ireland. We refer the reader to the letter contained in the " Annals of the Four Masters," p. 723, by Owen Counellan, Esq., also to Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History. Adrian granted the Bull to Henry in A. D. 1155, when he contemplated an invasion of the island ; the Bull was confirmed by Pope Alexander, A. D. 1172. Stanza lxix. « MAOL NA M-BO=mweeul na mo, that is Mac Murrough. Stanza lxx. , Bums' Clironology makes the date of Henry's landing 1172, but the Four Masters gives the date 1171. For a contradiction of the kindness and good- ness of the English here mentioned, we refer to Brennan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland." A few of the invaders were good. If space permitted we could adduce an unbroken chain of unheard-of-crimes, perpetrated on us by even Catholic England, as will be seen in the second volume. England, Catholic or Protestant, she should have Ireland in chains. Yet our cup was not brimful until Cromwell's days. We would be inclined to write that these 130 LXXI. 3ac' bu]t)e b'mi)lu]3 bo b] a cu|b pé]D le]f, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, was born in Esleban, in Lower 131 LXXI. Each person that submitted, to^" him ''was^ l^t his' own® They were gentle as head of the clergy [property .^ They mixed their blood without distinction, The3 Gael* ^were^ Gall and the Gall were Gael. X LXXII. Until* their faith and their laws at last declined, a n i i Carnal* Calvin,^ and lecherous^ Luther,* Luther. AD 1536 A pair that reneagaed their faith for a harlot, Calvin. ' And against the Church wrote unjustly. LXXIII. Bad Saxon monarchs — the end* of that story' — A.D. 1538, The eighth Henry and Elizabeth, ajd7í560, (Monarchs of* Britain), and Scotch James AÍaíáis. Luther followed and the Church denied. James I. Saxoay, 1483, died 1546^ began the so-caJIed RcfbrtnatAod, 1918. Calvin was born at Geneva, in Switzarland, A. D. l&O», died 1564, aged 55.— See second volume. b Ti)&]tbt4r in its liberal sease is a bogoda or divifdnff rod. — It hAs been used on many part» of the CoDtiaent a» a means of deteetiog mnrdefefs, or stolen property. Thi» i« a well-known fact, and that clergyma» ha-re used it, but they did not, of course, attzibute any other tbaa nataml qualities to it. It was a hazel rod, and by the judidoos fingering of it^ (such is its property,) it inclines or directs to the thing sought after. — We have read several authen- ticated instances of stolen property and murderers discovered by means of an ipherent principle of magnetism in it The eiTect is a mere physical one regulated by a physical or natural law of attractlou. Hence n}&ft>|t1 is a figurative term, when applied to a harlot who attracts weak hearts. — vi)e-\\i,finger, &tiAO], witch. Stanza lxxiii. a These were the three monarchs who scourged the Irish with a rod of iron All the old families were disinherited, except those wretches who renounced their God and betrayed nationality. See O'Sullivan's Mstery. 132 LXXIV. í)o |t]5oeA8 bo 't) \ij^ ceAi^i) i)A clé||ie, í)o COsbAÓ A C-CaIaH) V A TD-beACA AT;l)ft]t)feACC, 4Do b-1ott)po5A8 A1J b^oblA* o lAibpii) cuii) béA|ilA, 'S 5i)ib Acc 3A1) A^ff*]oi)i) b'éffbeAcc* LXXV. PubAll ijA SACfAij, If 5Afftui6e 3bi^oi6lttjb, 2lij c|te]b]orij fo slACA^b ']• a c-A]^\t]or)r) c|i©|3ib ; 2lf f |Ab fo coTbA|icA|3 be||ieA6 ai) c-f acsa^I, *D 'fOf3A|t' AT) 3eACA cuti) peACAÓ bo ÓéAtJAtÍl»'* LXXVI. ScAb ó*T) Ai|rfi]oi)ij i)oibt)Ac 3t*^1^"^>' BeAt) X A ceAC 'f A rtjAC At)t)-é]tjfeACC, JottjAO rD|ot)DA A3U|* n)5itAt) ^iqj;, 5o|b ^r b|ioib ]X b|ie]c |te b-^131T>-'* Stanza txxiv. a Although the text has Biobfa, he clearly means the Mass. That is — an act making it penal to hear Mass. How foolish ! Persecution has ornamented the Catholic Church with a crop of Martyrs ; their sacred blood, after that of their Master, has been the cement, the support of the faithful. The history of the first general persecutions, as well as of subsequent ones, supply ample proofs of this statement — When God buildetb up who can destroy? How vain is human malice ! In 1 536, the Bible was first translated into English ; and was first read in Protestant Churches, in 1 538. Mass was abolished in 1548, by Edward 6th, a vicious child of 9 years old. Stanza lxxv. a Cobbett said that the Reformation threw open the " flood-gate of vice." How inconsistent he was to have continued a member of its Church. To his work, relative to the sinful lives of the early " Reformers," the reader is refer- red. The apostate Archbishop Brown of Dublin — an Englishman — wrote a letter to the government against the immorality of the clergy of his new creed. He stated therein that Christ's Church, Dublin, was converted into a house of drunkenness and revelry. See State Papers and O'Brennan s Ecclesiastical History, also 2nd volume of this work, in which will be found a list of the plundered abbeys. Cruikshank's work on Total Abstinence, entitled " Bacchuit," gives a frightful account of the lives of the English Reformed 188 LXXIV. (There) was made' of» the' king* head' (of) the« clergy. Their" lands* and' their^ property' were* all® seized, A.D. last. Was translated' the Mass from Latin into English, a,d. 1636. They made an act without Mass to hear. A.D. I54a LXXV. The Saxon people and their Irish adherents* This' faith receive and the Mass forsake; A.D 1660. These are the signs of the end of the world That opened the gates sins to commit. LXXVI. The^ remain from Mass on Easter' Sunday, A woman' and' her® son' in^ the" house* together,' There were many oaths and many lies. Theft,' and robbery, and taking with violence. clergy of that period. It could not be otherwise ; no one has ever yet left tb* Catholic Church, unless through pride, or sensuality, either to gratify anger, to obtain honor at the cost of virtue, or to pursue carnal pleasures. All these three the Catholic doctrine strictly condemns. In 1650 the Liturgy in English, was first read in Christ's Church, Dublin — As these facts will be fully developed in the 2nd volume ?re need not here dwell on them. Stanza lxxvi. » t>ori)i)AC, is the ordinary Irish for '* Simday." boii)t)AC clx\xZi Easter Sunday, or Passover. It occurs to us that &oti)i)AC 5tté|i)e in this stanza is intended to mean " Easter Sunday," as Catholics look on it as a most heinous sin to be absent from Mass on that day. There was a notion that the sun dancedonit in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. Hence perhaps tJotiroAC Stiéioe» " the Sunday of the sun," or the pagan name continued, as it was primi. tively the great sun- worshipping day ; the Christians preserved the name as they worshipped the Sun of righteousness. i> These verses refer to the great change the new religion made in the morals of the nation. ' The crime herein insinuated is too gross to be penned.— In our first edition, at the suggestion of an antiquarian, we made the words A\zeAC. But the tense intended to be conveyed, and the very metre of the line demanded of us 134 LXXVII. 2loiT)e r)A PA|fe, péoil-b^AÓí^f ^eupcA, 6|3tI 1)* i)-2lpfbAl 5At) c|iof5eAt) A|ti aoi) cuib, )|* bttinft *f A 3-ceub bo 5IACA& njufi tb&lle, 2lftivt7 ed\M)4>,, biolAH If cAel beoc.* LXXVIII. C|iAOf" If njéifse A$ ]O^Ab ai) citei5eAt)U]f, " So cu5Ab," ** fub ojtc,'* bjA bo b' ]té^ceAc;'' pAjt^c, tijATi ATí)béi|i, beAfA]5 bo béAboft, 2l||i3eAc ceAiji) cAi|t ceAijtj ija clé]|ie. LXXIX. )^uil* 3 At) cú|f b 'a 6ó|ica6 'y b'A CAOfSAÓ, Bo]cc t>\ c-c|ieACA6 -\ ccaUa b* A. |iAebA6, 2lt) bA|i7C|tebAC bocc a cA0]t)eA6 a cejle, 'S A b]lleACCA 'f AT) C-C13 A be^cis» to restore the original, as to be seen in cur copy and other copies collected by us. Rev. J, C. O'Connor, Kerry, held this latter view of it as his eloquent metrical version at ther end of this volume shows. A woman in and out to tlie same man, her husband, would be nothing unusual, such is quite consistent with rieJigion. — Therefore that the verse may have force, it must be given as in the text. No crime, however wicked, is abhorrent from the whole course of the first Refonnera, who spared not men in their anger, nor women ia their lust. Though lonp patient, the Ood of sanctity will avenge Himself in due time on the immoralities, impieties and blasphemies of heretical England. A signal chastisment has been dealt to her in India which has been so long demo- ralized, plundered, and its people murdered by English officials. For the Immorality and ignorance of the reformed clergy, the reader is refer. red to Lekad, vol. II. p. 194. Spencer, the bigot poet, says, ''* tfaey are gene- rally bad, licentious, and most disordered ; gross shntmy , greedy coretoumess, fle^y incontinences, particular enormities ; they neither read the scriptures noB preach to the people;" A thousand other ecormities he attributes to the biabepi. Seehá»"-Stateof Ireland,'* p. 131. En^^ands fall has arrived. — '■'■ Suis et ipsa Roma viribus ruit." « t>tteic ^é §15)1}, taking by violence — IheraDy, with difficulty Here its ob- vious translation is what we have given ; b^eic means judgment, carrying^ givittff birth to ; it is sometimes a contractie» for htiéfjteAPf, bfteTceAii)Ai7. Uenoe the term " Brchon law»." Let us here remark, " en pawant," that 135 LXXVIl. On Good Friday flesh-meafc and feastiug, Vigils of the Apostles without fasting on one mea), And a person in the hundred took as a meal, Barley-bread,' cresses, and slender drink fsmail deer J. LXXVIII. Gluttony and drunkenness instead of fasting (prevailed), " Here is to you"—** The same to yon" — God' righting' you,« Dance, and, as amber, poKsb thy hat/ " Hard^ cash* for the heads of priests:* LXXIX. Blood, without cause, spilling and pouring. The poor a-stripping, and churches a dismantling. The desolate^ widow^ lamenting her husband, And the orphan at home a-erying. there were strictly speaking no such laws. They were " Parliament laws," and what are ignorandy called Brehoa laws, were merely the recorded decisions of the Brehans, or judges. Of course they construed acts of Parfiament accord- ing to their own notions, as do the judges of the present day. But no man would call theox " Judge laws,'' though some parda< verdicts might be so called, ladie barony «f Costelloe, and other parts of Mayo, they are, no doubt, die offspring of the hereditary Brehons ; in Mayo, there are many respectable £uiiilies of that name, aome of them are now called "Judge." The first «f them that took the latter appellation was an eloquent Latin teacher, Mr. Ro- derick Judge, with whom we first began classics. He is still living. We foodly cherish him as a benefactor ; every man who spreads useful knowledge being such. Stanza txxvii. ^ This was the fasting fare in Ireland in those times, and when we were young. Stanza lkxvih. This verse represents the licentious habits of the followers of the so-called Reformers. tiJA bo b txejCAC, GoS righting you — the usual saying is bfA & A Tt&TceAC. Whenever persons are in trouble or danger, the above is the common exprassion. The author, in this place, makes the carousersr use it by way of recklessness— as much as to say. " we shall settle with God on the last day. 136 LXXX. 21 r bocc ijA 6lí3ce bo |t]3DeA6 b' ii|i i)-5«<^T*3"l'^' Seifiu]ij, cúificeib, ]f céA7«t7Úi5 bAO|iA ; Bbivitbfip, lib|te, ]f cú]|ic 6crécui|t, Cíof colíi|fb, II* " yub t)on)]t)é poeijé." LXXXI. 3r»eei)-bACf, cívp]Ar, b]tic, |ieplé]biD, BAt)i)Ai3e, bíocA^l, |:íor)íiil, é^sceAHc; Pfl0b0|X, fupfie^b, poitCftéA, lDéA|lA, SeA|t|tTAn), TDAiiAfCAil, fé]t)]fCAil cIaoija. LXXXII. Í)li3ce beA3* e]le bo iiitjijeAÓ bo 3bAo6lu|b, Suptiepbeyt A]|t a c-ceA|ic bo óéAOAri), í)o cu||i fji) LeAc Cbufijtj'' c|t]6 ija cé^le, ^UcAib A TMijtnj, 3]6 CAiUeAÓ ]Ab |:é|i) lejp let us put our crimes on the long finger." As regards the wicked lives of the Protestant clergy of those days, see " Curry's Civil Wars," p. 11, and many other places. He quotes Irom Morrison, Leland, Spenser, and Pacata tiiber. nia, also from Borlase. He quotes from the Annals of the Four Masters to shew the atrocities practised on the O'Moores, and O'Connors of Offaley, who i^ere on terms of peace : he enumerates the robberies and massacres exercised on the Lords of Connaught who surrendered. — See 2nd vol. of this work; at). o QAb, that is, in place, thus ipeAifl, ](>i)Ab, a man, place o/, as PApA F^Att oi)At) Crtiofc, " The Pope, a man in place of, or deputy of Christ," on earth. It occurs to us that Aq-fOQAb is a corruption, inasmuch as |0QAt> is plainly compounded of io^=|^, o^, or ai), the preposition '* tn," and " Ab," a place— > hence ai) |oi)Ab would signify, inapltice; however, we have continued the text as we found it. b fo cU5Ab, rub ore, are the usual phrases with persons drinking, they imply by paraphrase " your health," ''health and happiness to you, God freeing you from all danger." Stanza lxxix. It occurs to us that a in such a position as this, is a personal pronoun, and is to be translated them, him, hen, it, as occasion may require. In this place " it" is its English, referring to blood. These Stanzas down to 89, have reference to the reigns of Henry VIII., 137 LXXX. And fast were the laws made for our oppression Assizes, sessions, and terms severe, i , , Livery," wardships,* and Exchequer* court, '^ CoWe^^ reni^^ &ná " subnominepena" LXXXI. Greenwax, capias, writ, replevin, Bail-bonds, bills, fines, wrongs, Provosts, tipstaffs, portrieves, manors. Sheriffs, jailers, seneschals partial — ,.. LXXXII. Another^ */tta//" law* was made for the Irish, A. D. 1577. Surrender of their right to make, A.D.1688. This put Leith Cuin into disorder. They took up arms though lAej^ were ^themselves^ lost thereby, a.d. 1590. Edward VI , and Elizabeth. In each of these reigns several of the Irish chieftains, such as these enumerated, surrendered their lands and paid large sums to obtain royal patents. However, pretexts were had recourse to ; men in power harassed the native proprietors, to goad them into insurrection, that thereby the minions of British misrule might seize their lands and obtain grants of them for themselves. The great Earl of Tyrone, (O'Neill), and* O Donnell were falsely accused, and were condemned, as they had not arrange- ments made to defend themselves. To the history of these Irish Lords in the 2nd volume of this work, the reader is referred, StAKZA LXXXII. ' He calls it a " small law" by way of irony. •> Sometimes '* Leacan." (a place in Tyrawley, Mayo,) but applied to that part of Ireland north of the Shannon, once the kingdom of Conn of the Hun- dred Battles. The confiscation of Ulster and Connaught Catholics in the times of Henry, Edward, and Elizabeth, is here alluded to, see 2nd volume. In I58tt, Mac Mahon, Lord of Monaghan, surrendered his territory and got a re-grant from Elizabeth, but having previously received hard treatment from the Lard Deputy, Sir W. Fitzwilliam, he died of a broken heart, and in the same year Hugh Roe Mac Mahon, his brother, who became heir to his lands, was, by order of Sir W.Russell, successor of Fitzwilliam,tried by a jury of com. 138 LXXXIII. 9i\f c-JA|tU|i O'Neill*'' puAift bii|t|t fé^le, 'S Ai) c-JA|tU 0'i)6it)i)uiU*'' bA njdjt 5éiUe, ' O CAzSy^t)* 1)^ i)-eAC nj-bAt) *f i)a b'élbuis,* jf 0'KttA]|tc UAfAl, q5eA|it)A B|ié]í:i)e.* LXXXIV. 2t)A5U]6i|t ^AllbA* ir il)A3tti&||t 5Ae6l* O'CeAlUis,* 0'Btt]6ill,* ir O'BaiíiUiS,* SUiroe 2t)A5n)Ac5AiijDA,* Ajuf tt)A3 Sloo^f^ 5* NÍaU 3Aflb 'f At) COfl If ^AC ^A31)Uf A,* mon soldiers and hanged up opposite to bis own doors. Baker's Chronicles, folio 378. Of the Spaniards who were shipwrecked on the coast, 19 ships, 6394 men were destroyed. Rapin's History of England, vol. 9, p. 122, note. Borlase at p. 141 '•* Reduction of Ireland," writes, " the «nsuing war is laid to his (Fitzwilliara's) charge." In 1583 the garrison of Smerwick surrendered on promise of quarter, whereupon Lord Deputy Gray committed to Sir W. Raleigh the duty of putting to the sword or hanging 700 men. With a hearty good wish did the wicked knight execute the bloody commission. Lei. vol. 2. p. 283. Unequalled barbarities of such a revolting nature could be multiplied so as to fill volumes, Curry's Civil Wars, pp. 9, 10, 11, &c. Bryan O'Neill, Earl of Canaboy, in Ulster, with his brother and wife, after the murder of kindred, when hospitably entertaining Essex, were sent prisoners to Dublin, .executed, and cut in quarters. Sir Owen Mac Touly, father-in-law of Tyrone and Sir John O'Dogherty, were barbarously treated — Hence Leithcuin was in a blaze. Stanza lxxxiii. b The O'Neill; we find from a learned work of the'* Dublin Celtic Society" and for which work Ireland is mainly indebted to the labours of John O'Dono- van, L.L.D., Professor Curry, and the late generous and enlightened W. H. Hudson, Esq., that in the reign of Henry III, the head of King Bryan O'Neill was cut off, and sent to England. Besides him, many of the chieftains of Connaught, and fifteen chiefs of the O'Canes, were murdered in Down, A.D., 12fí0^ because they refused to join Espey the Long, bastard son of Henry II., by the notorious Rosamond the Fair, (rather the Foul), in an expe- dition against their kindred and blood in Scotland. From the manuscript Irish chronicle, Trinity College, Dublin, we find that Walter, Earl of Essex, on the conclusion of a peace, invited Bryan O'Nial, of Claneboy, with many relations, to an entertainment, where they made good cheer for three days and 1B9 LXXXIII. Lord O'Neill famed for generosity a.d. 1588. And Lord O'Donnell of great renown, ' - a.d. 1600. O'Cane of the white steeds and the fine attire, And noWe» CyRonrke,* Lord of Breifney. '^ - LXXXIV. ' "'■'' ' "|-/." English' MaguireV and Irisk^ Magaiie,* . ; O'Kelly, CBoyle, and O'Reilly, Noble' Mac* Mahon, and Mac Guinness ;'' Niall' Garv^ in the tower and Mac Manas. nights, but suddenly 0'Ni«l, with his brotherand wife were «nested, his fnends were mardered before his ejes, men, women and childim ; himself, his wife and brother, were transmitted to Dublin, where thej were cut in quarters. So much for Protestant English hospitality and treachery. — Curry's Civil Wan, page 10. From the first landing of the English up «o ^s, our history, in all ages, presents oneTmbrokem chain of murders, plunder, end sacrilege. Were a pillar, as lofty as the Tower of Babel, ^ected, and were the bloody atro- cities perpetrated on us detailed on parchment, and placed along such pillar, what an ensanguined roll would not the eye behold ? But though God is long patient, yet this system must haTe an end, and terrible and heavy will fall hearen's weighty judgment on the murderers of our clergy, kings, chieft, and people. Had England acted towards us as Normandy acted towards her, the two nations had long since been blended and united ; they would defy the world. Qad justice been exercised in our regard, we might be reconciled to English power, whereas we know and feel that many ol' their tribes migrated originally from this country and that from time to time the families of both islands have been incorporated by marriage. Had they the wisdom of ^neas, to give us equal rights and laws, it might be a matter of indifference who ruled us, whether an Irish or an English monarch, or whether we had monarchy or a republic. But one thing is beyond all dispute, that the TItlilesian blood has ever dang to monarchical government, and never dreamed of anything else, 80 did the Scythians ; for oar own part we say either would be scriptural and good, if impartially administered. It is not to be wondered at, if the O'Neills had an undying hatred of Saxon power ; there scarce passed a centary without witnessing the murder of some of that illns- trious royal family. > This was Red Hugh ONeill, Earl of Tyrone, and Red Hugh O'Donnel —that is. The O Neilland O'Donnell ; the former died in Rome 1616, and the latter in Spain, 1603. Between these chieftains there was a jealousy which proved fatal to the national cause. •^"ííf^'^Tffp"'"'" ■•i"J»« «w^f 140 LXXXV. 'S A jiAjb 6 f]t) A|t ^rAb 50 b-c>]|it)e ; O ÍJubbA*'' tjA c-CA^fleAi) AelcA, ^AC SotbAHile*"* bu^Óe, cja sufi fAOjtAÓ. b We wish space would permit us to give an abstract of an authentic account of the trial and base execution of Irish Maguire— Lord Bryan of Fermanagh, general under O'Neill. The document we have. c Of the vohiU steeds and rich dress. He was remarkable for the gorgeous- ness of his cloak and other garments. — See Historical Notes. Stanza lxxxiv. a This was Bryan Maguire, who went with O'Donnell, O'Neill, Tyrrell, to receive the Spanish auxiliaries as they landed at Kinsale, (A. D. 1601). He was called English Maguire, because for a time, whilst watching his opportu- nity, he joined the Queen s troops. Irish Alaguire, lord of Fermanagh, was barbarously murdered in London, by order of the Government. He and the other Maguire were kinsmen. See second volume. The names given in the first eight lines were Ultonian chiefs, these of the next eight lines Connacian Lords, these of the following stanzas Lagenian and Manonian chiefs. How admirably has the Bishop grouped the prominent leaders. The MacGennis Prince of Iveach ; MacMahon, Prince of Oriel or Monaghan; MacGuire. Prince of Fermanagh : O'Cane, Prince of Araghty ; James and Randal MacDonnell, Princes of Glynn, (now-a-days the Glens in Antrim) ; O'Han. Ion of Orior were the adherents of Red Hugh O'Neill, Prince of Tyrone. The adherents of tlie glorious Rkd Hugh O'Donnell were Daniel MacSwee- ney of Fanad ; Donatus MacSweeney of Banagh ; Geo^han MacSweeney of na D-Tuath, all of Donegal, and were three of the Ulster princes who rallied for the faith when Elizabeth waged war against it ; O'Dogherty of Inishowen ; the O'Boyle and O' Kelly, all of Tyrconnell. O'Rourke's adherents, in defence of creed and country, at this time, were The AlacDermot of Moylurg; the O'Connor-Sligo: theO'Dowda; the MacDcmough of Keash Curran ; the MacDonell of Doo Castle: but the O'Rourke of 1594, son of the O'Rourke of 1590, who was treacherously executed at Tyburn, by order of Elizabeth, was only an ally of the O'Donnell Ealldeargh, (Red spot), so called from a red spot on his skin. These dans are all of the line of Heremon, first sole Milesian monarch of Ireland, in the year of the world 3501, and 1693 years before Christ. See Annals Four Masters, at the Age of Christ. Stanza lxxxv. a The MacDmaght, of Ceash-Corran, County of Sligo, are descended from the MacDermotts of Moylurg, County Roscommon ; their dun or fort was " Ballymote Castle." A story prevails that an O'Donnell, King of Tyr- ;pyi^y,Sf'?tt , 141 LXXXV. Mac Donougli of Keash-Corran, And all from that to Lough Eirne, O'Dowda of the loftj* castles,' Mac Sowerly, the yellow — tho' he was denizened.^ connell, at one tpie married a daughter of MacDonagh, on condition that the latter would always give him a body-guard consisting of twelve of the clan MacDonagh. What MacDonagh and O'Donnell these were is not now certain; it may be that this old tie was the reason why O'Donnell, in 1600 took up quarters in Ballymote Castle— six miles to the south>east of O'Con- nor Sligo's, at Colooney, in the County of Sligo, 99 miles from Dublin. " The O Donneira Pati* (in its central part called Dunaveeragh, anglice— Curlew mountains — extends through a part of four parishes, viz., Ballymote, Keash, Ballinafad, and Boyle — the last-named being in Roscommon, and the other three in Sligo ; at Ballinafad is the ruins of an old castle : in the last place is Dunaveeragh. The part of this historic romantic defile known as the ** Yellow Pass,'' is in the parish of Boyle. The O'DowiUCa Castle (or castles), was in Tireragh, to the north-west of the MacDonaghs. They are a very ancient and illustrious sept in Connaught. Some of that hospitable family were lately in Tireragh and held an estate. Mac Donagh of Keash was one of the most glorious and valiant of Ireland's sons. Tm last man of note of the sept was a counsellor, who saved 700 acres of land for O'Connor of Belanagar, from the cupidity of French, of Frenchpark, in Anne's time. In Ard-na-ree can be still seen a castle of the O'Dowdas. The Blade MacDonnell. Joseph Myles MacDonnell, Esq., (late M.P. for Mayo), of Doo Castle, is the representative of the MacDonnells of the north of Mayo. They fought many a hard fight for native land and Catho- licity, It is a known fact that so kind were the Connaught chiefs to Protest- ants, that poor men of the latter kept lands in trust for the former, until the tempest had ceased to howl, and then restored them. The Hon. F. A. Cavendish, of Castlebar, married into a branch of an ancient sept of the Mac Donnells of Cahir House in Mayo. Edward MacDonnell, Esq. is the present worthy representative of that old Catholic family. The hospitality of Cahir House was proverbial ; though the property was small, yet the proprietors had large hearts. It is worthy of remark that the names Joseph and Alexander were very general in the family. MacDonnells and O'Dowdas had their terri- tory adjoining each other, and contiguous to those of O'Connor-Sligo, Mac Donagh, O'Rourke, Reynolds, O'Reilly, MacDermott, O'Connor-Roscom- mon. The O'Garas formerly held all Sligo; and are of Firbolg descent. ^^ The reader will have observed with what r^ularity of order Doctor O'Connell enumerates the Irish and English Catholic Chiefs, who rose up to de- fend the faith ; one would think that he read O'SuUivan's Catholic History, in k'2 ■.%it,~'.._- -■ ■ '--:., .' . ■ ■' - k' ,! . • • ' "r; ■S'-'T ' -"^ > 142 LXXXTI. %]o\* c-Coi;cobAi]t» puAift clú lé bAOt^QACc, 'S i)A z\(\ 9X)e}c^ Su^bne* T)ic|t bA fp^irM'^'Ji''* Na c|ti* 2t)u|tcA]6e* bA, leAbAji, 5éA3A, 2t)uitCA8* 1)A C-CUAC, 1)A |IUA3, 'f t>A tljejC TbA|lC. 1. , ■ - . - . • . ,1 . , •A LXXXVII. • ' UA]Cije** bo cvi\\\, A1J |*op A][t féjbeAÓ , , / O JAitcAfi LA]3eAi) A7fi ^Ab 50 b-c>]|tije; < ;. BttAtjA^g beoÓA, !]• Caotíjapais*» CAorijAj '• Kib]]te"^ Aij 3bleAi)i)A 'x A Hib]|ie sléjseAl. , . , c The late Sir Francis Mac Donnell of Enfield, County of Meath, who, because of his intimacy with the Duke of Wellington, owing to his services during the Peninsular War, was of such help to the great O'Connell in obtain- ing £naancipation, was a member of this family. Sir Francis was a model as a parent, friend, son, and brother. The Mac Donnells of Mayo were pro- scribed for their adhesion to the old creed. However, when religious persecu- tion bad subsided, they, by industry, and through the integrity of poor Pro- testant dependants, partially recovered their former position. The recuperative principle has been very strong in many of the old Catholic Irish families. ■Sore/y £oj^, (the grave, yellow Mac Donnell), herein alluded to, was the son of Al^uinder Carragh Mac Donnell of Argyle ; (.land of the Irish Scots), he was 12th from '^ Sorely,'' the first of the sept, according to O'Donovan» and the 9th from " Donnell," or Donald, (a quo, Mac Donnell of the Glynns in Antrim.) On the 14th of April, 1573, he obtained a patent of denizenship Siova the Government of Elizabeth. Notwithstanding this honor of being recognised as an Irishman, which he was by blood, his ancestors having originally migrated from this country to Scotland, yet he aided the Ultonian chiefs and those of Connaught, in resisting English oppression. This act of Mac Donnell, Bishop O'Connell applauds by adding " though he was denizen- ized," by which claim he meant that it was scarcely to be expected of Mac Sorely Mac Donnell that he would assist the Irish. — In every subsequent in- surrection we find those Mae Donnells on the side of the Irish. The yellow £arl of Antrim (Mac Donnell), in the days of Charles aud James, is called M arquis by Carte. As to the wqrd " Somhturle" I take it to be Irish, and means ''swarthy." . . It is a mistake to suppose that all Mac Donnells sprang from the same source ; for, the term implies, son of Donnell or Donald. Hence, if there which the names are given in provincial order. See p. 141, 142, D P. O'Sullivan Bere. ■:■ I 143 LXXXVI» L.D.ldes O'Connors'* racei who found fame for hospitality, 1602, And the three Mac Sweenys who were not stormy, The three Marchas of oxen, books, and groves, Marcha of the axes, the chase and the fatted kine. LXXXVII. O'Moore that put the wisp on blowing (tkaf spread Jire J From the end of Leinster to Lough Erne ; Courageous" Walshes,* and mild' O'Cavanaghs,* 3%e Knight of Glen and the White® knight.* was a Uaniel, Donnell, or Donald O'Connor, (as there was), or a Donnell of any other tribe, and if he had a brother, say John, and that each had a son of the same Christian name — suppose " Patrick" — then in order to distinguish one from the other, the son of Dcmnell was termed Mac Donnell, whilst the son of theother brother was called Mac Shane, Mac Owen, or Mac Keon ; (English Johnson, Owenson, or Jackson.) From this it is clear that the notion of con- fining the name *' Mac Donnell," to the posterity of " Somhairle," (Sorely), an Hibemo-Scottishname, which occurs for the first time in " The Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 1080, would be ridiculous. There is a Mac Donnell connected with many Irish names. All the Macs are only younger branches of the older illustrious Milesian chiefs. Thus after two or three ge- nerations the tribe name was lost sight of, and the Christian adopted as surname. Thus from Donagh Mac Dermott, of Moylurg, came Mac Oonagh of Corran. in the County of Sligo — also from Donagh Mac Carthy came Mac Donagh of Duballa, in Cork ; — from Maurice Fitzgerald sprang Mac Maurice or Fitz- mauiice. Stawza txxxvi. * The O'Connor specially alluded to in this verse, seems of Offaly, (King's County), though Dermot O'Connor, a junior member of the O'Connor Don family, aided the Irish Catholics against the Protestants, as did O'Con- nor Roe, and O'Connor Sligo after O'Donnell's victory in the Curlew Moun- tains. See Mac Geoghegan between 1688 and 1601, A. D.— This will be fully set forth in our second volume. The MacSweenys of Ulster and Munster, are thus mentioned here. b Mac Sweeny Fanad, Mac Sweeny Tuath, and Mac Sweeny Banagh, all of Tyrconnell, (Donegal). The three Murchas ; it occurs to us that these are only the Christian names of the Mac Sweenys ; we find that in 1590, A. D. Murcha na Mart Mac Sweeny, that is, Murough Mac Sweeny, of the kine^ who had come from west Munster, (Kerry at that time), commanded 200 men for O'Rourke before his execution at Tyburn. How nobly did the Irish act, for 144 LXXXVIII. jf JA]tU*>» i)bwi)A-Bu]8e i)A c-CAelbA|ic, i Rory O'More, Oeorge O'Moore, &c., Uaitne or Owney was the tribe name. The Walshes (followers of Strongbow), of the ''* M'^alsh Mountains," in Kilkenny, also of Wexford, and other places, were stripped of their estates in the time of William, as were the brave O'Cavanaghs of Kildare. The man alluded to here is Daniel, the Spaniard, so-called as he was in Spain. The latter are Alilesians, and of loyal lineage. They fought for Catholicity and Ireland in the revolution of 1588. It is falsely said that O is not peculiar to Cavanagh, as every Irish name has Mac or O, and what is more, if we wish to give a surname without the Christian one we must apply both Mac and O, thus bu&il n)AC ua cbACAl, strike Mac O'Cahill, or O'Cahill. We give this fact familiar to every one who speaks Irish, but never before noticed in any written work. Hib. Dom. puts O to the name. The O'Murphys of Wex< ford were up, too, for the faith, but the leaders only are narrated in the poem. Another copy has fATtcAtt, teetf. * See Fitzgeralds — next stanza. Stanza lxxxviii. ' » Tfie Earl of Desmond — Shanat was their great fortress in Limerick, and near Shany Golden. Tlie great earl was proclaimed a traitor in the December of 1579, by Chief Justice Drury, and his kinsman Ormond, was appointed to prosecute a war against him, because the earl would not wage war on his own brother John, who was up in arms against the Queen's troops. Whilst resting by the side of a fire in a cabin, a person named Kelly cut off the venerable earl's head, and brought it to bis enemy Ormond, who 145 LXXXVIII. The Earl " Shanat cattle to vietoryi' or hurra for the Geraldines b The Fitzferatd» — First, the Knights of Giinn and Kerry, and the White Knight of Maine, County of Cork ; all of whom, however, made cunning terms for themselves with the usurper ; and, secondly, the Fitz- geralds of Castleisland, called the island of Kerry, from the fact of the river Mang forming a kind of circle round its numerous castles. These branches of the Geraldines were descended from natural sons of John of Callan, ancestor of all the Fit^geralds, and whose legitimate posterity were the Earls of Desmond, and Kildare. The White Knight became a notorious " Priest-catcher ;*' so much for worldly considerations 1 .We stood on his grave in Kilmallock churchyard. Awful stories are told of him. The rea- der will have to keep in view that there were respective successive earls of all the distinguished families alluded to above. No sooner d>d England murder one than up sprung another Scsevola. Upon a narrow inspection of most of those men, it will be found that self-love, and self-aggrandise- ment would seem to have been their nature. It was a mutual struggle for power and wealth. Their feuds left Ireland as she now is —degraded and trampled on. The great Earl of Desmond was killed by the assassin Kelly, in 1579. His son James was afterwards released from the London Tower and came to his father's southern territories for the purpose of gaining the people over to England. In KQmallock there was the greatest enthusiasm in his favor, until he was seen at the Protestant church, where he was booted and spit upon by his father's followers, A. D. 1 600. He was set up in opposition to James Fitzthomas. •• O'Sullivan Beaie, who gave his castle to the Spaniards in 1601 " Annals of the Four M&sters." See 2nd volume of this work. " Cahir O'Doghcrty was styled " The O'Dogherty" in 1894, at the close of ■^.■■■■^ U6 xc. Sé fo Ai) C05A6* bo c7iioci)A]5 B|fie, , 1 \ * 'S bo cu]|i i)A to^lce A]5 íA|i|tAi6 bé]|tce ; *2li)-c|iAc bo bib|teA]8 ai) Muijnwr TJ^enjEA/ t)0 |l]OC pliV^5 If 30|ICA 0|lCA Atjé^lJfeACC. XCI. TosbAitij* ir]Due' RfO|TA|ib Bb^lllOS,* Mac bic bAO]ije, b]Ab, r)6 feAbA^s, Ho t)eA|tc tjivibAb bo bA]ij bjob Bi|ie, 2lcc jAb ifé]i) bo cAill A||t A cé]le. XCII. 3eiT)eA|lA)l* 3^llbA If A|lTl)A]l 3bA0í6eAlAC^ 2lTtnjA]l ^^UbA ]f 3eit)eA|tA]l ^aoóIac, _^ Sef If CACf If fV ]teféibéA]t, í)o jtjíb Tiobívil CAOC 3At) aotjca. Elizabeth's reign. Lord of Inishowen, in Donegal, to the north, in the peninsula formed by the Swilly and Foyk. Was slain in 1808. They «ere a distinguished family. O'Hanlcm of Down, farther on. d This means an old chief who survived his race as is said of Ossin. Stanza lxxxix. * Charles I. was beheaded by the Cromwellians, on Tuesday, January the 30th, 1649, a month before the departure of Rinuccini firom Ireland. Stanza xc. a The insurrection of 1 641, commenced by Sir P. O'NeilL Discord amongst the Irish chieftains and in the Confederation of Kilkenny gave England her bloody triumph. The division in the Confederation was supported by Richard Beling, the Bishop of Ossory, the Bishop of Sleath, Lord Moontgarrett, and Preston, all Catholics. See our 2nd volume on this and previous facts. This volume is more an index to large works than anything else. It will be found rather valuable to readers of Irish history, as they will learn from it the names of books of reference. c '■'■ John Baptist Rinuccini, archbishop and prince of Fermo, arrived at the river of Kilmore, in a frigate of 21 pieces, and 26 Italians of his retinue, be- sides divers regular and secular priests, on the 22nd of October, 1645."— Bot. Hist, of the Irish Rebellion, fol. 206. STAK.ZA XCI. * ■ Richard Beling was a distinguished writer, at the close of the seventeenth century. He held a situation in the castle of Dublin, in 1684, at a reward of 'U^ 147 * xc. It was this insurrection that finished Ireland, • And that put the thousands asking alms j .<;..' e When they banished the holy Nuncio, / : '•', ■ ^ A.D. There ran plague and famine upon them together. xci. I take the testimony of Richard Beeling, TAat it was not* want^ o/ men,^ food,* or clothing,^ Not the power of the enemy, that took from them Ireland, But themselves that lost it on each other. XCII. An English general* and an Irish* army,* An English army* and^ an Irish** general;* Impost, aiftl tax, and receiver fee;' They robbed without an ace. his treachery towards Cardinal Rinuccini and nationality. Roderick O'Flaberty author of the " Ogygia," referred his erudite work to his inspect tion, in the year above mentioned. Dr. O Connell must have written his Dirge of Ireland" after that time, as he appeals to Beling (of course to his writings), in support of his lordships statement^ — that division was the ruin of Ireland. How dexterously does our author quote from Beling a^ai?t«/ Beling, he being mainly the fomenter of the division. In 1644 he was secretary to the Catholic Confederation of Kilkenny. In 1661 he managed through the influence of Rev. feter Walsh, a learned Franciscan Friar, to make a draft of a Remonstrance from Catholics against charges of disloyalty. This document was similar to the one from the pen of Father Cressy, an £nglish Benedictine, presented to Charles I. in 1640. The parties who met with Beling were Sir Richard Barnewall, Thomas Tyrrell, Rev. Oliver Dease (afterwards bishop of Meath), and Father James Fitzsimons, Guardians of the Franciscans of Dublin. This document, when prepared, was transmitted to London before any Irish Prelate saw or examined it. A few of the Irish priests who resided in London signed it, whilst scarcely one in Ireland did so. .The whole body of the Irish Catholic clergy viewed it with abhorrence as containing clauses most offensive to the Holy Father. However, in 1662 the Catholic nobility and gentry convened a meeting at which, in behalf of the whole, the Remonstrance was signed by Lords Clanrikard, Gormanstown, Slane, Galmoy, Brittas, Fingall, Mountgarrett, Carlingford, Clancarty, Castlehaven, and by many of the gentry, as well as by upwards of 2©0 of the inhabitants of Wexford. Beling's son, Sir Henry, was secretary to the queen ^j'M-i': ■í::^i"'"'^'7\'^- 148 XCIII. ScAi)CAi|tb* A3 }n)]\\z t>A b-é>i]i]oi)T;. XCIV. ^<> rSl'JO eACO|t|tA A CÍ01)ílí3 fpélftjOC í)o Ttu5 Atj* bui) V A 3U]ij Aij-é]i)peAcc ; Olfbefi C|ton)u]l,'' cuftAb tjA p&^tjije, 'S A TtjAc |)ei)Ti] 30 cftoÓA cAeb lejf. of Charles II Well did the bishop sing that Ormond, Muskeny, Clanricarde, Slc, gambled away our country.— See Rinuccini's letter, in the Historical Notes, p. 173. Stakza xcii. ^ * James, Marquis of Ormond— an Irislmian ; the Earl of Castlehaven- an Englishman and a Catholic. Other leaders were O'Brien, Earl of Inchi- quin, the *' Church>bumer," so-called from his sacrileges— a wretch who changed sides as oAen as he saw the political tide ebbing. Preston, the Catholic commander for Leinster ; General Barry for Munster ; Burke for Connaught ; and, noblest and bravest of all, Owen Roe O'Neill, for Ulster ; Lord Muskerry (Mac Carthy) ; and the Burkes of Mayo. Niall Garv O'Donnell was reduced for a time, to command under theplunderers. In the '* Annals of the Four Masters" are furnished many instances of Irish chieftains being at the head of the armies for England. The allusion here is to Phelim's insurrection. Stanza xciii. * Donough Mac Carthy (Lord Muskerry) Lord Murrough O'Brien, Or- mond, and Clanricarde betraying Ireland at the battle of Stankard, in Carlow. — See farther on. ' Stanza xciv. * See last page of " Dirge." ** For the cold blooded, barbarous, and superlatively demoniacal atrocities of the Lords Justices of Ireland, who assumed to represent royalty, the slaughtering-house scenes, the revolting, disgusting, atrocious, and hellish theatres of gunicide, senicide, and infanticide — too abominable to be here recorded — the reader is referred to the work of the Rev. Dr. Warner (a ProtesUnt clergyman, T.C.D.), pp. 182, 135, 176, 177, 178, ticptutim, also " Journal of House of Commons." Clarendon's Rebellion of Ire- land, Spenser, Curry, Moryson, &c. &c. I TTP*»^ - »• ~ -^ ' ' - -, f ,. 'r ~ T-t- "j'-y'.iys^IS V»'- ■iT tn t.J.Kys'TTggi 140 XCIII. (There ) was* /^«^ report' of doubt/ but^ (there) is' nc« lie^ That /A^é were DoDagh, Murrough, aud James, [iii^ it, And Ulick de Burgh on the guilty' rere® v ' On the plain of Stancard, at the gambling of (the) Ireland. iciv. . . ^._- .,r _ . They slipt between them the ace of spades, , ^ r • ; They won three fives aud the whole garae together; ! Oliver Cromwell, hero of the army. And his son Henry, stoutly at his side. ' . ; Oliver Cromwell, that incarnate devil — the hideous monster, himself — thus writes to the Speaker of the House of Commons — " Sir — It has pleased God to bless our endeavours ac Drogheda. After battering we stormed it. The enemy were about 3000 strong in the town. / believe w» put to the noord the whole number of the inhabitants. I do not think that thirty of the whole number escaped with their lives, and those that did are in Mofe custody for Barbadoes. Thi» haih been a Mar- vellottt Great Mercy. There were about 3000 horse and foot (in the garri- son) under their best officers. I do not believe, neither do I hear, that any officer escaped vnth his life, save only one lieutenant. / with that all honett hearts may give the glory of thi» to God alone, to whom indeed the praite qf thi» mercy belong» 1 1 ! " Plant Ireland with Puritans, and root out the Papitt», and then secure it."— Book entitled the " Cromwellians," p. 55. No savage nation under the sun, at any time, not even New Zealand, perpetrated such diabolical deeds. Had the villain cut a canal through Ireland, and had he brought all his victims, young and old, men, women, and babes to its banks, and let their innocent blood flow into such canal he might have floated his infernal troops in their ships along its surface. The House of Commons approved his infernal acts, and proclaimed a. THANKSGiTiNO DAT throughout the nation. — Pari. His., vol. iii. p. 1334. All our readers are aware of the 300 women butchered by Cromwell about the Cross of Wexford. With regard to the massacre of 3000 men, women, and children — Catholics — all innocent, not being concerned in the wars — the reader is referred to the work '• Collection of Irish Massacres ;" also to Leland, book v. c. 3. Reference to the former work is made relative to the depredations, burnings, and slaughter of O'Sullivan Scare's country, inBantry, wherein they butchered man, woman, and child, and turned ■ "í'fí*í?!r»? 7 ■ ■ ■■■■:■■.': '■' ; ■ ^iV"- '■; ; -j.- '■■ :■;. ■:-!--.!.■ • t ._ ■■,,~:'^-.-. ■■;-:•-. ■■.-•,|rv.i;;-;.i--;>:'.« -^^/.---^íriws'' , 150 XCT. ■pleecuoob, Lubld, 6^116^1; if B|icoi), - « v , SluAj ceAi)i7 i)A ij-eAc i)-5A^b V t>a i)-é^bu]3 ; - ' 21 clo]&eATb* V ^ piofcol a]5 5ac aoo b' ^ob, '^ CAf»b|i)e clffbe ^f |f^|teloc sléAfbA. • - • ' ' •. many into their houses to be burned therein, and what aggravates the atro- city is that the great O'Snllivan was a most hnmane man, and foolishly protected the verji wretches that afterwards aided in his own and his peo- ple's ruin. The same writer says, " that seventeen children were taken by the legs by' t^e soldiers, who knocked out their brains against the walls." " Inchiquin, in the Church of Casbel, put 3000 to the sword, taking the prietit wen from under the altar J" — Ludlov's " Memoirs/' vol. i. p. 106. That ruffian was the notorious apostate Murroogh O'Brien, who was ever varying his political and religious faith. He was direct lineal ancestor of the late Marquis of Thomond. For similar inhuman, guilty acts, see vol. xi. p. 7 (Introduction), of Rev. Dr. Nelson, a Protestant. These are the wholesale assassins with whom the renegade Beling and the corrupt Friar Walsh would have the holy prelate, Rinuccini, make terms. Terms with such men of blood I Terms with such sacrilegious blasphemers 1 The idea of a peace with such black spirits shocks every feeling of humanity, every sentiment of honour, every principle of religion. A tn^se with Satan would not be more abominable in the eyes of the 6od of Mercy I The glorious Nuncio immortalized himself, enshrined his memory in every ho- nest heart, as having shrunk from the abomination of recognizing Inehi. quin, and his furious myrmidons, ev^ gorging, always devouring, and man- gling unoffending Christians. Oh God ! it is no wonder that the Most Rev. Dr. O'Connell exclaimed, in tjie first stanza, that, when he called to mind the cruel deeds — '■ My heart within my breast ia torn," , " l>f 01) n>o ctiofore A* ti)o cljAb 6 A tteubAft,*' i , . • í These are words for which the English language does not afford a suffici- ently strong translation. Lelaod and Warner state " a gentlewoman big with child was hanged, with others, by order of Sir Charles Coote.'* For other more sanguinary perpetra- tions, see Carte's '* Ormond," vol. iii. p. 51. We feel onj flesh creep at the mere narration of the following fact from the above work : Sir William St Leger, ordered, among others, a woman great with child to le ripped up ■ from whose womb three babet were taken out^ through every part of whose little bodies hia soldiers thrust their weapons." History has no parrallel i^^SKaW^^i :■■ .■ !*■■!'■■.*■■:';'.■"' ■■'■■'■ ■'y'f-^'^kT^V^^ ■ 151 ■ xcv, Fleetwood, Ludlow, Waller, and Iretonj ■■■[■ Bold' forces* witA strong horses* aud accouireiueuts, ;. His sword and pistol with each of them^jTf/i ; ( h i lies ought, at the present day, place no confidence in the successors of such a Government ; the successors, if they durst, would perpetrate the same acts. The sordid selfish Catholics of our own days, must be watched and prevented from selling the rights of Irish Catholics for honor and place. The result proved that no reliance should be reposed either in any of the faithless Stuart family, nor in Ormond. — See Carte's " Ormond," vol. ii, p. 301, wherein it is expressly written, that they who had murdered Charles Í. had the greatest share in the plunder of the property and lands of the Irish nobles who supported royalty. The rapacious Ormond was deeply con^ cerned in the plunder. He was a comparative beggar, worth about ;É'7000, annually, upon his appointment to the viceroyalty, and when peace was restored he could count ^80,000 a-year, as can be seen in " Daunt's Ireland.*' The regicides were confirmed in their ill-gotten plunder, and insane loyal Irish slaves were treated as they deserved ; as the immortal O'Connell, in his '• Memoirs,'' said of the garrison of Drogheda. In all the eloquent remarks of that illustrious champion of Ireland he speaks with pity, if not with contempt, of the mistaken loyalty of Irish Catholics, in those eventful'Vays. Throughout his work we could plainly see that, had he lived in Inchiquin's time, he would think himself contaminated by any connexion with that apostate Catholic. De Bnrgo, Bishop of Ossory, in " Hibernia Dominicana," (published by Crofton of Kilkenny, A.D. 1762), writes no pleasant things about the vacillating Stuarts, but it is not easy to meet a copy of that great and learned work perfect, as from p. 13fi to 147 were expunged, owing to an outcry raised against its severity, by bigots and the Catholic prelates of Munster, who resolved to hold a synod in De Bur- 152 ■ ■ XCVi. )f f (Ab* fo bo jtfsije' cót>cuefc &^\ieAt)i), i \ i 4)o jAb A tD-bA]lce 'f A ij-bA|i)5eAt> |te cé|le ; Ó )oir Bo-^piijoe 50 Biw 6Abuf|i, ; 'S 5 ÓI0IC A1> ScACi^tl) 30 BaoI ÉéAftftAé go's, (Bourke's) diocese. However, he maÍDtained his privilege so firmly that the intended meeting in Kilkenny was afterwards held in Thorles. The emasculacion relates to the reign of James II. In these days, in which we write, we hear misguided persons led away with the notion, that if England be not supported in her present difficulty — we might add, in her dangerous position — our country will be overrun by the Russians. Our own opinion is, that bad as the late Emperor of Rus- sia was, our condition could not be within a hundred-fold as bad as it was in the days of the Charleys, Elizabeth, and Cromwell, not excepting even Mary. Even Satan on the throne matters could not be more terrible, nor could his black majesty have enacted bloodier laws than did England to establish her domination in this country. — See Curry's " Review of the Civil Wars," p. 392, et pauim. In 1652, the 27th of Elizabeth was order- ed to be most strictly put into execution in Ireland. Every Romish priett wtu deemed guilty of rebellion, and eentetwed to be hanged until he wat haff-deadf then to have hit head taken vff, and hit body cut in quartert, hit bouielt to be drawn and burned, and hit head fixed upon a pole in tome pub- lic place. — See above work and page. The same penalty against any one who harboured a priest (see as before). Curry, in pp. 393-4 states that five pounds were set on the head of a Romiih Priett as on that of a wolf, and this was the act of the Commissioners who were the law and the Par- liament. Their power was supreme. Thousands of thousands who were seduced to surrender, under pretext of protection being afforded them, were massacred whilst under protection. Such protection as vultures give to lambs — covering and devouring them 111 Morrison, in p. 14, " Threnodia," says — " Neither Israelites were more cruelly persecuted by Pharaoh, nor the innocent infants by Herod, nor the Christians by Nero, or any other of the Pagan tyrants , than were the Ro- man Catholics of Ireland at that fatal janctore of these savage Commis • sioners." The few emaciated beings that outlived the carnage were ordered into Clare, Galway and Mayo, and any of them found out of that might be shot by the first person who saw the straggler. — " Clarendon's Life," vol* xi. p. 106. We regret we cannot give the passage at length. Broudirsays — " that not less than 100,000 were transported from their native land, ílTfS "^'ti^ "'■*-•" ■ '.■■•■■:•■'' - •■, r -•^*^^ i^'-'''- ^'íf'^l^^ííPW 153 • XCVI. It was these who made a conquest of Erin/ . A.D. 16^9 They seized their towns and forts entirely, A.D.°66«. From Inisboffin to the Hill of Howth, . r; '^ And from the Giants' Causeway to Berehaven. . several thousands of whom were sent to Jamaica and the other West India Islands — many sold as slaves.*' In 1652, the Earl of Clanricarde left Ireland, as didMurrongh O'Brien, the last of the Irish commanders. " Twenty-seven thousand men had been sent away by CromwelL — Dalrymple's " Memoirs of Great Baitain," vol. i, part 2, p. 267. Several of the Protestant writers above cited, assert that after a few years not more than twenty families of all those who were sold into Jamaica survived — that thousands perished on their voyage. " Curry's Civil Wars,'' from undoubted authorities, says that 40,000 men were transported. It is no wonder that Irishmen should abhor England's misgovernment. If all the records of her atrocities, practised on this country were collected, the books containing them would fill a large library. This is no exaggeration. But it was a mercy, an interposition of Divine Providence, to root out the barbarous Irish I I I so said Lord John Russell in the famine of 1849. Cromwell and James I. would root them out by the sword, but Russell, through the faanume system of starvation I-^See note, page 91. . ■:-.i •..,,- ■-,^;. ■., /';" Stanza xcv. *Klhva, " a tword." In this word 6 thus marked sounds as " v," as it does in the word 5ui6 = sf!/iv, in Connaught. ' b' fob stands for be fob, of them. Stanza xcvi. ■ We have seen another copy of this poem, which indicates that this stanza, xcv. alludes to the final extirpation of Catholics of every race in William's times, when red ruin blazed— " From Innisboffin to the Hill of Howth, Prom the Giants' Canaeiray to Cape Clear." These were rallying words of the great O'Connell, the fifth in collateral descent after our bard. This evidently proves, that the poem was written at the close of the seventeenth century, perhaps about 1690. The reader will have observed the bard does not say a word about James II. He durst not do so in the state of affairs, much less could he do it in the time of Anne, even if the poem were then penned, but we are certain it was not. 154 I XCVII. BútiCAis, Btt]cléATtA]5 ir 4)fe|f iSe, ' -in!,,.;.!.,,! rnal jf qjeAiiijuA i)A ?l)i6e btt6 tt)ó|t ^fe]le. ' i • •• ■ "7, ->i. ' XCVIII. ' ^ '• r . Bahiiuis d5A ír BA|tTiui3 AefbA, ' * '• '" 'S Ai? Kd^fceAC f lA|ceAn7U]l t)AC b-cu3 efceAc 5c^mIcai5* LA|7;eAU ir oeAjtAlcAis ítléiije," , Uf bAf A13, Pltt]i)ceAbAi5 ^f pAoitAT^. Moreover, he thought Ireland had enough of the faithless Stuart dynasty. So said the Liberator himself, in his " Memoir of English Atrocities,'* as did De Burgo, Bishop of Ossoiy, in his " Hibemia Dominicana." The Bishop allndes, in this last verse, chiefly to the forfeitures in Munster and part of Leinster. Re left to other poets to record the losses of their localities. ' . - y ' ■• ' . ' ' StAHZA XCTII. 1 ■• - * Tke old Bt^Kth of a peac^ftd áitpositúm. The poet expresses his surprise, that at least these unofFending parties, who took no part in the wars, were not saved from the general ruin. The poet calls them T6At) 5aU, old foreigner», that is of long standittg, as having been in Ireland since the close of the twelfth century. The Irish people called every stranger, no matter from what country, 5aU. In the second century of the Christian era the continental auxiliaries of Eugene the Great, including the Spanish prince, brother of Beire, who was married to Eugene, that landed in the west of Connaught to make war on Conn of the Hundred Battles, were the first who were called 5aU, GalK, " Gauls,*' to distinguish them from the " Gael," Irith. The poet thought the unoffending old English families, who were certainly kind, good, charitable, and devout, would be left unmo» lested by their countrymen. All the families mentioned in these two foU lowing stanzas were of that class, and. as being Catholics, they were pro- scribed, and most of them left the country. If space will allow, their pedigrees will be given further on in this book. O'Sullivan says they were in arms ; see his work, 142. A small book, written in Italian, which once fell into our hands, gives an account of ten thousand men, a corps composed chiefly of Irish, in the Austrian service, and commanded by the Irish colonel, ODeasy, having -1: 155 YCVII. A thing that would not be thought of them to do, i I'i It was they who banished tbe gentle old English, (a*) ) The Burkes, Butlers, Deasys, ,^f- -,;tWft^r^ .-'n»H And the Lord of Meath tliat was of great generosity 4. '■C XCVIII, . ._, . ^,^,^,^^; TAe Barry» young, and Barrys old. And the {dentifuP Roche' that did not abjure, - ■ - ' The Fitzgeralds of Leinster and Fitzgeralds of Munster, The Eustaces, Plunketts, and Powers. ^ - defeated thirty thousand Tartars ia full march upon Vienna, in or about 1 685. In attestation of the bravery of tiie Irish and their chief, the writer remarks — ** These were men who needed the rein more than the spur." They routed the Tartars with immense slaughter. For other distinguished names see J. C. O'Callaghon's splendid work, on the " Irish Brigade.'* Rich Deasy, Esq., Q C. M.P., a CathoMc respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He is moderate» but firm in his political views. Hia integrity is respected oy all parties. For an account of the Irish Brigade See J. C. O'C^laghan's erudite work.. .;:,,,. .,:_), .,-;: _,;:^ .V./,...> . SxANZA xcvWriivmrgii^.L'^ >;rr ;«;^ w> ^ C , The Pbmkett» of Sfeath.-^The family of Ptnnkett can, in common with other distinguished Irish families, point to a long and distinguished ancestral line, who have been true to the interests of Ireland. They pos- sessed^Clonabraney In Meath, and, by marriage, Loughcrew,. as also other places in Cavan. The antiquity of this family is clearly proven from a tombstone, on which we find the name of Oliver Plunkett engraven. This burying*place was erected by the family in 1132, and is still in their possession. The great grandf atiier of tbiS; OU[ver Pluokett o£ Cloaabraney, was the first of the family. -,<< :M .-.i'sm'iTí-iiiUt^iii^Áromií^^i^ -rr,;: Thomas Plunkett, who was the gfandaoB of 0£ven, was the last inheritor of Clonabraney. He married the only daughter of Dominick Pitonkett, who had inherited the mansion-house and estates of Lon^erew, and had ftrar sons and two daughters. Tbe three younger of tíie sons emigrated after the civil wars, in which they had taken an active part, but being un- successful they lost all their property. Two entered the Austrian service, where tiiey soon distinguished themselves by their military skill and valour '.■SSfí??fSJ, 166 XCIX. 2lt) Bo5ó(beAC iDÓft eófitjAC béAfeAC, Cai^Iudais, ScADCÚijAiJ, Kai5aIU]5, K|n3' t:]teADCAi3, 2Qú|tAi5, ^éAcuij, 3aiUi5, 5uIai5, CunrAij, CttAeceiÓ. I . -. - : r -'.-.■ -1 t ■ and were soon entrusted with some of the most responsible military posi- tions. The third brother entered the Spanish serrice. They all died without issue. Janes, the eldest and sole heir, remained at home, in the hope of being able to recover the family estates of Clonabraney and Lough- crew, in the County of Meath, and Castleoor in Cavan. Antecedent to this Cromwell bad confiscated the property, aud dispossessed Dominick Plunkett of Longhcrew, who was then in possession. Thus, by injustice and robbery, this property passed from the hands t^ its lawful owners. Dominick Plunkett, the last inheritor, was married to Mary O'Neill of the house of Tyrone. Her only daughter, Elizabeth, was the mother of James Plunkett, who had issue six sons and three daughters, of whom there is now surviving Patrick Plunkett of Taneymagaraugh, about three miles north-west of Oldcastle, county Meath, a venerable hale old man of eighty-«igfat years of age, who has issue three sons and one daughter. Thomas Plunkett of Clmiabraney, who fought with King James at the Boyne, and afterwards at Augbrim, having, on the evening of finishing his harvest, as was then usual, ordered his steward to bring all his workmen up to the Castle at six o'clock till he would give them some drink, the men being very much delighted at the invitation, put their harvest utensils, rakes, pitch» forks, &c., on their shoulders and walked four men deep to the Castle-gate. In a few days afterwards, an old pensioner then living in Crossakiel, went and ^wore that Mr. Plunkett was recruiting men for King James. This informa- tion, and his being a Catholic, at once disqualified him from holding possession of his «states any longer, and, consequently, he was obliged to surrender his property, or renbunce his faith and religion ; the latter he would not consent to do. The following anecdote is told of the family. John Plunkett lived in Rath, more. He was married to Mary Cruise. He had twdve sons and one daugh- ter ; Cromwell appeared to be alarmed at hearing of this John and his twdve sons. He sent for him, and stated he would be most anxious to be acquainted with his sons and invited the said John and them to come ocd see him. So the innocent man and his twelve sons, all fine men, none of them being under six feet high, came, with their father, riding on twelve grey horses ; but how did Cromwell receive them ? He had matters so arranged that the moment they appeared within a certain distance of him he had a cannon planted before them and shot the twdve dead on the spot. When the poor broken-hearted father I'^^s^'P^S^^^xv^^m^^^^^^!^^'^ ,iV,-: 157 xcix. The Bagot of large fine' barley*-fields, ,. Cantwells, Stauntons, Baleighs, ^ , > Rices, Trants, Moores, and Mees, (or Meades), . cr Galways, Cooleys, CJourseys, and Creaghs. f.j^ , .^ reproached Cromwell for this murdoous act, his answer was that they appeared too formidable to be allowed to live. They and their father are buried in the diurch*yard in Newtown, Trim, in the County Meath. There is a tombstone erected over the other's grave. He was a branch ai the Clonabraney family ; the Archbishop of Armagh, who was hanged and beheaded in 1681, belonged to a branch of the Loughcrew family. The Earl of Fingall, though he struggled with the Liberator for Emancipation, yet in that it would appear he was selfish. For since be got leave to take his place in England's senate, he has not aided Ireland in her struggles for redress. He could, if he would, give effective aid, from his position and great influence in England. As an Irishman of ancient iÍBeag<>, his lordship ought to be with his countrymen ; for iu the day of trial he may want them, if such would ever return, and it may. Richard Plunket, the last of die volunteers of 1782, died in Nenagh, County Tipperary, the 31 st of January, 18S6, aged 107 years. He was of Ardkeen, in the County of Ros> common. He was of the Roscommon family. A troop of horse having sur- rounded his house in 1798, whilst he lay on the sofa, taking a hasty nap, for he was exhausted from his travels, as he was forced to be from home, being accused of rebellious practices, his daughter handling his blunderbus, which lay on the parlor table, where she watched her dear parent, threw up the win» dow and asked who were they that durst disturb a lonely lady at that unreason, able hour. The cavalry, supposing that it was an unearthry being, fled. The captain who was in command of the men, having learned that it was the daughter who so nobly protected the father, applied for and got her in marriage. The author has this fact from a relation of his own, whose father was a companion of Plunkett's, whilst on his keeping, and on that night* (> The Roches and the other families would gladly be granted a niche in our gallery could that by possibility be done. Dr. O'Connell, our author, confers a i&arked compliment on the illustrious Roche, Lord Fermoy, when he says he was " generous— that he did not tell a lie,»' in other words, that he was true to the C*tholifc faith. The high-minded Cathcdic nobleman alluded to was David M£f Rupe,or De la Roche, anglice Roche, Viscount Fermoy, who died 1635 ; he was the seventh Viscount Fermoy, and was the son of Maurice Roche, and Helen, daughter of Maurice, or FitzJohn FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond ; his wife was Joanna Barry, daughter of Lord Barrymore; he was lineally and paternally descended from Corolus Magnus, (Charlemagne), and had a two-fold descent from the kings of England. An ancestor of his, (David the great) the son of Maurice, son of John, son of John, son of George, son of David, son of Radolph de Rupe, who married Elizabeth de Clare, grand» ;.■«>- ':f;-'»^';-f-->?^í-~.'^_íjí-' .■*'V.7.^[W?^ T«^ 158 ' e. ■' BftuDAC "Cuinc* If B|túi)Ac 7^é]le, i ^' Jr CutjcttijAc*' 1JA Clo]CC lé]ce, PuiltfeAUiS, Stt|peAU|5, teirtj, ' SeA|tlo5Ai6, CiOf55Ai8, CeicioiJ.* i ' *2lf fíAb bo 6^b]|i p|tí• 3^Ac Óoi)rijA|tA 3t»®acaU]5 slé^SeAl, ! ',,:,' "CiSeAitijtt^Se Co|tcA-BbAir51^ If CIacijac. daughter of Bdward the First. Radolph was son of Alexander, son of Hu- gony, son of Oerald, son of David, sen of Milo, son of Henry. Milo de Rape, or Roche, got a gnat of three eantreds, in the county of Cork, from King John. The family obtained the title of Viscount from Edward IV., A.0. 1400. Lord David Fermoy, James Phinkett, (Lord Killeen) and four members of the Irish Parliament, with Lord Delvin, afterwards Eari of Westmeath, and some lawyers, all Catholics, formed m 1613, a deputation to James I., to place a statement of Catholic grievances before his Majesty ;, Sir Patrick Bamewall, as well as other noblemm, wore of the deputation. In tbe same ye licity most of them forfeited, but some of them in course of time, acquired honour and rank by toil and industry, the most " honourable path to ^ory." Of theM we deem it our duty to refer to that veteran patriot. Sir John Power, of Roebuck iMid Leeson Street, Dublin. Industry has invested him with what iaUUK^ice ba4 taken from his ancestors. His country and Catholicity has never in vain soi^t hisi^d, oor that of his worthy soq, James Power, Esq., D.L. May peaal iawa nvrtsf again ^ them nor their offspring. These fiuniliesclaim de»«ent from Dooovgh Q'fi^ao^ De Burgo^ Bishop of Ossory, in his " Hi. bcmia Pominicana," s^s that ** Power aad Le Pocx are the same name.?]^ He a44s," Eustace le Poer was a Knight of the Golden Spur," and wa»; married to iUatilda, eldest daughter of De Bermingham, the Earl ef UwlIHí, and third Baron of Athenrt. More of this name hereafter. . .1 .•>■>'; .T ^^ C' ""..■' ' ■■-•; Brown of 'Tuic and Brown of the Feale, ; f'i ^ - ;.; H And Condon of Cloghlea /'G'rej^*^o«tfJ, v' ' ^'^^C The Parcels, Supples, Laceys, .^^ rii^ I'l Sherlocks, Cusacka, and Keatings. '- ^.V ' It was they who banished Ihe first (best) blood of Seber, Tke seed of grand* O'Brien of the bouncing steeds, MacNamaraS) of ^r Cratloe, r.v; ' = * Lords of Corco-Basgine and CleeoA. - ' «*,# 1 ^•~- Stawza c. ;'^': ^r<:^y^^iyy^y^'^'-- ■:-■' *■ These woe theancMton of the Earl of KeniAare, one of i»hbai tttánfecl the heiress of their lelatJTe Browne, of Hospital, county Limerick, whose great estate was thus added td thett own — all fbrmfaig a princely territory. Voloines were insafficient to convey an adequate idea of the excdlent deeds of this noUe family in private life. To them many Milesian families of Keny are inddl>ted for their preservation in the penal and persecuting times now past. M*Cartbys, O'Connors, O'Sollivans, O'Mahonys, were enabled to uphold station and respectability, by receiving large faitbs at low or nominal rents from the Brownes, whose tenants some of them continue down to the present day. Captain John O'Brennan served under tite £ail of Keamare at Augh- rim ; Charles O'Brennan, fi8q.,of the Tralee Bank, is a descendant of said John. Captain Edmood O'Brennan of Roscommon, and John of Kilkenny, were also with James. >> Great barony of Condoii. <^ See Historical Notes on this verse — also at end of this volume, where if pos' Bible, the origin of these good noble English families will be given. STAN2A Cl. . .V^ '. ■ • St. Fiech spells this word in the same way. '' The 0*Briens, who continued Catholics, the Mac Namáras of Ciatlbe, &c., and the filac Mahons of Corco. Basgine, West Clare : some of the latter lived on thtf south of the Shannon. There wereothjer JUac Mahons in Orior, or Oriel. See a previous note, as likewise historical notes. .., ^ , The annexed, taken from a copy of '' The Dirge," made by Philip FibEj^b- bon, a classical teacher of Kilkenny, in 1780, we here insert. This is thought to be one of the oldest (if not the oldest) of the copies. It is important, as its mention of King William shows, that the poem was not completed until after the battle of the Boyne, and that was just after 1Sie date alluded to, when refer, log to Bishop Molony's letter in our Preface we stated the diocess of. Ardfert and Aghadoe was vacant This must have been the period of Dr. OConnell s appointment to Ardfert as bishop, and of Dr. OXeyne's, as Vicar apostolic to Aghadoe, Dr. Moriarty being Bisbop O'Cotmell's suceesswr, in 1706. The "- - ■A.iii.'i^''''^, tiiVii'miii^i' lí'traihÉ' 160 CII. jf ]*íAb bo bíbift (ijí A ceAf tné), A.D. 1601. Mac Carthy M6r — Florence — rightful King of Desmond., was confined in London Tower 1601 as was the Earl of Desmond ; the latter died in 1601 and was buried in its chapel. The son of the earl whom Kelly assassinated, A. D. 1579, was sent to Ireland as a decoy duck, to gain over ■ We mean '• rightful," comparatively with England. "^^{■■^ít\.f^ ■ ■ ,_ .-■;. ■■•í- .vv -/:..•■;■ ■■■ : ■ ■,.•.■•: ".:-;r , >: /^"«oV'.'íS^'ííív; 161 CII. It was they who banished — a thing that tortured me — Tie last of the good stock,' the chief (Ancestor) of Eire, TAe prince of the Gael, — my worldly Prince, ^ " Mac Carthy Mór and his offspring together. ' cm. Mac-Donogh — the prop of the clergy, And the three sons of the king who were by his side. Lord Murray, Muskerry of state, And Mac Carthy Reagh from Coolmine. the adherents of his father to Elizabeth. At first, whilst it was supposed he was a Catholic, nothing could equal his reception from the people who thronged round him in Kilmallock, but when he «as seen at Protestant prayers, he was deserted and treated with scorn. As it was found the dttck did not decoy, the bird of borrowed plumage, (Protestant principles), was sent back to London to its cage (the Tower) in which it died in 1603. At this period James Fitz- thomas, the son of John Fitzgerald of Callan, assumed the title of Earl of Desmond. Stanza cm. » They were the M'Donaghs of Duhallow, county Cork, of the race of Mac Carthy M&r, and, of course, different from the Al^Donaghs of Connaught, alluded to elsewhere. M«cGeoghegan thus writes of these princes ;— Dermod, or MacDonagh MacCarthy, with whom Teige, son of Lord Mnskerry, chief O'Mahony, and Dermod MacCarthy, brother to Florence MacCarthy M6r. i> The three royal chiefs alluded to were the sons of Donagh Mac Carthy Mdr, the Earl of Clancarty, General of His Majesty's forces against the Crom- wellians in 1682. The names of the chiefs are O'Callaghan, whose territory was Pobui-I-cheullaghiann. JM'Aulifte of Newmarket, County Cork, of whom was the celebrated chieftain and prophet, Malachy Oge M''Aulific, contemporary with Charles I. These were clan Mac Carthy ; Mac Donagh in this place means the son of Donagh Mac Carthy. When- ever a clan began to grow numerous the Christian names became surnames. The Mac and O signify an offshoot of an original name. — Thus in Roscommon originated Mac Manus. Cataldus de carpo rubra O'Connor, Charles^ O'Connor of the red wrist (his wrist being so when bom), had a son who was called by the soubriquet, Mac mhanus, '^ iilius manus," son of the man of the red hand) In the Irish language every name takes Mac or O, " son'" or " grandson" It is necessary then to guard against the error of looking on all names with Mac or O as Milesians, as some are of different races. O'Keeffe, M' Donagh, chief of Kanturk and Duhallow, fell while gallantly leading a charge of cavalry against tlie Cromwellians, at the battle of Knocnaclashy. in July, 1652 Shortly after this Koss Castle was surrendered. See historical notes. O'Cal- iaÍJái^S&fíiiLíuÍL 162 CIV. *0'Síi]lleA,híx]r) BeAU]5 Béitije,* , jr 't>oriji?AU O'SttilleAbí^lD BéA|t|tA ; , *2Í)ac y^vtHv o ttcc Ai) éii)5il, 'FílJlt)'' feAbAC 1)A |tttA5, If pé]8l^fl>. ! . CV. ^15^'^PtJ'*^ Coife ít)A]T)36* t)A n)éicb]teAC, jr *t)ori7yAU 2Qac Cahca ó Ó^ll é]5e, *'S 3t)Ac 3]oll^ ÓAbA, caItqa d 'l) t17Ael l^Of, jr t>A c-c|tttAC Ajib A|i A b-pAf a6 CAeftAe. CVI. , C)on)DAll í)l)Úl)-A-50lU** V A NA0t)Al5, 'S A |tAb A c-ceAijijAf 9 CbAin^'l 5<> Clé^]te ; Sl^occ'' 2lo6 6b]i)t7eAii7 bA n)6]í c|ié]5C.e, O bftUAC LeAtbl^A 50 CIJOC li\iéA,1)^]W' laghan, King of Munster; in the tenth century, gallantly resisted the wicked Danes. Stakza civ. a Bealagh Beime. — This place was the mountain.pass of Sullivan More ; here be rallied his men to bear down upon the plundering English, tiepos.. sessed Dunkerrin. O'Sullivan Beare, Lord of Bere.baven ; his territory waa the barony of Bere, in Cork. In 1602 Owen O'SaUivan and his family sup. ported England's soldiers against the glorious 0*SuIlivan Beare in his un- equalled stand in Dumboy^ Berehaven. Had all united on that occasion the tyrant power of the foreigner was at an end in Ireland. See history and 2nd vol. b Both are the same person, the " hawk'' was on the tribe banner. Stanza cv. a The Tiemagh or Lord of Cosmang was a M'Cartby, whose estates were on the river Maine or Mang, not far from Castleisland. The M 'Finnan waa another distinguished chief of the McCarthys, whose patrimony was at Ardtullj near Keaiuare. The Rev. Daniel McCarthy, Professor of Sacred Scriptorea at the Royal College of Maynooth, whose eldest brother, Eugene M'Cartby^ of Tully, Ú still styled the Af-FinTMn, is the lineal descendant of those chiefs. M^Finnan Duff was a junior branch of O'SuItivan Btare. Stanza 104 :->.■ *• Nor may I here forget Hugh Bensan's race. 1 - StAKZA CVI. This was Donal O'Brien of Ara, in Tipperary ; the O'Briens of Lime, rick made good terms for themselves. Both sides of them were plundered, but like Tytirus of old, they were safe. O'Brien Ara forfeited. "*'■■.■ -V'f 163 civ. fO'Sullivan of the Bealagh Bémé, And Daniel O'SuUivan Béara (Bere), Mac Fineeu from the bosom o/'Eingil, Fineen — the falcon' hunter* — and Pelim. fElected the O' Sullivan Mot AD. 1585. Elected the O' Sullivan Beare A.O. 1594. CV. The Lord of Cosh Mang of the fat irout, (Salmon), And Daniel Mac Carthj from Kileague, And Mac Giolla Cuddj brave, of Ballymalis,* And of the tall reeks on which berries grew. CIY. Daniel (O'Brien,) of Dbun'a-Ghil and N^enagh, And those, who were in authority from Gashel to Clare, The race of Hugh O'Bennan of mauj virtuous qualities, JPfom the border of Laune to O'Brennan's hill. * Literallj " Bald fort," tba residence of the Mao GiUicwddy of tbe Reeka, who, in aftertimea, became faithless to the cause of creed and oountry. i>Hugh or Aodh Beanan, was ancestor of the O'Connors-Kerry, the O'Moriartys, and O'Brennans of " O'Brennan," a parochial district between Tralee and CMtleislia&d. Aodh Beuian died King oF lar Murahan, or West Munster, now Retry, in the year of our liOrd, 619. Of him a poet, quoted by the Four Mwters, sings : " When his broad sbieid he shooli, bis foes would yidd ; E'en on his bacic it was West Munster's shield." See Keating's «* Pedigree of O'Connor Kerry," where this king is found in his rig^t place ; although his name has been interpolated into tfie M'Carthy gene- alogy, for the purpose of making the O Moriartys a collateral branch of the Mac CarthyB. TTie learned Dr. John O'Oonovan has exposed a similar at- tempt to identify with this Ueberian family, the renowned bardic tribe of the O'Dalys, whom he proves to be Heremonian. We are heie tempted to contra- dict a slander placed on the O'Moriartys by the Four Masters. We find these Annals doctored in many places. No wonder, as 0*Gara was an apostate. We are thankful to O' Donovan for having chastised the Masters. He clearly shews that it was not an O'Moriarty but an O'Keilly that murdered the aged Earl of Desmond, (see A. F. M. at A.D. 1683). We entirely dissent from Doctor O'Donovan as to Keilly— which is certainly not Kelly, nor CKelly ; -■fWf*W^.^WK7:'^^'^fT^íK»^^7^^ ■V- 164 CVII. t i CIaIJI) |C ]*• C-C1)0C3l1) 1)A C-CAO|tAC ;* CeA^ U]** Cbot)cobA]Ti A||t ad fpéice ; "CltATJfplAlJC CftAl)fpO|lC 30 JAtDe^CA.* Ceallach, or Ciallach, bat not Coilly. is O'Kelly. None of tlie race of the illustrious royal king Benan ever perpetrated such a deed. c The tribe of the O'Brennans of Kerry is almost extinct — there is still one rose remaining — the Killarney family. We think some of this family are now located about Dungarvan and in Tipperary. The famous St Brennan, (igno- rantly '■'• Brendan") of Ardfert), patron of the Diocess, sailing from Brandon Bay, in Kerry, was the first discoverer of America, after Brennan of Clonfert ; as a manuscript, lately found in the Bodleian library, and another in Brussells assert — See " Lives of Saints," revised by Very Rev. Monsignor Meagher, DD., P.P., Rathmines. Stanza cvii. * Or Daniel the " Fair-haired." Some of the ofispring are called OTinn. Daniel Finn Mac Carthy sprang from Cormac Mac Carthy M6r. From the latter came Donagh, ancestor of the Mac Carthys and Mac Donoughs of Dn- hallow, and are of the posterity o£ Eoghan (Owen) M&r, son of Oilioll Ollum, king of Munster. ' . | >>This slight allusion which Bishop O Connell makes to his own relations is extremely affecting. His sole mention of them is in the simple words — " The O'Connell Family." His grand-uncle, one of his predecessors in the see of Kerry, suffered martyrdom about the year 1651. This eminent ecclesiastic was the Most Rev. Dr. Rickard O'Connell, whose brother, '* John of Ash- town," near Dublin, law agent to the Marquis of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; and brother, also, of Maurice of Ballinahaw, chieftain of the O'Connells, made submission to Henry Cromwell in 1656. The result was the " Lord Protector's" decree, whereby one portion (now extinct) of the fa- mily was transplanted to Clare, and another, from whom the extant O'Connells derive, was allowed to remain in Iveragh, where, however, they forfeited, under Orange William Records, Rolls Court, Dublin. This note is givea by a connexion of the family. ...„- :-:l.../-S. 'vw^!t^ ■^^■y^y^'^^^^T^Wlf^y^- ■ ' ■ ■ '^3-^tj^* 165 CVII. The sons of Daniel 0*Fynn of Liscreavey fBraucAJbrtJ, The O'Connell family, the clan Crevin and their kindred ; fFko would not mourn the soul of generosity, Pierce Ferriter of much erudition. hÚ CVIII. Teige O'Connor and Bishop Mac Egan A-O» l^^a Were hanged on a gallows on (Ae kill o/sAeep (SAeepAill). The head of O'Connor was on a spike ; Some they transplanted, others they transported to Jamaica. <: The " Clan Crevin * are the M'Crohans. > d Pierce Ferriter, a gallant soldier, was of an ancient Danish family, settled ^ to the West of Dingle long ages before the Anglo-Norman invasion. He was a nobleman of great generosity to poets, a good poet himself, especially in the direiC'heroic kind ; in the composition of which, great rivalry existed amongst the Kerry bards of the seventeenth century. Of these Dr. O'Connell, even when young, held the first place, and Ferriter the second.— (See manuscript, R.I. A.) The latter was termed tAOj tjA Téjle, »ioéfef?Min <>f ^«w«r^»/y. We have seen copies with ctto]6e qa frejle, the soul of generosity ; either is good. Stanza cviii. ■Teige O Connor, an equally distinguished hero of the O Connor-Kerry family, was son to Thomas M'Teige O'Connor, fifth Lord of Tarbert, who forfeited A ghalahnna and other estates, in Iraght>i-Connor, shortly aflxr the martyrdom of his only son. To their grandfather's care Teige left his infant children, David and Connor O'Connor, both afterwards of Fieries ; from the • former of whom the author of our '* Metrical Version" is fifth in direct de- scent. Boetius M*Egan was Bishop of Kerry, and immediate successor <^ Kickard O'Connell, to whom he had probably been coadjutor. It would seem that, with Ferriter and O'Connor, he was taken prisoner after the battle of Knocknadashy ; and all three were hanged by the Protesttmts, at the Fair Hill, Killamey, in 1652. He is to be distinguished from Boetius Egan, of Ross, hanged two years previously by Broghill, at Carrigadrohid, near Mal- low, as wen as from Boetius M*£gan, of Elphin ; and yet the coincidence is very striking, that there should have been at the same time three bishops of the same Christian and surname. \'^_.'''<'^\-y^^^^-^':i^i6A5, ]r 't>"'^^<>''^1^»'' 3^1) PÍO0, 5^1) ceol, 3AI) bivi) b' a fe^fceAcc. ex. í)é|f A|t CU]|teA6 CAft SlOIJA^^* pA ÓAOjibjtolb,* 'S A VD&\t> A |rUA||t Pb|l|P 3AP flUcAO ^é f3feAlA, Cbu3A]^ i)A n)]A^A bo cun)A6 cutt) léifif3]t]f, 21 cik 3AI) tí7]ocaI, acc ]on)A|tcAi6 feice. ^ Mayo, especially into the pariah of KiUnraee, and adjoining parishes, also into the districts about Weatport, Newport, Lourburgh, Anyhagower, and about Woodford in Oalway. To this day there are fresh reminisceacM of faction fi^ta between Ubter settlers and the natires in Tulzahan near Ballyhaunls, Mayo, Swinfbid, Ballina Coatello, Ourtaghana. In these places are to this day die Ultonian Duffys, Cosgraves, Brennans, &c. But it is a known fact that there nerer was a fight betweoi the difibrent dans of the last name either in OaUen or Costello, in Mayo. b Some modem writers would write aqo for in in all places ; melody and the ear «ondemn such an innovation, e The second e is silent— the^«/ is sounded as 5, or ccs=:5 in sound. 4 Anglice «iNU=vMi in Greek ; ua and U] have the same signification, though some make the latter the genitive of the foimer. ' Sevenl thousands of die best Uood of Irdand were transported to Jamaica, in Cromwell's rule of tenor; but few of them survived the voyage. They were stowed up like herrings, in bftd «hips. Of one shipment, consisting of 20^00, not more than twenty persona wore alive two years after they landed. — See note on Cromwdl, p. 7S> 77. ! • ■ f ■ * . ■ t Stmuza cix. Í ^ ' a MaeDfloagfa or O'Donoghoe of Ross, or of the tiakes, was ancestor of the distingniahed iamilns of this name in Spain and in Mexico. Geoffi«y ', O'Donoghoe, here alluded to, was the O'Donoghue Glia, or of the Glens, a celebrated poet, whose direct descendant is the present O Donoghue, a mater» nal gntnd.nephew of the Liberator's, and the independent M.P. for Tippe. rary. The O'Donoghue promises to be an omament to St Stephen's, an honor to his country, and to upheld the dignity of his high lineage. Our poet pays ^ a markMl compliment to the illustrious O'Donoghue when he sings, ''that he ■ .^7»í^l5í5^5«r ■ ?^ ;?;57'?^- > »^ 167 CIX. Mac Donough of Buss was banished also, And O'Bonohoe of the Glen, wto practiced mirth, ! Duugid, Danday, and Dunanoir, Without wine, without music, without poems a hearing. ex. After what was sent across the Shannon in slavery, [storj> And the number that Philip found without returning with their Others took oaths, framed for utlcr ruin, They are without wealth but witii much lies. created pleasure," metming thereby that his mansion was noted for hospitality and social anrasementB. >> We think that t)UQ5it>, or Dundede, is a castle on a small úland, at the extreme south point of land, near the coast of the county of Cork, province of Munster ; to it, from the main land, is a narrov passage, the work of nature and art. Sailors call it the Oalley Head. It is very high, having at its base several caverns, which were formed by the waves. However, as we could not find any remarkable occurrence connected with it, in the days of red ruin, a thought occurs that perhaps t3ui)5]o is a mistake of ttie copyist for t)ui)bAO]— Dunboy in Berehaven— rendered fkmous by the unequalled resist- ance of 0*SulIivan Beare, with only a few gallant men, against mcKre than 6000 of Elizabeth's troops, of whom only 500 were English ! ! If, on tkis occasion, the Irish who fought against O* Sullivan Beare had worked for Ire- land under such a general, there was an end to British -misrule and ha«sy in this island. The Irish Catholics who commanded for Carew, Picsideat of Munster, on this occasion, were Donough O'Brien, Prince and Earl of Tho. tnond ; M^CarUiy Reavagh of Carberry ; Charles MacCarthy of Muskerry; Barry the GFreat, Viscount Buttevant; O'Donovan; Owen O Sullivaa, uncle of glorious O'SulCvan Beare ; Dermot O'Sullivan, the brother of O'Sullivan M(^; Denis and Florence MacCarthy, brothers. O'Sullivan Beare cot hit way, with a thousand followers, through the ranks of his traitorous countrymen, and, after many ** hair>breadth scapes," made his escape to Slieve ui Flynn, near Ballinlough, county Roscommon, thence to O'Rourke's country ; when he arrived tfiere his followers were only sixteen ; after that he w«nt to England, thence to Spain. See Historical Notes, and second volume. Dundade must have been another of O'Sullivan's castles ; and Dunanore^ (golden castle), is situate on a rocky island, in Smerwick harbour, in Kerry ; it was thought to b« impregnable. 'See metrical version and O'Sullivan's Catholic History. ^xítS^^í*^^ -•^:'?* *- V' ■vTrn^TrT^v^ "•'• '^-r - ■■- '' ■ '^* ' •■ .. / ^. "^J VLí •'">■=>; n* ' tTc'^^ ■ ' ■' I v» •''•7- r 168 cxi. ' \ CV tj-jeAbArt} peA|*bA ? i)ó cíib bo óéAOAm ? Mí bíoi) 6ú|i5 CDuic, co]ll, i)ó flé|bce, Ní b-|ruil A|t lé|5|or A5 liA]3 1 D-é>fíMot),* ' 2lcc 4)iA bo 3ui6e 'f ija ijAott) A^-é^Q^eAcc. . CXII. 21 4)b]A bo 6eAlbAi6 ji^e A3uf Tt^el^^^» Art thou deaf, or whither art thou looking, ; rr.\ j Was it not you who overthrew the monsters with thy nod. What little to you the length that you are patient ? ClUtening) Our faith is gone ; there is living but a spark of it. .. ■ - - '. ■ .,<••" Stanza cxi. a Never was formed a more pathetic nor more sublime stanza than this. Herein is exhibited the poet's inmost sours sympathy for the wrongs of his country. It is a sort of spiritual hypotoposis. ** i; is only euphonic, not a con. for 'at) the, though .éittlQQ has the article prefixed. Stanza cxii. "" * How pathetic— how sublime is this passage. As a trae Pastor he assails - 1 ;;;^ ' heaven by prayer f(» his own Ireland. v"^>i Stanza cxiii. » "Who but a holy cleric would thus, in prayer, as if assail heaven, and, by the violence of entreaties, implore the fulfilment of its promise to St. Patrick, as he came to Irelasd. It is evidently the language of a minister of God, whose kingdom is to be gained only by violence^ as the Scripture has it. h Are gou not long forbearing. u-A./-; ^■■^/•.^Ti*i.^,-w7.'vj'..v:r.^p:p,:.-jí^,,<«>í>->;- i:zss'sy^. V 'V;" A.D. 432. 170 CXIV. 2l]|t ci)oó*l)e|t]rDoi)&* A3 ceACc 50 b-éitiii)i) ? Hft «If» A9 oCfWMlé** CA|ft éf f A Cfté|5eAI7fl]f ? Nó Atj c-Aíi)5|ol Bbiccofi Ai) CAP bo |té|8 letf ? ?• cxv. jf O Dí b-ATnlA]6, ijí b-Yru|l co b]téA3AC ; U N] njdi* be b' AOff A|t éAiqr *>« ^'f'^Z^^h^f « **Ní'l poll A b' f co|i, ce ii)ó|t bo ÓAopAcc,* 1 S]^ f é]i) bo éa|ll 3AC ij^b cí^ béAi^cA. t CXVI. Ca b-|ítt]l ^ttirie b|tA]3]b5eAl béAfAc, 2QAi3beA0 3IA1) ir tv^tA^jt fe]u-ri)ic ? G>5]ij bo bAjfb, }f 66n) bA 5A0I b' ^, St^DSft^Af, PeAbA|i, P6l if Séutijxíf ? i CXVII. i 2t)]cbel 2l|ib-Aii)3^ol |to ijaotíjca,* Píib|tu]3 2l|tb-ApfbAl tjA })-^]P^^V ; ^Détfe," )obo|i ttriiAl It C'\^}i4i^ dfefiie, 'S A c-é* bo bbeA^A]3 ao 5ljtu]^, 6^a ?• 480 Stahza cxiv. ■ Sec note, p. 84, 97< b P«triok*8 Reek- at Monsk, in Mayo, midwray between Westport and Loaiiibai>gh, where the bleaaed PMiiek fasted forty d^i^s, as is said; without ordinary food, ptepimtory to the eelehration of the great festival of Our Lord's Resurrection, which was the first Christian fisast he oslebrated in Ireland. Our glorious patron, in thus abstaining from ordinary sustenance, imitated ■ W^^ '■;:'■ y\.'"* •■•■■;■■•-.::' - ■'"::/ ; Í- ■^'■'■•■'^P^Í^W^^^r''^^ 171 cxiv. ■ .••■;>; Is this your promise to Saint Patrick / ,. On Mount Uermon upon his coming to Erin ? u- v^ -i? Or on the Eeek after hia fasting ? . ,, Or of the Angel Victor the time he agreed with him ? y, cxv. Oh ! it is not so Í Yoa are not false (lying) , iv ' Not^ much of Thj* age* of Thy' existence Thou* has spent/ There is not a hole in tiby store» though grofrt thy bounty. It is ourselves deserved everything that is done. Where is Mary, fiar necked, spotless (virtuom) Virgin pui^ aad mother of thy Only Son, John that baptized, and John that was related to her, Andrew, Fe^, Paul and Jamas. OXVII. ; Saint Michael, the Archangd, t Patrick, the Arch-apostle of Ireland, Saint David the Welchman^roí» Binarra, As his mother was of the Gael. CXVIII. Colujmb,t eon of Crevin," and *Columb, son of Phelim, „ tCoium f Ailbe of Bmlv, and Beicolos of the Dssies, T'^"»^» The humble Ivar, and Kieran the ^&ar»é<^, rary. And he that blessed Arran, St. Enna. ciUe. Elias, and Moses before the latter approached his Creator to receive the tables of the law. As to Cnoc Heremond, which is the present Fort St. Michel, in Normandy, and the angel Victor, we have written at some length, when treat- ing of St. Patrick, to which the reader is referred. _v ..> L^^^ Stanza cxvii. a Several diurehea were dedicated to St. Michael, the Arebangel, in this couatry^ aod kkis festival is the S9d» Scfttember. Iii fact the veneration paid to WP^^^ :?»i^^!s«r<'í??TT'?«^wf»^?^ l:; 172 CXIX. )x SiopAi) JDif Caca da pfeifce ; '■ CoijaU ]f Corij&At), pAolAi) Le^cliw, jf íít)a]t>eAC 2lcAbeo ijA 5|iifepe ? i- ■^• cxx. B|iéAi)ui^ 2l]i&|reA|tcA bA rbofi T^AOtbcAcC, BftéAtju]^* BiO|i|iA ]f ColnjAt) &]le,* ' a«^, Felim of Leighlin, ;• And Muineach of Aghado of the sun fthe sunny Aghadoe)^ cxx. Fursa, the son of Finton, son of Gilgeash, O'Brenuan of Artfert, of great sanctity, Colman Ely, and O'Brennan of Birra,* ^ That was seven years on a pilgrimage. ** A star denotes that the history of the verse is given in the notes at the end of the work. wells were infested with a water aerpent., or paoist—xfA péirce. of the serpent — this is genitive feminine singular, and, therefore, the p is not aspirated, though the same case in the plural suffers eclipsis, thus 17A n}>bo, pro. i)A n)o, of the cows. As all these saints hare been noticed in our remarks on the Apostle of Ireland farther on, we can only direct attention to them here. <' One and a-quarter miles from Carlow, in Queen's County. He was pre- late over the principal parts of Leinster, appointed by Patrick. — See his poem and notes at end of this work. < - / ^^ n Stanza cxx. * The name of the O'Carrol's territory, in Queen's County. This St. Colraan was son of ^ngus. King of M unster, out of whose palace himself ■and his mother were turned, when young, took refuge in Queen's County, and was baptised by St. Colman, above stated. Or he may be, rather, Colmaa of Aikagh, spelled Eile, E for A, which is not unusual ; even the Latin writers use the s^encfer for the broad, and vice versa — thus, mcumme for maxime, and Virgil olli for Hit, in .£neid, book i., then by apocope of ocA, we have Eile. This place was on either side of the present river Lagan, in the ancient country of the Dalriada, in the Diocess of Dromore, now so faithfully guided by the pious bishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Michael Blake, the prop of Catholicity and, the bold assertor of Irish rights. His feast is kept on the 6th of June. This was the greatest of the Colmans. This is treated of by us more closely else- where — See Lanigan, who writes of Colman. Or very likely the Bishop in- vokes St. Cohnan, the first bishop and founder of the See of Cloyne in the County of Cork. To this opinion we iodine, though the word EUe bearing so near a resemblance to Elo and Eatta, now Lynalty, a place about a mile south west of Tullamore, King's County, leads one to think that the saint alluded to was Colman Elo of L]mally. If so his feast is celebrated on the 26th of September, on which day he died, A. D. 610, in the 56th year of his age. See Asnals of the Four Masters underlhe above year. In 667 another 11. ■ ■'Ft-?. ^'? ■■fv':-,'--r>^"?;. .r^-Tf-'yyr^. X-- ■ ■•■' r..r; }J -T^ -^^7-!^ S^r.-iP^-TrTrTIVviJJSJPMW ^'«BtigU',! IW" ' 174 CXXI. CeA^ftjAjtA* i)A C-CUA1J t^uAift buAi6 Fe^le, ' BftACAiit 3b«iA|]te bo b]'Ai) AofjATt;** 2t)ocu6A,* 2t)olA3A, Lacci)]!), Be] 1)1 1)3, ' Bft]5ib ^bl^e A5uf '^ohexjecA. GXXII. "pjotiAt) CluAi)A jojiAifib Y A cleifce, 'p'ii)Ai) I^Ail^oi) A^n At) téfi>loc ; IpítJAxf loCA lAOf, rt)0 DAOIt)fA, *Do |iu5 6 plA]5 job|tACAC f AO|i lé|f, St. Colman founded a church in Bophin island (island of the encftanted white cow), off the west coast of the barony of Murrisk, in the county of Mayo— See venerable fiede, c. 4, b. 4. Nutneious were the saints of that name in Ireland up to the tenth century, as can be seen in Dr. Lanigan's, O'Clerys, &c. &c. Still as the name is coupled with Brennan of Birr, we think it might refer to a St Colman of Eile, in Tipperary, as we find that the mountain, now called the DeviPs bit, was formerly so denominated ; and it was near that hill St. Brennan of Clonfert met Aodh of Munster to reconcile him and Aodh (Hugh) of Connaught. From the latteris the illustrious tribe name of Keogh, Let the general reader be here informed, that there were Pagan nuns in Ire- land. Their residence at Tara was called Cluanfearta, or Comer of grave», ss they were dead to the world. They were vestal virgins. According to Mac Curtin, OBroinan of Clonfert was descended from Fer> gus Mac Roigh, of the posterity of Ir. This may be, as elsewhere we showed that tribes of that name, of the lines of 11 eber, Heiemon, and Ir, were, at a very early period, located in Connaught. According to the same auUiority, the above saint built the church of Clonfert, A.D. 530. Wherever there are many of the same name, concerned in public matters, there will necessarily be a difficulty in distinguishing one man from another ; especially if the residences of the persons be also of the same name, or nearly so. But in Ireland there were many Cknfertt, and Ardferta in Pagan and Christian times, and many Saints Brennan. The term feari implies either '■'■ miracle,** '' welder,"' . or " grave," and, consequently, t!lonfert and Ardfert were common names before St. Patrick. — See Historical Notes. Stanza cxxi. « See " Lives of the Saints," approved of by Very Rev. Dr. Meagher, P.P., Hathmines, for all the above names. 175 ' CXXI. Conmara fMac Namara) of the bays, who surpassed in generosity, Friar O'Gara, that was a hermit, Mochua, Mohia, Lactan, Benignus (or Benin ), Bridget of Meath, and Gobeueta. CXXII. Fioan of Clonard and his clergy, Finan Felion (whose grot was) in Lough Lene, Finan of the Lakes, my patron saint. That brought from plague Iveragh safe with him. b The hermit — an eminent saint. The O'Oaras of Connaugbt are nearly extinct. The Very Rev. Dr. O'Gara, the learned P.P., Drumcliffe, is of this tribe. c St. Bridget was by birth^ of Meath, hence he calls her ii)]6e. Saint Gobeneu, abbess, was of the offspring of Conary, the great, she was born in Muskerry, in Cork. She governed the monastn-y of Ballyvoumey, distant 7 miles from Macroom, county of Cork. She is held in great vene- ration in that part of the country, where there is a well dedicated to her name. She is the patron saint of the O'Caseys, O'Healys, O'Uurleys, and Mac Dermotta of Muskerry. Stanza cxxii. , a St. Finghin, Finian, or Florence, here mentioned, was the founder of the abbeys in Kerry, as of Derrjmane ( Derry Finan), Finan's ivied oak, of Bal. linaskellig, of Church island, Tarmans lake, and of Innisfallen. It is related, that through his intercession Iveragh was delivered from a plague. His me- mory is hdd in great veneration in that country. Every district and ahnoet every distinguished family in Ireland had its household saint, whose protection wa« invoked in times of all emergracies. These are some of the saints enu. merated here by our bard. The poet here calls Fineen " his saint," as being the Patron whose patronage the O'ConneU» invoked. Mé]t)e. cxxv. 2lbé ^A|t|A, ST*^'^?!* pletjA, Bet)eb|ccA cú, |tÓ t>ób]f, A CAjtA AtJAtt) é|5(t), Nuijc ec ferupen 'y 30 15-3« Ab A] n) é]fbeACC. all their hopes in heaven. In fact, we have never read more touching or sub- lime language than from stanza cix. to the end. With a hely violence he assails heaven, in the words of a prelate, who thought that, decongruo, he had a right to obtain relief for Ireland from her oppression. ^ Gyeeshe iss gyeeimshe dheea na nhehe, Onn thahir, on mock, s a spirid noefa, Ur backa iUay dho wogha on aynught, A gyreedo» sa gyart dyastencker gyayliv. • These words are contracted, for 5Uj6ui5]6-n» 5«l6ui5")-T1> and ri is added for emphasis. Stanza cxxiv. Persons not acquainted with the structure and genius of language, assert that foreign words ought to be in the character of the tongue whence the words are borrowed, but that is a great mistake. The words ought to be preserved entire but should put on the garb of the language into which they are introduced. Though Saint LeachnaU's hymn is Latin, he wrote in the Irish character as can be seen in " Liber Hymsorum," Stanza ckxv. The third line of this stanza we are enabled to rectify by a manuscript copy of the Dirge by our kind friend Mr. Williams of Dungarvan. In our former edition we had a ca\ía x)i)i b-^ISTf for which we have substituted AQAn) é]5io, *' of persons in distress or suffering souls,'' of wMbm the Blessed Mary has ever been the powerful intercessor, and advocate with her beloved child Jesus. .i^.?qj5íFr-7^í:íT'í"--™ ■•■'■" i'- .-■ ; ' .. ' -gw" iy~'r--\/y'''''-Js^'^iy'n^:^'jr^^ ■ 177 CXXIII. Pray ye, and M'e pray, the God of gods, The Father, the Son, /ud the Holy Ghost, All our sins to forgive together, Tiieir faith and tlieir right to pay back (restore) to the Gaodaliv. CXXIV. Our Father who art in heaven. Thus may thy name be blessed — Our debts in future don't demand, But deliver us from more persecution. cxxv. Hail Mary, full of grace, Blessed art thou; the Lord is with thee, Pray for us, O friend of souls in distress. Now and for ever ; and that I may obtain from you a hearing. Stanza lix. The annexed stanza, which was not in our copy, we found in one in the Royal Irish Academy, and in another lent us by Mr. ODaly, Anglesea-st. We cannot understand how it was omitted, but we are to presume, that the copyist not being inclined to believe the fact enunciated in it, thought he was justified in expunging it. Such a practice is highly unbecoming and most injurious to history. No transcriber should ma^e verbal alterations, much less leave out entire passages. Can anything be more improper than such tampering with authors. Forsooth, because a scrivener finds a word or passage different from his own view, he has the impudence to erase what the author thought, and what was perhaps really a beauty. Public opinion must condemn such conduct. « t5A FFcib Alt* "ejc bujije CAtiéir éAS*, t)'A]cbeo5 Ó 'i) bíxf cunj beACA fAosAlcA; t5o coisré i)Aoj b-Titt oéA5 A^eiiJieAcc,» Ó BliAÓAi) 50 bliAÓAi) buine *r CW15 CA05AC. ■ " Forty and ten persons after death (50), He re-animated from death to this life I He raised nineteen men together ; Fromyear to year a person and five fifties (261). --^ ' ;. Dhaw ighid er dhegh dhinne thar aysh ayga, Dhaghvifoe owenioawsh chum vaha seeullha, Dho ho-iff shay nhee vir dhayug on ayun aeighty " '[' O vlyeeun go vlyeeun dhinne s cooig ckaygoth. ? .•;• .1 * 1 his line means that he re-animated nineteen men at once. . ;.' í^^-: ■%■ '^'=^^;'»r3r^í5yw HISTORICAL NOTES. NAMES OP IRELAND. Ireland had many names. The first was Jt)]f ija b-^io& ho)6e {veeoee-e)t *' an island of the wilderness of wood!* It received this name, it is said, about the year 20ii6, B.C., from a subject of Ninus, son of Belus, son of Nimrod. Ninus, as history tells, was ambitious of conquests and possessions. Hence his messengers were sent into all parts in search of such. When he explored this island he found it all covered with wood, except what is now called Clontarf{pxJield),\htVi Magh-na-ealta [plain o/b%rds)t from the fact of its being the sunny resort of all sorts of birds to amuse themselves before the sun. 2nd. It was called " Cfioicb tja bbpiijeAbbAcbV (pro. creeugh na veenugha), " the end of nations" or of the world, it being the most western isle in the world. i 3rd. A third name is " Inis alga" {nolle island)^ which it had iu the time of the Firbolg, or Bagmen^ so called from carrying bags of clay in Greece, by way of oppression, to make them leave that country. A tribe in North America is termed " Algonkin" [noble people), alga, noble, Jnné^ tribe. Hence, we trace the common stock from the affinity iu names. In fact, a large affinity exists between the original dialects of North America and the Celtic — see "Voyage of Baron La Hontan to North America.'' The identity between the Celtic AI3A and the Greek MyXn, deautiful, .9 worthy of notice. The better explanation of this name is " Inis Ealga" Ealga or Ealgnait was wife of Partholan. After her this land was so called. 4th name of our land is *' Eire." It was so called from Eire, a queen of the Tuatha de Danaans, or necromancers, ■1 %3s^;-^.r- i/'^.'Sv^v^y-T;-;: .; :„•::■'>; ■=■•' f^- :y' ; '■-:_> "'W^^^^-'^^^^^v^'t^^v^' '■ ■■. ■ • í^ 179 or little gods, so called from their great knowledge in the necromantic art, traces of which are still to be found in Ulster, but especially in Scotland. Eire was the wife of Mac Grene, who was king of this island when the Milesians landed in it. Another author asserts that it was so called from " JSria," an old name of the island of Crete, now Gaudia. This appellation was given to Crete by the Gadelians, when they arrived in it from uaEgypt, which they likewise called iBria. We think that the word is but a corruption of the Persian " /n»." Irin was the primitive name of Persia, which country, in early days, was bounded on the north by Siberia, south by the Erythi%eum or Arabian Sea, East by the Bel-oo-tagh chain of mountains, extending from Eussia in Asia to the Arabian Sea, and on the west by the Arabian gulph or Eed Sea, the Levant, or eastern part of the Mediterianean, the iGgean, the Propontis, or sea of Marmora, and on the north-west by the Euxine or Black Sea. According to a very old map of Persia, lying before us, we are inclined to say that the Indian and Gangetic territories were comprised in the ancient Persia. The fact that the Sanscrit (sean scriobh, old language)^ is preserved there gives weight to this opinion. Some of the first emigrants from Scythia, which was the northern part of Persia, mapped out by us, set- tled in Crete, and as in it they planted arts and sciences, they called it "Irin," from the monosyllables " Ir," sacred, "in,'* úle, their own country being Iran, sacred land. This simple Irish or Pelasgic name the Greek poets, no doubt, metamor- phosed into iEria. — See our treatise on " Eound Towers" in this work. This explanation gives the origin of Erin, or Irin, one of the names of Ireland. 5th name of Ireland is *' FodMa" from another queen of the Danaans ; her husband was Mac Ceacht. 6 th name of Ireland, *' Banba,'* wife of Mac Coill, another king of the little gods. These queens were sisters, and were 180 married, as above stated, to the aforesaid kings, who were' likewise brothers. They ruled, in turn, for a year, and it wa» agreed that it should be called after the name of the reigning, monarch's queen during his year of supremacy. The reason why Ireland is oftener called Eire than Banba or Fodhla is this; — Mac Greney, Eire's husband, ruled on the arrival of the Milesians. 7 th. '* Ini* /ailt* or island of destiny, from the Lia fail, or Saxum fatale^ as Boetius, in his " History of Scotland,** calls \i—the fatal Hone. The Danaans brought it here from Denmark, from the city "Ealias," called after it. It was said that this stone, whenever a monarch of Ireland was crowned on it, emitted a great noise and stirred ; also that in whatever country it was kept there would certainly reign a monarch of the Milesian race. Hector Boetius writes-^- - *' Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocunque locatum Invement lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem." "Unless the fixed decrees of fate give way, , The Scots shall govern, and the sceptre sway, Where'er this stone they find, and its dread sound obey.'' This stone was sent to Scotland that Fergus Mor might be crowned on it. There it remained until it was translated to London, and placed under the coronation chair in Westminster abbey, in the reign of Edward L, who carried it away forcibly. Shortly after one of the Stuart family succeeded to the throne of England, and thus was verified the saying of Boetius. Even the present Queen has some of the Stuart's blood in her veins. Time only can reveal if she be as faithless as most of that family proved themselves. " Nous verrous." The assertion, that the Lia fail is still on Tara hill, was made for a purpose. What sincere historian believes it ? Likely, indeed, that such a monument, possessing, or not, the wonderful enchantment, attributed to it, would be allowed to remain either in Scotland or Ireland. ."^u.^d^.-»..!..^/-.::!-^^-.-.'.'.^ i^M^'^^^ ■■ ■-'■ -■-• — -' •-^--■^■-^■■«^»^''— >.~.j>:JAh..^^*ji^flSaiihii^i^iLa;^. i-jPWl-iiJ^s^^rJli-: I^'Tsr ■; :" ■;. ' ;:$*». /■< •Í>f^?™í'^-" PATRIARCHS. For a history of Noah and the patriarchs see the book of Genesis. Let me here call the attention of the reader to an interest- ing fact, that, in primitive languages, words were not made simply to be conventional signs of ideas, but were applied as a brief mystic history of the sense to be conveyed, and, as it were, a method of artificial memory, when the use of letters was unknown. This is no theory : it is grounded on com- mon sense, and consonant with our notion of divine benevo- lence. We have manifest evidence of it in the patriarcha names in the Hebrew, thus : Adam, man ; Seth, set, or placed; Enos, in misery; Cainan, lamentable; Mahalaleel, blessed God ; Jared, shall come down ; Henoch, teaching ; Methusaleh, that his death will send; Lamech, to humble smitten man ; Noah, consolation. Clearly these words are not imposed arbitrarily, but as brief histories. The very same remark holds good a:^ regards the Celtic ; whole tribes and nations of it could be adduced in sustainment of the fact. To close this note: the descendants of Seth were strictly forbidden to marry into the offspring of the murderous Cain. The race of men, known as giants^ were the offspring of such intermarriage. Their not having long obeyed the divine command has left us an unmistakeable proof of God's anger against those who disobey him, and of his Almighty power to chastise evil-doers. He sent the Deluge which drowned all * Undue reverence or great fear made some men be considered as giants, whilst they were not really so. ;íS!r5H*F*"- ■ '■.■'-". i.r.~ '■-■■" --'v^^j^K^-^v,-.';:;^- , ; ." ;•-- ?'jiH'f''^ggg!'^-.y^;?g?ii^-?g^?;v^^ 184 mankind, except Noah (who obeyed him) ; his wife, Cobha (Cowa)j his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet ; their wives, Olla, Olivia, OUivania. After the Flood had subsided, the three parts of the world were divided amongst Noah's sons, according to a poet of antiquity- — . I . ' "In Asia, Shem the sceptre swayed ; In Africa, Ham and his descendants ; The illustrious Japhet and his sons Of Europe took possession." Noah having himself remained near Ararat where the ark rested, planted a vineyard, and having got drunk from the juice of the grape, was laughed at by Ham, whom his father upon awaking, cursed. Children, hence, are warned against, on any pretext, despising parents ; and parents to guard against being the occasion of sin and its consequences to children ; but Noah was excusable, as he knew not that the juice of the grape would intoxicate him. STANZA III. "ploijcAii) )-Ai6. — Fiontan, the pr<^het. It was told by some antiqnaries, that, when the ark was being built, Bith, the father of Csesar, applied for a room for the use of his daughter, Caesar,'^ and himself, and that being refused, he and Fiontan, his son-in-law, made a ship, and put to sea by the advice of an oracle to escape the divine wrath, that they came to Ireland, landed in it ; that Fiontan alone survived. Here an argument presents itself to our mind against the theory of a partial or a mere Armenian deluge. If the deluge was not universal, God's aim would have been frustrated, as wickedness could get out of danger ; because several could have done what fable attributes to the fabled Bith (Bee) and Fiontan : they could have emigrated from Armenia to distant lands, and thus have escaped the partial flood. As to the legend about Fiontan our author alludes to it • Or "Caisar." ■4?ísr??ÍT-^ ;vi.-^«i;•••••' 186 simply as a link in Ins story of Irisli matters, but of courje looked on it as a mere popular fiction. He introduced it in tlie same manner as d-d the Psalter of Cashel. Poets and iiistorians refer to incidents connected with their subjects, not that they believe or even re!?pect them, but lest it might be thought they were ignorant of their existence. But it is a source of pain to a candid thinker to find, that the enemies of truth and the calumniators of our creed and country take an undue advantage of what has been used by our writers, as a mere link, to make it a ground of charging us with super- stition and ignorance. As regards the fabled Eiontan, the lying Giraldus Cambrensis, or Gerald Barry, an illegitimate son of Henry I., has given the grossest fictions to bring into disrepute the calendar of Irish saints. Barry exerted his foul pen to make it appear that Piontan was the same as Tuam, the son of Carrill, or according to some old writers, Caoilte — Kielty — Mac Bonain, who was three hundred years old when St. Patrick came to Ireland, and who gave much information to the Great Apostle of the Irish, and became a convert. But no book of Irish antiquities or old manuscript ever mentioned Piontan under either name. Hence it is clear that Cambrensis, the malignant traducer of our old land, confused the names to serve his work of falsehood. That there was such a man as Tuam there are tenable grounds for asserting. Dr. Hanmer also has vented his virulent spirit in attempting to blacken our character, in connexion with Piontan. It is pitiable to be obliged to be vindicating our nation from the vile aspersions of persons who make a living by cobbling together facta and fictions to compose what they call a history, and as they know, that the deadlier the venom they spew upon Irish affairs, the more numerous and richer will be their supporters, so they will be sure not to spare the brush. Hanmer would make the world believe that the Gadelians had a great veneration It is a strange fact that England— Catholic and Protestant— ordained the offspring of sin ; Ireland never did. y-yi^^T.:. ..-■■' . -,.-■ i-'v-^, '•;;*'.;,:■■••; • ■.;>•- ' ■■ ■ ■ • ■;> ~';- • '■->-;-í;í(ívJ?;í3;-;^yrxí'»JÍ^^^^^^ 180 for Fiontaii, whom he calls Roanus, who preserved himself during the deluge ; lived £000 years after it ; met St. Patrick, told him the transactions of many ages, was baptised, and in a year after died. No doubt, the legendary writers spoke of Fiontan as a great prophet, but no respectable historian mentions him in any other light than as a proof that they knew the fable about him. They recorded the fact as we do, not crediting it. Now of all this stuff of Hanmer's there is not a word in any antiquary or manuscript of authority. It is a known characteristic of English writers to seek to raise the character of their own by blackening the antiquities of the Irish nation. In the attempt they too often expose their own ignorance, which has allowed them to give several names to the same man, as in the case of Fiontan. The reader who would know more of the romance alluded to must consult Doctor Keating's " History of Ireland," who has plainly shown, that the whole tale with regard to the Antediluvian is opposed to the Word of God, not supported by any respectable authority, and invented at first only to please the superstitions, vulgar and low-minded. STANZA VII. (- 'Cr ^T^.^-ii^VV"': 1^-..' >.;--. ?-. t^. - ■rí''- ■ *X 7'''^^ r-T-TrT.-^T^iilir^wc-^vn/' 187 Hamítes. From Adam to the building of Babel there was but one tongue amongst the Shemitea — see pages 79-SO. Greek scholars call it ifttykmrtr», anglice "horaoglot." After Nim- rod {rectiua Belas) had laid the foundations deep into the bosom of the earth, had built the tower high, and even above the clouds, as it is written, God caused a confusion of lan- guages. This confusion of tongues is thus recorded. Gen. xi 7, 8 : ''Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there con- found their tongue, that they may not understand one ano- ther's speech.'' And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands, and they ceased to build the city. The site of the building was Shenar, and, according to Bellaraiine, took place 242 years after the flood. Authors disagree as to the number of years. Our opinion, after the consideration of facts and learned authoriiies, is that the period was only about 100 years. Great revolutions may occur within that time. We may here state that the mosi learned record it as their opinion that Belus, son of Nimrod or Nimbrotbus, was the builder of Babel, and that Ninus and Semiramis gave their father the name of Baal or Belus, which was a Chaldean name of God. They made an image of him in the temple and caused it to be worshipped. Baal, Belphegon, Belzebi;ib, Belus, Baalaim, Beelsephon are one and same name. See " History of the word, London, 1604, by Walter Barre." According to St. Jerome, the idol " Peor" of the Moabites was called Baal, and was the same as the " Priapus'' of the Romans. From the prophet Osee we learn that Baalim was the name of tbe true God. The Lord himself said, " Thou shalt no more call me Baalim, for I will take away the name of Baalim out of thine mouth.'' , It was after the true God Ninus impiously called his father Bel, or Baal {Latin Belus), and the Chaldeans called the sun, which they worshipped, Ball— that is, "God." Fire was also an object of worship, and hence it also was termed Bel fei'iái*i.'í ■..';.. =•■ ^.•.rv'^?-."^ '^ '"^^i .r7í:^iííf?T-^-. 18S or Baal. Belpliegor signifies " the watching Bel or Bel of the Watch Tower," as Bel's image was placed therein — rsee work already referred to, page ld5. This helps to explain the use of the Bound Towers, the " quasi Belfrp." Bellarmine has, in his chronicle, stated, that it was in the year of the word, 1856, Ninus, son of Belus, began his reign. This is according to the Hebrew computation, which he follows ; for, from the beginning of the world" to the deluge, ) 656 ; from this until the sway of Ninus, 200 years ; to this we must add forty-two years of Ninus's reign, that being the number spent before Feniusa Farsa began his school .M. 1898. on the plains of Sbenar.t Here he continued for twenty years until he had the college thoroughly organized and until its fame had spread far and wide. He then went to Scythia und M lais ^s^-sblished Schools. He commanded Oadel or Gael to adjust and digest the Irish language into five dialects, viz., the Po- etic, Historic, Fenian, Theban (or Physicians' language), and Common. Hence it is clear that it is called Gaelig from Gael, who digested it. Others derive the name Gaodilig from " 3^^/' toanderert, 611], /oik, and "^ut, voice, it being the language of the Gadelians, or migratory people. Niul, the son of Feniusa, called his son by Scota, daughter of Pharaoh Cingeris, Gael or Gaeyal, out of affection and respect for the great linguist, who taught him the Irish language. We should have said before this, that the Hebrew language was retained by Heber, son of Sale, the fourth in descent from Shem, and from him it was called Hebrew* Heber was permitted to pre- serve the original language, because he was opposed to build- ing the temple, and sought to dissuade his wicked brethren from doing so. The reader is referred to a note relative to this passage in pages 79, 80, wherein the subject is critically discussed — and a description of the tower given. It is also written upon in our treatise on the " Bound Towers.' * See pages 80, ISO. >t ■W^^mT^':y-'^-WW^:^;y^7V^^^^ I8d ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST UNIVERSITY. "il;- --'.:.■.>'■/:' STANZA XVI. '■ ■ :'Kr '-^^-'Y..:; ' '' -: From this passage one would be led to infer that it was Niul founded the university in Magh Shenaar ; the fact being that he ruled it onlj when Fenius had returned to his king- dom. Perhaps the poet gives prominence to Niul's name, as he was father of Gadelas, the recognised progenitor of the Gadelians. Besides, after Fenius had been president ove> the schools for twenty years, he returned north-eastward to his native Scythia, leaving the supremacy of them to Niul, having constituted Gadel, or Gael, the president, who was the prac- tical one all along. Bellarmine, in his chronicle, states that Ninus, grandson of Nimrod, was sole monarch of the universe when Farsaidh* came to Shenar to learn the primitive language from Heber, the fourth in descent from Shem. It was whilst he was establishing the seat of learning in this south-western plain that Niul was born. Before he left Scythia he sent seventy-two scholars, with others to take their places in case of death, to learn all the languages of the world, with strict orders not to return until they had understood them thoroughly* This he did, evidently for the purpose of establishing the nur- sery of learning in his native country ; but it would seem as if Providence intended otherwise — that enlightenment might proceed from the very quarter whence crime overspread the land. The fact of Niul's birth in the plain, added to the royal father's love of the Heber's tongue, caused Fenius to build the schools where he was, that not only himself but his young son, might be perfected in a knowledge of it. What an anxiety did not this primitive kijjg exhibit to educate his son 1 How highly he appreciated learning and the moral train- ing of the yonng prince ! He absented himself for twenty years from his throne and kingdom, which he entrusted to * Fiarsee. — Fear^ man, saidh (see), knotoledge — so that the name denotes " learned man." 15 ■ • >■. ■ v.- ; , ^ r^.-s!^? .>is? rvwsfT?^ \-': .190 I tlic care oi his elder son, Nenuall. He preferred knowledge and the careful education of his child to the blandishments of the court, and the mere bauble — a crown. Here parents have a grand lesson as regards the dilty they owe to their children, especially whilst young, until habits are formed and virtues matured. In this passage we also can appreciate the innate love of learning in Clan na Gael. The same love of languages and sciences has floated down to us from the source which sprung up in Shenar. The stream of knowledge, though often impeded in its way, has forced its passage like a torrent that would not be checked, and, despite every effort to divert it from the natural channel, it has reached us, and has, by its genial influeuce, preeminently distinguished Irishmen in all the walks of literature. It should be stated that Shenar, where the college was founded, was near a city called Athens (wise). (This word is cognate with the Irish A-\tt)e knowledge). This circum- stance induced some writers, ignorant of our language, to state that the Gadelians came from Greece, as tAe celebrated city of that name is in Greece, and as Gael, the linguist, was of the posterity of Gomer, son of Japhet. Now this is a ma- nifest mistake. For whether the Irish were called after the Linguist or after the prince, the fact stands — that our great ancestors came direct from Asia : because the two Gael» lived in that country, and we have no account of the lÁnguiit'é off- spring, whilst we have irrefragable evidence of the migration of Gadelas, son of Niul, and his posterity. . ,. f. ; - It was about 200 years after the Deluge that the reign of Ninus commenced ; in the forty-second year of his reign, Farsa became president of his college; this was about the year 1898 of the Creation. Ninus died, A.M., 1908, ten yeais after the organization of the University. This was the first nursery of learning in the world. Hence it is evident that Scythia 191 first lighted the lamp of knowledge, and her king gave per- manent shape to literature. Farsa continued in the plain ten jears after the death of Ninus, A.M., 1918 ; 788 before the Milesian monarchy in Ireland; 2088, B.C.* -iv . > ? . li' ..j. - After the death of -his father the sceptre came to Nenual, who was the eld<»r and who was trained to sway it ; the only inheritance left to Niul being the emolument from the schools and from his learning. And a rich inheritance it was, and well he merited it. His fame as a scholar and a philosopher reached all quarters ; and multitudes from the surrounding nations flocked to get instructions under him and to pay him their respects. Even Pharoah Cingeris, the king of Egypt, the oppressor and taskmaster of the Hebrews, came to visit the great Ollav. He invited him to his country. The invi- tation was accepted. He got Scota, the king's daughter, in marriage ; built schools and colleges in Caperchiroth on the coast of the Red Sea. Here, again, is seen the wisdom of Providence : the descendants of Heber are relieved by Niul, the progenitor of the Gael. His father learned, from their pre- decessors, the primitive language, which he prized and had engraven on plates of woodt — as CianfoiJhla, who wrote in the time of Colurabcille, states. , ! > ., wfi.^ . All this time we have not a record of one good thing, — on the contrary, everything bad — on the part of the off- spring of wicked Cham, who mocked his father Noah. How beautifully in these incidents is the working of Divine * There is a difference of a great many years between the Greek and Irish chronicles ; even Greek annalists differ from each other, as do the Latins. It is our opinion that these facts happened about A.M. I 757. Before the redemption 2247, that is taking the world's age to have been 4004 when Christ was bom. See page 79, 80, 83 and other passages. It may not be considered out of order to mention here that the Annals of the Four Masters by Doctor O'Oonovan make the Milesian invasion 1694 years antecedent to the birth of Christ + B, F, also g, c, being commutable letters. Fiodh, Biogh, or Bioc, (wood), is the origin of " booc,'' (book), as the first writing was on wood. : •M:i;.„s>i Í4t :■; ■': ■Wíi'!^ **1«} Y::*i^' 19j3 Providence developed. The offspring of Shem and Japhet, who reverenced their parent, are secretly influenced from on high to reciprocate kindness and benefits. Gadel, son of Eáthoir (Eehor), son of Gomer, who was of Japhet — after a lour in Greece, to learn its language^— aids the Scythian monarch, who was the fourth from the same Japhet, to erect immense literary lighted lamps, whose effulgence would over- spread the globe, whose genial rays were to shed their halo over every land, and were to brighten up a darkened horizon* Scripture informs us that Moses led the Hebrew people out of the land of Egypt,inthe time of Pharoah, father-in-law of Niul. STANZA XIX. ' This people, though at that time the only true wor- shippers of the one God, (though O'Connor, in his "Dis- sertations," Doctor Parsons, and others, hold that the Irish were also) being sorely oppressed, is an evidence of the false reasoning of modern evangelizers, who assert, that if Ireland had the true faith, and had the Bible more gene- rally taught amongst the priest ridden and benighted Papists, she would be rich and prosperous as England. The Egyptians and their king were rich, learned and powerful, though they blasphemed Jehovah, and cruelly persecuted his faithful people, whose leader, Moses, gave to posterity the Penta- teuch, the only Bible the Jews, at first, had. But facts and arguments seldom prevail when the love of mammon and pre- judice have pre-occupied the heart. The traffickers in souls know that Roman Catholics read, love, and teach the Bible under authority. Even the law of the land is expounded under the guidance of the judges. That is common sense. Some fancied a difficulty in making Niul contemporary with Moses, but there can be none whatever. From the deluge to the leadership of Moses, who took upon him the command of Heber's descendants, there was a space of 776 years, which thus appears. The flood 2348, B.C., Moses 1572 ; but 2348—1572 = 776 years, being the ;isr3K.^;.i''i'yvíiSí'^;"i--^.;'íi • v^■lr:■r^^'^': "-^i^y^*?^^ ' ■■;!f;v:v=*>í7 : space between deluge and Moses, Now Moses was thefi fth from his ancestor Shem counting both, and Ninl was the fifth from Japhet his progenitor, both included. Shem lived until A.M. 2158, that is 274 years before Moses. Surely if one ancestor lived so long it is quite reasonable to infer that relatives lived equally long. But calculating 776 years as the collective age of five generations in those early days is what can be doubted by no sensible man, especially when we take into account the advanced age to which men lived in the patriarchial times. There is to be seen in St. Patrick's Ca- tholic church yard, New York, a tombstone of an Italian who died at the age of 175 years. John Smith of Bolton- street narrated the fact to the author in presence of several witnesses. Lynch, a negro slave died in Jamaica at the age of 150. In 1857 a man, who reached the age of 150, died at Kingstown near Dublin. See '* O'Brennan's essay on Ireland," page 11 and 31 iu reference to Moses and Niul, also preface to the 2nd volume of this work. At the same time we must say that the very fact being mentioned in our annals is evi- dence enough of its truth as there was nothing to be gained by stating a fiction. The seeming diflBculty vanishes, when we consider the duration of man's life at that early period. Heber, the son of Sale, the fourth from Shem, lived 464 years, Shem lived 500 years after the birth of his son Ar- phaxad. (See 1 1th chap of Genesis.) Hence it is not to be wondered, if Niul, the fifth from Japhet, lived from the forty- second year of the reign of Ninus to the days of the dark bondage of the Hebrews. Marian us Scotus, a writer of weight, states that the confusion of languages did not take place until 331 years after the flood, and there are the most authentic records to prove that Niul was not born until long after the confusion. .The very fact of his father having sent Literati to travel to collect the seventy spoken dialects, attests ./■? o\\'¥ííg5«icr>v^'5í^i''iíff^"í"^^ ?i?íT^ 194 • that the birth of tliis prince could not have occurred for a great interval after Babel. For it was when Farsaoidh came to learn the original tongue, then kept only in Heber's race, that Niul was born at Shenar (old land.) Wherefore it is quite easy of credence, that Moses and Niul were contempo- raries. ' ' ■" . ■ ■ '■'■ ■ ' I -■'••:■' -^ii-- How wonderfully a population springs up in a short time. Moses, as we are told, led with him across the Ked Sea, 600,000 men, able to bear arms, besides old men, women, and children, and this, though a very few years only elapsed since Joseph first went thither. 01 those Joshua and Caleb were the only persons who reached the promised land ; but a numerous generation sprang up during the sojourn in the wilderness. Of the number of Pharaoh's host, a poet, writing on his being overwhelmed by the waters, says — " They cover all his host, and in their course, sweep away 60,000 foot, and 50,000 horse/' This disaster happened to the Egyptians 997 years after the deluge. Niul, who by the advice of Moses had put to sea, fearing the displeasure of his father-in-law for having aided the Israelites with provisions and other necessaries, having observed from his ships the end of Pharaoh, returned to land, reigned, for some time before his death, admired by all as an amiable and a learned monarch, and a brave war- rior. Gadelas, his son, succeeded him and took his mother Scota, into a share of the government. Gadelas was eighty years old when he ascended the throne of his father. He was the sixth in descent from Japhet, he was the seventh from Noah, and the fifteenth from Adam. It was Dathe, the sixteenth from Sru, who was the second from Gadelas, that came to Spain, as the antiquities of Ireland certify. It is wrong to assert that this Gadelas ever came from Greece to Spain or elsewhere. He lived and died .in the territory ruled over by his father. But Pharaoh an Tiur, o/ the tower ^ some ^ w ■ ^™!»^' 'ififpr^ 195 " years after, upon ascending the throne of his fattier, Cingeris, wishing to repair the loss sustained in the destruction of the Egyptian army, set about recruiting his forces to the end of expelling the Scythians, whose power he began to dread, and of avenging the catastrophe that befel his father. When he bad completed and marshalled his army he proceeded towards Caperchiroth, which he entered with fire and sword. Wal- singham gives us this fact, though in doing so he states what was not a fact, as we shall prove. These are his words in English : " The Egyptians being overwhelmed by the Red Sea, such of them as survived expelled a Scythian noble, that lived amongst them, lest he should seize the crown. He and his family [meaning all his people] came to Spain, where he and his progeny lived for many years. There they were greatly multiplied, and thence they came to Ireland." Writers, unacquainted with our antiquities, because of their ignorance of our language, and their consequent incapacity to read and explore the native Annals — unable to go up to the source or spring, content themselves with a passing draught from the impure bucket of any libeller, whose statements he takes as genuine, whilst the author, upon whose authority he ventures to give facts to the world, was as careless, and as incompetent as himself to have recourse to the pure fountain. Hector Boetius also had the temerity to assert, that it was Gadelas himself who was driven out of Egypt and made the expedition of which we are writing ; the fact being, that it was Sru, the grandson of Gadelas, that went to Candia or Crete. This island, being so near Greece, has led many into the error of believing that the latter country was the place whence the Milesian colony came. They confounded, as was already ob- served, Gadel or Gael, the Linguist, who was professor of the Greek language in Earsa's University— who reduced to system the Celtic tongue, and who, as must be presumed — nothing to ■&£J>;li)f!h^;J ■ ifflt-o*^ ■'•^•> "^ ■ ^^^ 19G the contrary appearing — lived and died in Shenaar, with Gade- las, who, as was also stated, was called after the professor, by Niul, through respect and affection for his tutor. To tface clearly the colony of Milesius, the above fact must be kept in view. Wherefore it is hoped that pardon will be granted to us if we seem to repeat ourselves. Brevity, much though it is to be admired, must be avoided, when doubted or obscure points are to be elucidated. In Dr. Patrick's Ancient Geography, p. 87, Cellarius, we find an account of the city of Phasis, at the mouth of a river af the same name ; also Dioscurias at the mouth? of the rivers Charistus, Cyaneus, and Hyppus, built by " Milesiorum Colo- nia" [his own words]. This latter city was rich in commerce " Mercatu dives " called Sebastopol, " Sebastopolis dicta" [not the modern city of that name in the Crimea] which Ptolemseus makes the end of the Colchic coast. North of this was Asiatic Sarmatia ; N.W. of that again was European Sarmatia. The Tanais, hodie Don, which rises out of a lake on the north of the latter, runs between both, and empties itself into Palus McBotis or Sea of Azoph. The above is a respect- able authority in sustainment of the fact, that the Gadelians, of whom was Golay or Milesius, came wot firom Greece, though it might be said they came tJiroxigh it — but from Scythia. They sailed down the Caspian Sea from the north to the mouth of the river Cyrus, hodie Kur, into which the Alazon and Aragus on the north, the Araxes and other tributaries on the south, flowed, and rendered it navigable. This river runs south of Albania, quite through Iberia, whence, it is probable, Ireland was called " Ibernia or Hibernia," owing to the simi- larities the Gadelians observed in both countries, though we have preferred the derivation from " Heber." Prom what we have said, it is plain they travelled by Albania through Iberia, thence by the narrow pass of the " Moschici Montes," where "■V}::T'''?^-'--7'-->7-^^ they met the beautiful, majestic, navigable Pkasis, upon whose noble waters they sailed up northward until they came to the Euxine or Black Sea. This was reckoned by the ancients one of the largest rivers of Asia. (See Pliny, 10, 48, Martial, 13, Strabo, 11, Mela, 1, 19, Paus., 4, 44.) It flowed through Colchis, whose king was ^etia, mentioned by Justin, and who, to obtain the golden fleece, killed Phryxus, who had fled, as is fabled, to his court on a golden ram. It is rendered celebra- ted by the Argonautic expedition to regain the golden fleece. The Argonauts, according to tradition, saw on its banks large birds, some of which they caught, and it is said this is the origin of " pheasant." So much danger did the Argonauts experience in their pas- sage on this river, that dangerous voyages have been proverbially termed " sailing to the Phasis." - i^;- jcr Upon the arrival of the Milesian emigrants at its mouth they built a very large city, " Perampla urbs," as Cellarius calls it, which was named Phasis, a little north uf the ancient Sebastopol, another town which they built. It is said by Dr. Keating, that this colony continued a long time in Cappadocia, the country of the Amazons. The route we have assigned them, brought them directly from Scythia to it, that land of female warriors being exactly due south-west of the Moschici, aliter Meschichi montes. We are here to observe, lest we might not hereafter think of the matter — that many of our modern writers animadvert very unkindly on the erudite Keating, though some of them borrow largely, if not wholly, from his history. When we con- sider the state of geographical education, and of the art of de- lineation aud mapping 200 years ago, at the time he wrote, we will not be much surprised at his error, great though it was. For it was impossible that the Gadelians could take shipping in the Tanais, or Don, a river rising north of Euro- ^i%*í!rvA^ \:-" 198 -1 pean Sarm^tia, aud forming almost the whule boundary of Sarmatia Asiatica, Itaving a vast extent of country between it and the Caspian, lying very far to the west of Scythia Antiqua. It must be kept in view, that Sarmatia Antiqua did not extend far north, as will be seen by referring to an ancient map. Had it been written that our noble ancestors travelled over land to the Tanais, and then took to ships and sailed to Falus Moeotis or Sea of Azoph, we could understand the assertion, though we could not think, that prudent adventurers would take a land route through an unknown country.* Herodotus fell into a like mistake, having written in 4th book, 45 and 100 chap., that the Tanais divided Europe and Asia, and was one of the rivers of Scythia, the fact being, that that Tanais did not at all touch on it. Whether the Jaxartes, emptying itself into the Caspian, N.E., was anciently called also Tanais or not, is in this place of little value, as evidently it was wholly in Asia. But Herodotus was never in Sarmatia Antiqua, and was led into mistakes in his views of Scythia by giving facts on hearsay and in prejudice. So much was he a hater of the Scythians, that he gives the grossest calumnies of them, and calumnies, which are opposed to the best authorities. This he did, because they overran Greece. He made the Moeolis and Tane one and the same thing, though that river has its source S.W. of the Valdai hills, 800 miles N. W of Azof. He was entirely ignorant of the Rha or Volga. Even BAa or Ba, now the Volga, nearer to Scythia than the Don, is still at a distance from it, and disgorges itsdf into the Caspian Sea. The name, as an appellative or significant t«rm , denotes, in the Sclavonian or Sarmatian tongue, " river," that is, " ike great river ;" and the word " Volga" is derived from Bussian terms " Velika Reka" — great river — which flows fro» * See foot note on Stanza 16. j ., -.1 ttak ^'V^'^r'"S'-^ ' "• • i^ «■^■^^'''wss^ V^^sf^r': í:-^- 190 a lake, south of the Hyberborean mouiitaitis (the Valdai liilis) in Russia or Muscovy. The approximation of the Tenais to the Volga, before the former changes its course to the Palus Maoiis, led many authors into the erroneous opinion, that it was but an emanation or branch of the Rha or Volga.!. n^ The Gadelians embarked from an island in the Caspian with three ships, in each of which there were sixty men, and every third man had a wife. In their passage down the Cyrus, now the river Kur, by Albania, through Iberia and Colchis, they encountered great dangers, as did, in the same passage, the Argonauts, ««otioned before, owing to the rocks which were in the bed of the river, especially at the junction of Phasis or Fooz with the Kur, between the " Moschici Montes." These difficulties made Gollamh (Gollay), in Latin Milesius (rectius Miles), consult Cacier, sometimes written Cathier,* a learned Druid or priest. This prophet told them that a v^estern island was their final destination. The name Cahier, or Keigher, corruptly, Carr, is very common in Ireland. Cahier was the son of Heber and nephew of Adnoin, and grandson of Tait, great grandson of Agnanion, who was of Beogannon, the son of Heber Scot, the warrior, who was the great grand- son of Gadelas, who was the great grandson of Fenuisa, after whom the Irish Militia were called Feni or Eionna Eireinn, and not after Eionn, son of Cumhall, that body having existed before the latter. Cathier, it would appear, was a tesm usually applied to some of the learned amongst the Gaddians. Lough Chaghair near Ballyhanus, Mayo, was called after him. In the 25th verse of Bishop O'Connell's poem occurs the word " Oarbin ;" it might mean a city, north of Oappadocia, near the mountains, called in Greek " ii»fiu^ ," Latin " Cabira," Irish " CA|ib-f|i,'' in which city Mithridafces, King of Pontes, erected a basilik. This city was named " Diopolis" * Pronounced " Cahepr." litaii.-i.--.'r:-i!i. ■»' ■■ ' r:~--, -•'T'- i'Tti' '^ \'^ -V- ■^■^^•''^ ICf^.^Tsm:^^. 200 by Pompey. It must be near this that the Gadelians encoun- tered some of their dangers. It was remarkable for Orgies in honour of the local Divinities, who were called "Cabiri" (vide Strabo). Hence the name of the city. This system of worship, which was barbarous and inhuman, was introduced from " Cabiri," mountains of Phrygia, where it was first practised. These are supposed to be the same with the Corybantes, priests of Cybele ; they were also called " Galli/* Whenever they sacrificed, they furiously cut their arms with knives. ' Hence frantic persons are denominated " Gallantes.'* The Corybantes were so called from " Ktffvruf" to buU with the horns^ and " B«4»ttji," to walk^ as they used to strike with their heads like cattle, whilst they walked. Having witnessed such a demon class of beings, it is not t^ be wondered that the Milesians began to tremble, and to devise how best they could escape. It may be presumed, that these travellers, like the " JEneadi" may have left persons behind them in some places. This being so, history has shown us how quickly a numerous offspring arose. These in themselves may be deemed branch colonies from the main stream, in its course to this country. Might not the Crutheni or Cretheni, who came to Ireland 1267 B.C., be a colony of them. STANZA XXII. , (1st line.) The note on this verse should have been earlier, but the thread of the previous subject hindered it. It was not Gadelas but Sru, as previously stated, who was driven out of Egypt by Pharaoh an iuir, that got this name, we are to suppose from having erected a large tower, which answered the two-fold purpose of Fire worship, in honor of Belus, adored in Sheiiaar as a God, and as a light-house for sailors coming to Egypt. Pharaoh Cingeris had instituted in his country the " Baal" worship. Wherever the Gadelians went. ?5^: !•:' ^ '■■■- :';■ ■' ■T^.y.:-. -■:■ '^- >r-Wt'F-;-^- ■■ '::>^^^^^«^^'^^^ 201 c - tliey established it, as they did iri Ireland. The "t^ufft cé]i>e,"* Fire towers, or Bound towers, as they have been called, were built for that purpose. That this was their use is so clear, we shall not waste time or argument to disprove the modern theory of one or two writers, who, though they may be well-intentioned, do occasionally tamper, without due authority, with our venerable antiquities. Such authors think, that speculation is an agreeable game to attract attention. The Gadelians steered for Greece to make better preparations for their long journey, than they could possibly have done in Egypt, being obliged to fly from it. It will be remembered, that this was not their route direct to Spain bat to Scythia. STANZA XXIII. (2nd line.) We must here infer, that it was in right of Gadel, the Professor, Athens is in this verse asserted to be Sru's. We can see no other claim he had to it. This Gadel was Gomer's son. He came from Greece to assist in founding the Scythian University, and digested the Celtic language, called after him "^aoSI]-^, Both Gadels were relatives. The reader will please not lose sight of this fact, that there was another city of Athens near Shenaar. Keating gives this on undoubted authority. As these lines are by way of notes, it cannot be expected, that there will be such close consecutive connexion of facts and details as cai^ be in a regular history. The matter of a former stanza may demand of us to narrate what, in point of time and a particular locality, should follow. However, wo shall keep to the order of dates and places as much as possible. Heber, the seventh from Gael or Gadel, his owu sons, Cathier and Cing (Quin), with the sons of Agnoii, are the • Pro. " Thooir thinny.'' That these towers might have been, in after times, used as " Cfsce cUns," " ^eU houses," is another question, which is treated of in our essay on that subject in this book. i^ynatiVifii r ■ • '!?«!>*?!:.. ■ í- ■*••='■■: >}r':-rr'^f^íf»frTr:^ffr^ ■'■■ ■ '-■'ri-^'^'^f^'>'i( : .^1 k m' i ■^ ^ m i< ^ [PAiT or] ASLk, EXTROEE, &ArBICA., 5CYTH lA/^ tkur Jkriral V L*»^' •Ov Bel|^, iiV IRELAND. / ' • A'!'- >>> ^^^ \ sc /^ iXTB' A-^ iT T a: J %*^ V r !«- « tt., ■d^« <*•*«». ^AHi O^ HI A W R 'V^ ^ \ ' lilt4tS\ ,3>^ K&^ Cfl i<*' CUA* • ITHII'* timer Jt» ', fcuriu^jf icoriiw .•<-> C' SOO- ' A '^k n^'^HK IRTI rx»»' w'*"^ S.^SffosicaC'. I £f« T^fW/a ^9-ut t^J%mMKrmme- "-^i. t^. 9 Tk€r3>tít>M, mtHe^JfU^ cy»i Cfn»»* U' ^ ;3íÍ'0X^ ^ > < X> - f.í ip Nl ^S, X Itjla, ' MU au ^JKjr «oicn» £«» cAJdrm, ^J^Íeíuujl^ 4- ^*í^ .-: /í :«,,'•»* ..-^^ ■-■.*';■ ■IC áíi«-y;..; Litliogajjifld JjyJOirw^, SAnigeeÍBa ffllluHni. ■•,■■-■ v : '\ -■ ■ >.-^' ■■■■ ,.. . umvEasiiy of umis ^:^--i''-' .•A' / liiwiwwwiw ii iii II i» i ii x ; iiwii i . i< ii i ( I ■«i t » : iiW t>w* w»»w>wiB>w>iMi *^;5^;. >^-:'. ..-. * •^- ^SíS:--- "-■ . ■■ ■' ir ,::.': "-^ :■-■:" '^- ■■■■"-^ -^"^•;^':/:■-■ .--....-. ■■r"'- ■ r/.-^.- -•"-S. 205 They sailed along the coast to make their observations, and finding that part now called Gallicia, in the Bay of Biscay, suitable to their object, they landed in there. The in- habitants were — according to the best authorities, amongst others Joseplms— the posterity of Tobal, or Tubal, son of Japhet. These they defeated in many battles ; and a plague shortly after cut them almost all away. However, the survivops multiplied wonderfully ; and Golav, son of Bile, eldest son of Brogan, son of Braha, displayed great powers as a warrior, and was therefore called Mile Easpaine (Miles or Milesius), Spanish warrior. Miles, or tAe Soldier, whose fame was now farspread, anxious to pay a visit to his relations in Scythia, collected some youths— the flower of Spain,^ — got them ou board thirty ships, took to the Mediterranean, sailed towards Sicily, thence to Crete — probably to pay a visit to the friendá they left there — then northwards by the Archipelago, the Egean Sea, then by the Dardanelles, or Hellespont, to the straits of Constantinople, or Bosphorus, across the Euxine to the river Phasis, eastwards towards Colchis, the Moschiciaii mountains, the river Cryrus or Kur, through Iberia iuto the Caspian, as that part of Scythia for which they were bound lay on the east of it. The inference, clearly flowing from history and circumstances, have caused us to make the above place the cradle of the great progenitors of the Gael. It was a dis- trict of what is now designated '* Independent Tartary." The vast territory, now known under the appellation of Eastern and Western Tartary, was so denominated by the Chinese. The latter looked on all others than themselves contempt' ible^ and in Eastern language the monosyllable **Tar" signifies contempt. Hence, Tirr, Tar, a noun repeated, being their form of a superlative degree — as indeed it was of almost every primitive tongue — denotes most contemptible. Thus we say in Irish c|ioti), cjiorn, most heavily, or most grievously. 16 206 ' Miles was most heartily welcomed by his relative, Rifloir. In course of time the king becoming jealous of Milesius' popularity, the latter with his attendants put to sea, and having returned by the same route westward, they voyaged until they arrived at the mouth of the Nile, in Egypt. There- upon Miles sent a message to Pharaoh Nictonibus to say, that h.e had landed in his country. He was invited to court, welcomed, and land was assigned to him. Don and Aireach, his sons by Seang, daughter of Eifloir, who died in Scythia, were amongst his followers to Egypt. In this country our warrior, having rendered such services to Pharaoh against his enemies, got Scota, the king's daughter, iu marriage. The Book of Invasions says, that he called her Scota, because himself was of the Scythic race. Whilst here she had by him two sons, Heber Pionn and Amergin (Avereen). Por the purpose of introducing art^ and sciences into Spain, he placed twelve of the most talented youths he had with him, for seven years, with the best professors of Eg^pt, whither Niul had formerly introduced literature. At the expiration of that time he embarked his body of people on board sixty ships, having bid a farewell to his father-in-law. In a short time he arrived in Biscay, and having learnt from the people there how they were harassed in his absence by the barbarous Goths, he assembled an army, gained fifty-four victories, and subdued the enemy. Thus himself and the children of Brogan had undisturbed possession of the greater part of Spain. We have no authority to state, positively, who had the southern part of it. However, we can fairly assume that it was possessed by Mauretania. We might here remark that the theory of some, who think that Gatulia, in Africa, was the land which the Scythiaiis visited and not Gothland, is untenable : for this reason, that Gsetulia was south of Mauretania and the Carthaginian territory, and shut in from the Atlantic by the ■^^^'j'v-i;- ■; - --, ■":^;^^i": f- ; y tTí ;" S'^y.??;;.^,' •'■::■• ^^^^^^^^i^^wW'^r^^fK^rywr • 207 mountain of that name, and from the Mediterranean. Had it been on the coast of Africa there might be some ground for the supposition. Nor does the fact of Dido having got a maritime tract from larbas militate against our position : for the place she got was not called Gaetulia, but Byna. We have assigned a reason before why we thought the Gothland which they sailed to, was that of the Visogothsy north of the Euxine. We are borne out still farther in this opinion, because we find that the army of Darius nearly perished between the rivers Ister, now the Danube, arid the Tyras, the Dniester. Strabo says that a tribe of the Scythians lived here, they were called Geta^ these were also named Goths — see " Strabo," 7 ; " Sil.," 2, 61 ; *' Stat.," 2 j " Lucan," 2, 95. This tribe of Scythians were most formidable in battle ; they despised life from their belief in the immortality of the soul, wliich they learned from Zenolxis. After Milesius had driven out the Sclavoniau Goths and Vandals, or wanderers, he found the country wasted from femine, plague, and war — three terrible scourges. The Spanish chiefs hereupon take counsel as to what was their best plan under existing circumstances, and they agree that Ith (éé), son of Brogan (6roan),a chief, vaUant, intelligent, and learned in all the sciences, was to go, and to take observations of Ireland. At Brogan (Broan) tower, in Gallicia, in the north of Spain, they arranged this enterprise ; Bile, Mjpvf . son of Brogan, and father of Milesius, presided at the above council. Since the time of Eochy Mac Earc — the last iing of the Firbolgs — married Tailté, daughter of Mamore, the king of Spain — there existed an intercourse between the countries. Hence it is evident, that because of their mutual commerce in their interchange of commodities, Spain and Ireland knew each other before the time of Ith (Ee). Having reached the island he enquired its name, and the name of its ruler. He ,*'.\- 208 was told the country was called Inis Ealga — beautiful uland — • and that the three sons of Carmoda Milveul (Mulvil) — honey- mouthed — reigned each a year on turn ; and that they were then in lUeach* Neid, in Ulster, disputing about their ances- tors' treasures. He went to the sons of Carraody, told them he did not intend remaining in their country, that he was to return to Spain. From his wisdom, which they felt from his remarks, they appointed him judge. He recommended them to make three equal parts of the wealth. He advised them to live in peace, adding, that* their country abounded in every- thing calculated to confer happiness, that it was enough for the tiiree, though it were divided evenly between them. He eulogised its air and its many other advantages. The young princes, fearing, from the praise that Ith (Ee) bestowed on the island, he might, if permitted to go away, come back with a great fleet and take possession of it, despatch 150 men in pur- suit of him. He brought up the rere of his men, and was killed on a plain named after him Magh 1th (Mayee). It was Mac Coill who pursued and wounded him. He died at sea ; but his followers brought his body to Spain for inter- ment, as above all things it is agreed, amongst all historians, that the Scythic race had the greatest veneration for their chiefs and priDces, even for their dead bodies. Their foolish descen- dants, in the time of the faithless Stuarts, proved this fact. The 80«igiP^ Miles, having joined those of Brogan, at once resolved to bring a force to Irin t and chastise Mac Coill, Mac Ceacht, and Mac Greine, the sons of Milveul, the mur- derers of Ith (ee), their uncle. Their fleet consisted of thirty ships, with thirty chiefs in each ship, besides their wives and common soldiers. There were forty (two twenties, for so the Irish counted,) chiefs over all these again. This may serve • Or " AUeagh," in Derry. •f- One of the names of Ireland. 209 as an index of the Gadelian skill in strategy, both in land and sea warfaring, at so early a date. The Gradelians of olden, as well as modern days, could be reduced to bondage by no other power than internal dissension, and Saxon (Sacks' son) demon cunning in its corrupting influence. Well has our own im- mortal Kerry bard sung — " No oeAtte i)AibAt> bo 5aii) bfob éijte, 2lcc |Ab Féio bo CA|U A]}\ a cejle.". " Not the hostile band, tliat took our native land, But native discord and the traitorous hand." Moore has also truthfully written — " Unpriz'd are her sons, till they've learned to betray ; Undistinguished they live, if they shame not the sires." At all times our own division, too often created, but always fanned, by the minions of British rulers, has been the greatest source of our weakness : " 'Twas fate, they'll say, a wayward fate, Your web of discord wove ; And while your tyrants join'd in hate. You never join'd in love." Notwithstanding all this we are not, in this respect, worse than other countries i there is still a vitality in us that can never be completely subdued— " The gem may be broke By many a stroke, But nothing can cloud its native ray ; Each fragment will cast . A light to the last, And thus Erin, my country, tho' broken thou art. There's a lustre within thee that ne'er will decay, A spirit, which beams thro' each sufiFering part. And now smiles at their pain on Patrick's da^^ >> STANZA XXIX. The Most Eev. author makes the O'DriscoUs, the O'Learys, and O'Coffeys, descendants of the Soythic tribes who came to ■ . . .. . ^í'^P^'"- " '. - - ' 'v' , ;i »íT •m ^.^i'Vl^iflSiMPM'-.'^J'tJ'W- 1.^!". W!W 210 FlHST Colony : 2*20 A.M. 2674 A.C. 5194— Age of the world when Chst. was bom — Annals of Four Mas. Ireland before the Milesians. We think they were of the brave Nemedians, or Clann Neiv (Neimb). The more pro- bable opinion may be, that they were tlie offspring of some of the Tthians, who remained in Ireland after Ith. Our poet by the language of the 2Sth stanza, plainly insinuates that tlie Ithians formed a different colony from the Milesians — nay, he clearly writes that the colony, of which were the O'Driscolls, was the first colony, and he seems to ignore the other colonies. On the margin will be given the computation of the Four Masters. Now for the summary of the colonizations:* Partholan, grandson of Sru, came to Ireland 300 years after the Deluge, 1956 of the World. He migrated from Mygdonia, a part of Greece, so called after Mygdon, its king, who was brother of Hecuba, Priam's queen ; Chorebus, the son of this Mygdon, who was at the Trojan war, was called Mygdonides after him. We dont notice Adhna (Anna), who was said to have been sent hither by Ninus, 140 years after the Flood (1786), whereas he did not remain long, nor did he leave any of his people after him. • Sir Walter Raleigh (O'Reilly) aflSrms (see vol. i. cap. 12, pp. 282-278, that the Celts and Scythians were different families of the common stock, Magog ; Gomer» the younger, went to Greece ; this being so, Gael, the Linguitt, must be descended from him ; Tubal, according to Josephns, emigrated to Spain ; his posterity were there, according to the most learned •intiquarians, when the Gadelians visited it ; Magog, father of Badh, (Baw) remained in Asia, near the Caspian Sea, whence his descendants overspread Europe from time to time, as has been already shewn. Saints Augustine, Jerome, Eustachius, and (amongst modern writers) Bochart, agree in this opinion. Josephus, Raleigh, and others, asserted that the Celts weie from Gomer, and give as one evidence of the fact, that their common tongue was called Gomerigu (^the tongue of Gomer). The reader's attention is directed to page 79-80 — also to Chaper on Round Towers, in this vol., and to preface of second vol. Here is a reason for the great admix- ture of Greek and Latin words. This last fact is given by Cluverius. See 4th book, cap. 13, of Fto. ; PHny, 6, cap. 16; Hieronymns, Trad., Genesis, Eustachius com., Stra., Mela, &c. 211 Mjgdonia was a small country much written about by emi- nent historians, such as Stra, 7th, 330 ; Thucydides, 2, 97. Therma, its capital, was the place of Cicero's exile, whither, through the influence of Clodius, he was banished, because of his unconstitutional execution of the conspirators ; and that he acted unconstitutionally must be confessed. Horace alludes often to that country. The Partholonians, after having inhabited Ireland for about three hundred years, were all cut off by a pestilence, near Binn Eaduir (the clifl'of Eaduir, a woman's name.) That was in A.M., 2256. Howth is the modern name of the promontory, which commands a grand and distant view of enchanting scenery, water, wood and mountain. Its base, on the north and east, is washed by the Irish Sea, on the south-west by Dublin Bay, and on the west by the castle of the Earl of Howth. Brayhead, Killiney, Dalkey, Kingstown, Wicklow and Dublin Mountains, with the interlinking scenery of sea, glade, princely castles, lordly mansions, and beautiful cottages, embedded in trees — the city of Dublin, with the most beautiful environs in tlie world — present to the tourist's con- templation a grand picture, not to be surpassed, perhaps not to be equalled anywhere. Our eye often rested with rapture on such a sublime, chequered assemblage of the works of nature and art. The roaring of the waves, as they, with tyrant • 2850 — Annals of Four Masters. t According to the Annals of the Foca Masters the Partholonians perished of the plague in A.M. 2820, that is, 300 years after their arrival. There died on the occasion 5000 men and 4000 women. It is said their tumuli, or graves, were at Tallaght, three miles south of Dublin, where also, there was a monastery of Gray Friars, and at this day there is re-established one, under the guidance of a learned and pious gentleman, the Very Rev. Thomas Rush. In this monastery is an excellent school for the sons of respectable Catholics. According to the above authority this island was waste foi 30 years, until 2850, ; Second COLONT : A.M. 2286 Nemedius lands— the country be- ing waste since 2250. Third Colony : A.M. 2503 the African Sliemites. 212 fury, lashed the lofty and shelving rocks, in the time of the autumnal equinox, forcibly reminded us of the menacing, scowling, howling, infuriating outcry of a misguided popu- lace, stimulated by some designing tool of power, attempting to coerce from his course au upright man, who laughs all to scorn, and remains unshaken as the sea-beaten barrier of Eaduir's head-land. Clan Nbiv (Neimb) next landed on the shores of Eire, thirty years after the destruction of the Partholan colony, in which catastrophe the hand of God had manifestly fallen on an entire people, because of Partholan's wicked and unnatural murder of his father, to obtain the throne of his own country, but from which he was expelled by an indignant people. Nemedius — whether he was the son, according to Keating, or only a more remote descendant, according to others — with his followers, possessed the country 217 years, until A.M., 2503. In their time African pirates, the Carthaginians, or as Vallancey calls them, sea sovereigns, some of Shem's posterity, landed on the coast of Innisfail, avoiding intercourse with the offspring of Ham, who got his father's curse. These Africans reduced the Nemedians to bondage, and after many bloody and hard- fought engagements, in most of which Clan Neiv won the victory, one most furious and desperate battle took place on the coast of Ulster, in which M<5r, the African chief, com- manded his men, and in which the Nemedians had collected thirty thousand land forces, and as many marines. This grand struggle for liberty, on the part of the noble Neivi, or Neme- dians, eventuated in a carnage unequalled in history up to that period. In the pages of Irish annals, at any time, we have not on record an instance of such a terrible slaughter. Thousands fell before the swords of the belligerents, as deep meadows before the sharpened scythes of the sturdy mowers, as raging Yulcan ruins gorgeous palaces, and well-streeted cities, as an 213 impetuously rolling mountain cataract, in its headlong course, prostrates the luxuriant crops, and sweeps them before it ; so intent was each of the hostile armies that they never felt until they were encompassed by the tide. We have here an evidence of the fact, that sooner than brook tyranny, or yield the neck to slavery, the Scythic and Celtic races — who are identified with us — had rather, at all times and in all places, sacrifice life and rich possessions. This is attested by the highly interesting history of the Celts and Scythians, by Sir Walter Raleigh, who figured so pro- minently in the reign of the virffin queen, Elizabeth. He was a Kerryman by origin, but his father was of the O'Heillys of Cavan. With the faith was changed the name, just as some members of the Devereax family became " Batlon" when they received the new faith. Of the 60,000 Nemedians, who entered the battle ground, not more than thirty ofl&cers and three chiefs escaped ; these took to sea in a sloop. For seven years they kept to retreats until they gathered sufficient strength, and collected their scattered countrymen, to rescue them from their task-masters, who in barbarity were surpassed only by our English invaders, whose thirst for riches and power (though they boast of the Bible) was, and is, as inextinguishable as was that of the African pirates. Wherever the bloody flag of England floats, there is a piratical body, there is a usurping power, whose history is raised upon a colossal pyramid of ensanguined materials, whose sway is despotism, and whose rule is legalized plunder and rapacity. At the time that the Roman Eagle spread its wings from East to West, and that its beak pecked the North, whilst its tail swept the South, Rome toppled by the weight of its crimes. All nations vindicated their manhood, won back their liberty, and triumphed over the common robber of the human race. " There is a tide in the affairs of 214 men.'' Let England's cabinet read a lesson from history and she will find a parallel. .' ! ' "^ 1 The Nemedians crossed over into Albania (Scotland) and travelled through many parts of England. The main body of them passed over into the north-western part of France, and settled dowii in the place called the Morini— -afterwards Britanny, Normandy, Picardy, Artois — hence that, whole country was called Aromoric, that is, maritime — "air" on "muir," sea. It was from Briotan-Maol (the Bald), grandson of Nemedius, England was designated Britain — this is O'Halloran's opinion, as well as Keating's and Mao Curtin's; himself and the offspring of his followers continued in England until the Saxons drove them into the mountains of Wales. The names of many places in Wales, and England, which are radically Irish, attest the truth of this statement. How like the treat- ment our ancestors received from the same quarter. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Cormac Mac Cullinan, Archbishop and King of Cashel, and the most distinguished antiquaries say, that the son, — according to others • the grandson,^ — of Nemedius, was he who gave name to the Britons. The poem alluded to by Keating, and headed thus — 2lbATi)b Ac1;A|ft fTtu|cb A|i fluAsb (pro. Awav ahur shroo er slooaj, " Adam was our father," &c., has this stanza— -The brave Nemedian train. Under Briotan launch into the main ; . A prince, whom all the ancient annals trace, Kz the great founder of the British race. " Another poet and antiquary makes the same remark in this manner : — " The warlike Welsh the great Briotan claim, To be the founder of the British name. "And we have more reason to suppose that the word Britannia was derived originally from this Briotan, than from 215 Brutus, the Trojan, which is a fable very pleasing to some historians ; for if it were called after Brutus, it would rather be designated Brutauuia. Besides we are informed by Geoffrey of Monmouth, " that the ancient name of the country was changed by the three sons of Brutus ; his son Laegrus called his part of the kingdom Laegria ; Camber, the second son, distinguished his share by the name of Cambria ; and Alban- actus, the third son, would have his part known by the name of Albania." So that this account, from the authentic records of the Irish nation, gives a great Hght to the name of Britain, and deserves our belief, rather than the fabulous relations of partial and romantic writers, who have been the bane and curse of history. We refer the Irish student to the Book of Invasions, in the Soyal Irish Academy, Dublin, in which he will find his labours amply repaid, if he can read it. The FiRBOLGs, or belly-men, so called because they were obliged to wear leathern bags before them, for the purpose of carrying clay by way of oppression, flying from slavery, arrived in Ireland, 847 (A.F.), in the year of the World, 2503. Here they continued for thirty. six years. It may be here mentioned that the JFirbolgs were the posterity of Simon Breac, the grandson of JVemedius.* One portion of them were called Firgailiant — Fir, men, Gailian spear ; their duty being to protect the bagmen and the miners, — Firdhivneean (Firdhomhnoin), whilst at work. Such is the learned Keating*s explanation. — See vol. 1, page 62. They reigned thirty-six years, and then canw the Tuatba do * Simon Breac, after the defeat of the Nemedians ia Ireland, went back to Greece, and his people having grown numerous, and being oppressed at home, returned to this country under the soubriquet of " Firbolgs," that is "belly-men." The reason of the name is given in the text. f Computation of Four Masters, A.M. 3266, but according to them the age of the world when Christ was born was 5194, so that between the two FoUETHf COLOWY — A.M. 2503 FiibolgB ar rive. They reniain 36 years. AM. 2539 Tua- tba de Da- naans ar- rive. They held the is land 197. A.M. 2736 Milesians arrive, and have re> mained up to this day. From 4004 worlds age whenChst. was bom, take 2336. 1268— that is, the Mi. lesian in- vasion took place 1268 years be- fore Chat. ''fn 216 Danaans. We can merely allade to this colony, space not allowing us to dwell on the interesting subject. The Danaans came to Eire in 883, after Flood ; 253^ A. M. Nuadha Airgiodlamh was their chief ; he was called the " Silverhauded/' because in the battle fought between his followers and the Eirbolgs, his hand was wounded, and it having been subsequently amputated, he got an " Airgiodlambh (Argidlhawiv), a diver hand. The last king of the Firbolgs was Eochaidh (Eeughee). He, as well as the Nemedian princes, had good laws, and made great improvements in this island. In his time agriculture and commerce flourished. He was married to Tailte, daughter of Maghmore, King of Spain, as may be seen in the history of the Milesians. When his queen died she was buried in a place near Kells, County of Meath, called Tailtean, and it is still pointed out under that name. We cannot find words in which to express our admiration of the essay of Mr Williams of Dungarvan, in regard to the Ocham inscription on the stone of this monarch. This essay, published in the Miscellany of the translation of the Kilkenny Archaelogical Society, is of vast importance to Irish literature. The Tuatha are the posterity of Faidh (Fayee), a son of Nemedius, who settled in Achaia,* north-west in the Peloponnesus, ' or Morea. This is the best reason we see, why Dr. O'Connell mentions in his poem, that Athens, of right, belonged to the Gael. This country has BoBotia on the north ; the capital city of facts there iaterrened 1928 years. For 5194-3266-I928 years. Add to 3266, 36 years the period the Firbolgs ruled, and you have 3302 (which the Annals make 3303), add 197 for the rule of the Danaans, and we have 3499 (Annals Four Masters, 3500). Now deduct this sum 3500 (being the year of the Milesian invasion) from 5194, and the remainder is 1694 years, that is, 1694 intervened between the landing of our learned ancestors and the redemption of man. . * According to the Roman bipartite division of Greece, Achaia com' 217 which Í8 Thebes — according to Pomponius Mela — in which the Kerry bard stated in stanza twenty-three, the Milesians delayed ^ome time. Here they learned the art of necromancy, or diablery. It is recorded of the inhabitants, that so expert did they become in the wicked science, that in the war with the Assyrians they used to revive the dead bodies of the Athenians, so that the invaders despairing of victory, not- withstanding their superior numbers, had recourse to an emi- nent druid, or enchanter, who told them that, in order to defeat the skill of the necromancers, they should thrust a stake of quick-beam wood into the body of each man they killed ; that, if it were by the power of the devil they worked, this plan would neutralize their hellish power. So it was : the Assyrians gained the victory ; and the Danaans, dreading to fall into their hands, resolved to quit the country. They roved from place to place, not fearing to straggle through wild and inhospitable countries ; anything rather than fall into the hands of the Assyrians, from whom they could expect no mercy. Therefore, even granting that they wandered towards the imaginary Riphein hills (but in reality either the Valdais, in Russia, or the Dovrejielda, between Sweden and Norway) that can be no argument that the Milesian colony took the same route. Because, besides that the former were flying from a people, on whom they were the cause of great woes having been inflicted, the Book of Invasions does not say thei/ prised the entire Peloponeesus, as well as in contmental Greece (see Cela- rius's Maps) Attica, Boeotia, &c. Cadmus, a descendant of Gomer, and a cousin of Gadelas, grandson of Fenius, or Phoenias, built Thebes, ac- cording to Herodotus ; he was the first that introduced the alphabet into Greece, 1493, B.C. (see Lempríére), about 225 years before the Milesians landed in Ireland. This is an error on the part of Herodotus, as the my- thic Cadmus is the veritable Gadelas, the first Professor of Greek in the University of Senar, founded by Fenius Farsa more than 2000 years before Christianity. 2]S took to sea — as in the case of Gollav, or Milesius — bnt only that they went by land. Tlie more probable route was over the Carpathian and Sudetic chains, by the Baltic, to Norway. Of the Danaaus we have treated in a former note, to which the reader is referred, as likewise to the Book of Invasions. They, many of them, emigrated to Scotland ; their posterity are there to this day, and, as was written above, they came to Ireland, where they ruled until A.F., 1080, and A.M., 2736, B.C., J 268, but according to A. F. M., 1694.» We had nigh omitted noticing, that a tribe called Picts visited Banba. Of these, Charles Mac Cuillionan, in the Psalter of Cashel, treats at some length. In that valuable work of antiquity it is written that the Picts, who resided in Thrace, landed with a numerous army. They fled from a libidinous king, who sought by force to take a fair and beautiful virgin, and retain her as a concubine. Policarnus was the name of the prince, and Gud was the chief of the Picts. They slew the king and then fled the country. Thence they went to Trance, whose king assigned them lands ; they built a city which they called Pictavium — the modem appella- tion of which is Poictiers. They used to paint, on their bodies, the images of fanciful birds and other things.f Hence the name Picts (Picti). The King of France also having been enamoured of the charming Pict, thought to take her from her father to gratify a base passion. Gud, with his fol- lowers, dexterously seized the French vesselsj and, having weighed anchor, put to sea ; they lauded at Inbher (Inver) Slainge (Slaney), in Wexford. They enabled Criomhthan (Crevin), Governor of Munster, to defeat the Britons, who * See pages 98, 104, and other places. t Some persons in our own days paint the likeness of cherished persons on their bodies, as some do the Christian cross. 219 were wasting the country and harassing the people. The last- named invaders recommended the governor, under Heremon, to dig a pit, to fill it with new milk procured from 150 wAiie- faced cotMi observing that any of his men who would be wounded with the poisoned shafts, upon having bathed in the milk-bath, would be instantly healed. The experiment turned out to his satisfaction. Though Gud, and his followers, helped Hcremon to banish the Tuatha Piodha (Thooha Feecha), yet as they conspired to take possession of Leinster, they were driven out of Ireland and settled in Alban, or Scotland."^ Seventy kings of that race ruled in Albania ; Cathluan (Callan) was the first, the last was Constantine, being the seventh. The country, before their arrival, was designated Gruith-an-thuath (Cruanthooa), the land of the plebeiam, or boors — See Psalter of Cashel, whence have been borrowed these lines: — " The Picts, unable to withstand the power Of the Milesian troops, a truce implore ; And, willing to be gone, their anchors weighed, And bold the Albanian coasts invade ; Where seventy monarchs of the Pictish race, With great exploits the Scottish Annals grace, Twas Cathluan began the royal line, Which ended in the hero, Constantine/' Five learned Picts, however, remained in Ireland. Tros- dane (Treston), the druid, who su^ested the milk-lath; Oilean, Ulfuin, Neachtain, Nar, and Eneas ; estates were assigned them in Meath ; in which county are also many fa- milies of Danish origin. They are Tery easily distinguished from the descendants of the Milesians. The Irish chronicles state that Heremon sent some of their posterity, and with * 2l]l, rock^ and b&i), white ; or beqt) — biQi), promontory. Scotland ha» been famed for its lofty promontories and white stony heights. Its earliest name was ^]lbAi). -:r '^i-Tt<:(- ^20 ihenn some of the Tuatha de Danaans, to conquer Scotlancl. From these, some say, descended the Bngantes, who, after- wards, took possession of England ; a part of them went back to Spain. The Dalriada, and, afterwards, Fergus the Great, subdued the Picts, in the fourth century of the Christian era. We may, in this place, remark that all the Scythic or Scot- tish—properly Scuitish tiibes — according to the most unques- tionable authorities, spoke the Irish language, and freely eon- versed with each other in it. Ith, or Ee, addressed Queen Eire in it. To dwell upon this fact is not necessary ; we allude to it only as an incident, which may be interesting to some to know. Heber and Heremon reigned conjointly in the greatest har- mony until Tea, grand-daughter of Ith, wife and cousin of Heremon,. created a quarrel between the brothers. Heremon had all that part of Erin, north of the Shannon, cdWeALeath Chuinn, or Con's share ; and Heber had all south of the Shannon, called Leath Modha (Llha Mogha). But we are inclined to say, from facts we have met in the history of this country, that the two divisions consisted nearly of what are called Ulster, Connaught, and part of Leinster, in the one part, and Munster, with the southern part of Leinster, in the other — See O'Halloran, O'Flaherty, Book of Conquests, and Keating, vol. i. p. 70, &c. This bi-partition took place in the second century, when Con of the hundred fights was mo- narch paramount in Ireland. However, in course of time the families became mixed ; some of the Heremonians having gone to Leath Mogha, and the Heberians migrated to Ulster, Leinster, and Connaught. Some of the offspring of Ir, emi- grated, from their territories in South-eastern Ulster, to parts of Connaught, Leinster, and Kerry. We have seen the best authority as to the fact that St. Brennan of Clonfert was a descendant of king Criomhthan who was a descendant of Ir* >5Í?Í;Í m The reader will please keep in view, that, of the descendants of Ir — born near Thrace — and of the renowned Colpa, born of Scota, in Thrace, some of the oldest, bravest, and most illus- trious families in Ireland have been descended, and glory in their high ancestral origin. ...-..,.. ^* The CyConnors of Kerry are the offspring of Ciar-righ (Kerry), who was of the line of Ir. The 0*Brennans of Louth, we heard from an antiquarian of that name, pique themselves as being descended from Colpa, the swordsman, who was lost off the coast of Drogheda, at Beltra. That family, throughout Ireland, use the motto, Bik^f i)ó Ot)6]|i,* Death or Glory. They allege, that such was Colpa*s answer to the Danaans upon putting to sea, for the purpose of making the land a second time by force. We could not find that Colpa, the sou of Milesius, had any children ; but we read of a Copa, in 0'Halloran*s " Ireland." We think this word should be Colpa ; but a later chieftain than the son of Milesius. He must have been the ancestor of the O'Brennans of Louth and Meath, though from their proximity to Down we incline to the opinion, that they were Irians, as were the O'Brennans of Kerry. Those of Leinster were clearly Heremonians, as having been the offspring of Cathaeir (Caheer) Mor, King of Leinster, and Monarch of Ireland, in the second century. At a certain time some of the Irians went to Leinster as well as to other parts of Ireland. From the same monarch are descended O'Conor Faly, O'Duffy, Mac Murrough, now (yCavanagh, O^Dunne, O'Eyan, O'Byrne, O'Dempsey, O'Toole, Mac Patrick, or Fitzpatrick, besides many other names of note in Leinster. With respect to the Fitzpatrick» and O'Brennans, Mac Curtin traces them up to Conla, thirteen generations before Caheer. The territories of Ui Bruinn, or O'Brennans' country, were * Pronounced Baw» nho nnnhoir. 17 -•"T*'»' 222 in the counties of Boscominon and Galway, in Connaught. It was so oalled after Bran, or Bruin^ eldest son of Eocha Meadhgoin (Ayqgha Meevin), King of Meath^ and paramount Monarch of Connaught and Ulster, in the fourth centurj. By his wife Mogfinna, Queen of Connaught, he had four sons, of whom Bran was the eldest. O'Elaherty, in the Ogifgia, part iii, chap, 79, says, that "the Hy (Ui) Bruinans sprang |rom Bran, and that he had twenty-four sons, to whom he assigned estates." He adds, " that the O'Hanlys and CKBren- nan possessed OorcQchlanna> a district lying between Tir Qilill (land of Oilill), in SUgo, and the mountain of Baghna, now Sleev Bavm, in Boscommon."* We have personal actual knowledge that some of the above tribes are there at the present day. From the ' above Bran came the kings of Connaught. From Conall Glu, one of Bruin's sons, were derived the Hy-Brumans Sionna, whose country was Tir na (Theerna m rin) m-Bruin, on the banks of the Shannon, in the County of Boscommon, &c.t * The Rev. James Graves, Hon. Sec. to the Kilkenny Arobseological Society, wrote a very interesting work on the O'Brennans of Idoogh, which we regret we could not procure. The Map in the " Annals of the Poor Masters," by Owen Connellan, Esq., has described on it the ancient possessions of the tribe names, in the four provinces — Roscommon, Kerry, Down, Kilkenny. f We have seen a statement of our friend Doctor O' Donovan, so often repeated, that we feel obliged to combat it, and we do for no other purpose than to subserve truth. He says that Uy Bhruin, Uy Mhany, or Hy- broin and Hy-many, as he spells them, were the names of territories, not of persons. Any linguist even moderately acquainted with the origin of names aiid their derivations, will evidently see that the Doctor is in error. For ipstaiM» f territory in Rospommon and other parts of Connaught was called Tir Bhruin (the country of Bran) aft^r Bran, who was brother of Niul of the Nine Hostages. Now " Branain" means young Bran, or the son of Bran — the final syllable being equal to Mac or Ua, son. In the Annals of the Four Masters this name, as it regards O'Brennans of Corcolanna in Roscommon, is spelt Branan, and Mac Branain; the latter is, clearly, the son 223 Ratka (Raglia), son of Bran, was the founder of ítf* Bruinan9, w hose territory in the west of Connaught, com- prising fourteen townlands, was denominated Hy -Bruin Ratha^ It was here on Sleev Knoctna, about six miles east by south of Galway, that a famous battle was fought in 1504, between of "The Branan," hereditary chief of Corcochlanna, but the name of thfe O'BreBnans of Kilkenny, beyond all doubt, b^fan with Bran, dubh (the black), though Cathaoir Mór was the ancestor of all of them. In Westmeath the chief or Lord of Teffia is spelt Breanán (gen. BfMnainn). It occurs at A.D. 556 A. F. Masters by Doctor O'Donovan, at which place it is recorded that King Diarmuid was conquered by Brennan, chief of TefSki^ — also at 558, wh^re it is written that the father of the above chief died. A similar entry occurs in several parts of The Annals •nd in other Annals, yet strange to say, that Doctor O'Donovan contra- dicts himself, inasmuch as he writes in one note, under A.D. 577, that it was a mistake in the Masters to call Brenan chief of Teffia, for that Breen was the person. What makes the error the greater is that he sa« the name several times in the text as Brenan, and gave notes with the namci so written. Did he mean to snuff out the O'Brennans of Westmeath who were for centuries prin(:68 of Teffia ? He commits as grave an error on (he O'Brennans, or Mae Branans, Lords of Corcochlanna up to the reign of James I. He joins the Words Maal Breanán, and by a chemical process transforms Hugh O'Brefman, the Bald, into Hugh Mulrenin. By this system he would have it that a Jtfit^entn, not an O'Brennan, was the Bishop of RoMémmon in the 12th century. It may be that the Molrenins are of the tribe of the O'Brennans. But if the learned Doctor wished to compliment them, be should not have done so at the cost of others and to the detrime6t of historical evidence. Another unpardonable error of the Doctor's is this. He has not found, I may venture to say, in the whole Annals the name spelt with a d in the middle, yet in all his notes he spells St. Brennan, St. Brendan, and Cnoc Brennan he makes Cnoc Brendan. What could he xá66n by such grave errors ? If the distingni^ed writer, Doc- tor O'Connor, committed such mistakes, he would pronounce him altogether unworthy of notice, not merely " beneath endurance," as he has so oftéh repeated in remarks on that eminent antiquarian ; and be is also very severe on Doctor O'Brien, author of the dictionary, who, if he lived, could teach us aU. At A.D. 570, 71 , 73, 74, 76, not to meútíon more in wUoh SC Brennan occurs, still he persists in the Protestaiit way of spell* ing the name — Brendan, How the word Brendanus gOt ittto the Roman 224 Kildare and Claoricarde, when Gormanstowii, who aided the former, recommended him " to cut the throats of their Irish auxiliaries." St. Brennan — alUer Brendan — of Birr and Corcolanna, was of the same origin. (Ogygia, part iii. p. 193.) Breviary is to me a mystery. It is true that they occasionally insert a "fi" as a matter of fancy. They do the same with g — for instance SetBdhagan or Seoffhan, John. Now in neither is the middle consonant any more than a poetic letter, and it could be omitted. By the friendly help of the Four Masters we are able to distinguish the three most eminent of the 14 saints of the O'Brennans, who, Doctor Keating saysj flourished almost simultaneously in Ireland. At A.D. 571 is made an entry thus — " St Brenainn of Birra died on the 29th of Norem» ber." It is said he lived to the age of 180 years, and that he ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot. We give the fact as we find it, but not in the Masters. He was a descendant of King Criomthainn, and his royal relation Brenain, King of Teffla according to O'Donovan 557, gave Darrow in the Kin|;'8 County to Columcille for a monastery (A. F. M). In A.D. 576, on the 13th of May and the 9th of King Hugh (Aodh)^ died St. Brenainn of Clonfert. St. Brenaran, or Q'Brennan, died A.D. In one place only appears Ua Brian of Breuthmhaine, whilst the previous name is the leading name in that district. There are Breens there also, and we have no hesitation in saying that Breen or Bron in that country is the root of O'Branan — as in Roscommon and Wicklow Bran is the root of O'Byrne, O'Brien, O'Brennan. In a note Doctor O'Donovan very properly guards his readers against supposing that O'Brennan of Artfert and O'Brennan were the same person. The former was not bom until after St. Patrick's arrival, whereas the latter lived before and many years after the death of the Irish Apostle. We have read in " Burn's" chronological table and in other works, that the latter saint lived to the age of 177, and therefore was in the world long anterior to O'Brennan of Kerry of the time of Ir, and survived him. Rev. Doctor Lanigan (vol. 1-2) in many places states there were many saints of that name who flourished about the same time. However, it is not easy to distinguish one from another, just as in our time when there are several persons of the same name we have some difficulty in ascertaining who may be the particular party meant. It is not necessary to notice Adlma (Anna) who, it is said, came hither A.M. 1794, or 140 years after the Flood» inasmuch as he did not remain long, nor did he leave any of his people behind him. -• ^c. 225 There are many Catholic clergymen, remarkable for zeal, and learning, of the above ancient name in the dioceses of Taam, Elphin, and Achonry. The Rev. Henry, and his bro- ther, the Rev. Malachi O'Brennan, in Elphin, are of the old stock. We have the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with many of the Connaught branches. The last remnant of their estates was sold in Henrietta-street, in 1854. There was such a mixture of the different tribes — persons flying from other parts of Ireland, in the days of persecution, for protection to Connaught — that it would be a difficult task to trace out the genuine respective ancestors of the different families of that name in it. So far back as the sixth century, O'Connors and O'Brennans migrated from Kerry to the west. The Sleihh Ban. Sleev TJi-Fhlynn (Weelhynn), and Gurteen families — (he former in Roscommon, and the latter in Mayo, are of the most ancient septs. The Rev. P. Brennan, the patriotic parish priest of Kildare, is of the Carlow sept. Their territory was Cualann. — See O'Brien's '* Dictionary ,*' and Annals of Four Masters. Bran was the ancestor. See U] B|tu|i) — Cualan, in Annals of Four Masters. All the septst were terribly oppressed because they adored God as conscience dictated. In the reign of Queen Anne the attainder was, by Act of Parliament, enforced against the rebel O'Brainanes of Kilkenny. At that time intercession was made f The name of a less potent sept was engrafted on that' of the more potent in case of an intermarriage. Hence Ui-Bruin-CuaLin, and others of that character. The chieftain's estates got his name, and the names of all families marr3ring into his family, merged in the head chiefs patronymic Thus the Clan Donnell comprised the O'Gallaghers, O'Boyles, also __ dlan Broin absorbed all the chieftains subject to them. The Clan Brian, or Ua Bran, at one time merged in that of Clan Connor or O'Connor, as the latter became the dominant party. In the same way, in Desmond, the Clan Carthy, or Mac Carthy, absorbed the Clan Connor, Clan Conaett, Clan Falvey, &c. &c., thongh the latter are the more ancient septs. 226 for the restoration of their hereditary property. However, the Saxon plunderers, in their mighty influence, prevailed over right, and the ancient chieftains were driven wanderers and outlaws upon the world : their property was never legally escheated or formally transferred to any party, but the Marquis of Headfort, Londonderry, Ormond, and the posterity of Judge Wandesford who was here in the time of Charles II., hold these vast estates. This statement will be borne out on refer- ring to government papers in the Custom House, Castle, and i'our Courts. The following anecdote is told of the western clan. Their chieftain, at the surrender of lands, in the time of King James, for the purpose of deriving under the crown of England, had a tutor for several months teaching him to say, " I will, upon condition I get them again." Having appeared before the perjured judge, whose ostensible object was to do justice, but whose real aim was to plunder for himself, and a wicked jury, the chief, having heard the words, ** 0*BrennaD> O'Brennan, of the county of Eoscommon, eome in, and give up your estate to the king, answered ; " / will, upon eundiirs I get um again."" Not having spoken the words required by law, though clearly understood by the Court, his claim was rejected. Such was O'Brennan's just hatred of foreign rule, and of the tyrant's jargon, that he could not be got to articu- late distinctly a few English words. We are not ta wonder that a native chieftain had such an antipathy to so grating a language, as some of the English nobles themselves, in oklen times» abandoned its use for the euphonious Irish. Great care should be taken not to mix up names together ; because, though the names may be like, still the septs or dans were different, and had their names from totally different circumstances. At the same time, it is wrong to infer that because a letter may be in one name which does not appear in another, both names are not of the same ancestor. However, 227 as we are not Writing a history of names, it is not our province to enter deeply into that snbject. The CBrennans* of Iduagh in Kilkenny, of Westmeath, of Down, of Boácommon, Mayo, and Kerry, were the chief branches. In some of these districts they are still niimerous, except in the last-mentioned plaCe, where there is Only a family. The translation of Keating's •* History of Ireland," confounds O'Brennsh of Clonfert, in Galway, who endowed that Church, with O'Brennan of Ardfert and Kerry. lu several passages the translator, however, distinguishes the two names. He mentions, in describing the seats of the bishops, who attended the synod, called by the bishop of Limerick, in 1115, one of the seats by the name of Cluan Fearta Breanoin. In another page of Keating it is said, that there were fourteen eminent saints of that name, the most distinguished of whom were O'Brennan df * Birr, and O'Brennan of Ardfert. Of the Irish saints we have to write farther on, in the history of St. Patrick cótítafineá in this work. We have entered thus far into this patriarchal name, not because we bear it, but because a leariled antiquary, whose opinion we resJMSct, has, in a certain Work of his, wiped away the name i« toto from his topographical notes, and that, con- trary to the evidence of O'Brien, 0*Flaherty, Keating, O'Halloran, Mac Curtin, Rev. James Graves, Kilkenny, and * We forgot to notice that in Latin the adventitioiis " d*' is often inserted for euphony, as in " rt-dAf for " re-t/," compoanded ^V A, r, ^, are inserted to create a musical sound. In Peledes (Achilles), the " d" is merely euphonic, as Peleiés is really the name derived fromPeleus, the father of Achilles— and here it may be reoiarked that Achilles is pure Irish — 2tc1)iU, an eagle — the man was soaring and bold as an eag^e. The Pelasgic or Iranian (which is Irish), is the chief source ot the ancient Greek language, which we are happy to find is once more be- coming the /t'pt'ny language of Greece. ,,^^^'Jlm^'.^ t 228 the accomplished CDonovan, in his notes on the " Tribes of Ancient Ossory." What we have done in regard to this name we would have done under a similar circumstance in vindica- tion of any respectable family. Eoghan Mbr (Owen More), King of Munster, was father of OilioU OUum, by Beara, a Spanish princess. Cas was father of Caisin, by the daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles. From Caisin (Cassin), fourteen generations before Brien (O'Brien^, sprang Mac Namara, king of a part of Clare. Breanainn (O'Brennan) was second son of Caisin, and was chieftain or prince of Baoisgine, also in Clare. From O'Bren- nan is descended the O'Gradys, who also inherited in the same place. There is a lake there called Lough O'Grady. There are also the O'Brainans of Cineal Aodhe (Kinnel Ee), descended of Dathi (Dhahee), successor of Nial of the Nine Hostages, so called as having one hostage from- each of the Feutarchs of Ireland, and four from Scotland and other British isles. — For these facts see Keating, Mac Curtin, O'Flahertyy &c. From what has been written it will be learned, that all of the same name have not had the same ancestor. From Eugenius— imA, Eoghan (Owen) — eldest son of Niall, sprang the illustrious O'Neills, kings of Tir Eoghan (Tifroné)^ or Tirowen — Otoen's land', also the O* Canes, Mac Sweeneys, O'Dalys, O'Hay, or Hayes, O'Conallin, O'Creagh, O'Hagan, O'Duan, O'MuUigan, and O'Horan. From Conall Gulban, son of Niall, descended the renowned families of O'Donell, kings of Tirconnell, the noble O'Doherty, ^Gallagher, O'Boyle, O'Connell, O'Creagh, 0'fU)nan, O'Donnelly, MacLoghlin, Caulfield*s (Irish Cathmhaol, that is Colonel of a legion) Kil- kelly, Conry, Sheils, or Sheilds, Cahalan, Breen, Murray, O'Quinn, Deignan, O'Mulvey, MacGeoghegan, MacCuHin, or Mac Quillan, O'Higgin, or Higgins, O'Mulloy ; from Aodh U9 Athlamh {Hugh of the Lucky land) came O'Donlevi, ancestor of Mac Sweeny Tanat, MacSweeny Tuath, MacSweeny Bad- liuine. O'Doulevi was the sixteenth in descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages ; from Aodh Buide {yellow Hugh) the 14th in descent from Niall is descended the ancient family of Boyce^ or Boyes. The life of St. Patrick will be found farther on. ' ' '". STANZA XLVII. ' ------ "-;.}■'- Biarmuid O'Duibhue in the battle of Gabhra (Gawra) showed himself a hero of great strength. He engaged and slew Criomthan (Creevin), king of Leinster. He supported the rebel, Fionn, who sought by the Fenian forces to enslave both king and people. Never yet did liberty exist with a .standing army, who are but the tools of some tyrant or a few knaves. This Diarmuid took away Fionu's wife, Grainé, and to escape his vengeance, scoured all Ireland, and made what are termed the *' Hag's beds." There is a place on the top of Greenwood hill in the parish of Becan (Mayo) which was eroneously thought to be a *' Leaba Diarmuid agus Grainé.*' The accomplished parish priest of Claremorris has kindly set us right on this point ; he states it is a Druid's altar. This Grace was the daughter of King Cormac, who then gave his other daughter to Fionn as a wife ; her name was Albea. Glas Don Mac Aenchearda, was a celebrated Fenian chief. His wife was the famous Sadhbh (Syve). See " Fenian Tales.'' Goll, after he killed Cumhill at Gastleknock, became chief of all the Fiana Eire as well as of his own Clanna Morna, of Connaught. Eoghan M6r made Cumhall (Cooill) general of the Fianna, A. D. 173. Caolite Mac Bonan, Oscur, and Oisin, were also chiefs of the Fians. Fionn begat Oisin, who was father of Oscar. They were poets and druids as well as military chiefs. See Miss Brooke's ** Collections." Conan upbraided Fionn, chief of Clanna Baosgne, out of malice towards the Clanna Morna, because of Cumhall'v 230 death. His foul mouth, like that of Homer's Thermites, was insufferable. He created such a spirit of jealousy, that it ended in the destruction of the Flan bodies by Oairbre. Hence our author styles him *•' Pear millte na Feine^*' tAe rmn of the rxan%, Gouan died A. D. 295, and was buried on Sliabh (Shteeiv) Callan, in the county of Glare. The Ogham inscription on his tomb is this: — ^ . .* " au n^-bo to (5) A5 loc 'r ai) Oca «ti:a bjl ijAf."* \ " Long may he rest at the lake under the Ogham, which la the fiiTorfte of the Bacred." It is said he was treacherously slain by the Fians at a sun-worship gathering. . It was an ancient Irish poem that led to the discovery of his monument. The poem has these words : — " 'S ca^ Aii)|n) O5ATI) Aitt lie bUicb, I rMAbb conjlj-bublj CaIUii)." "▲ad hU name it in Ogham eharaettrt on a flat stone on the black moontoins of Canap." Many ideas of literary enquiry present themselves to oar vision arising from the above lines, but we r^et we carmot here in- sert them. One thing we must observe, that *' Oca" in the former verse and ** Osaii)" in the latter are synonymous, and that in them we find the root of " Oigygia," a name of Ireland. This being so, we wish here to say that we prefer this latter to a former derivation we gave. The pernsrf of the late Lord Eosse's " Defence of Ancient Ireland,'* in which he exposes Mac Pherson's plagiary, suggested the above root. The family ol the Mac Aliens are alluded to by the author of the poem on which we are commenting, as being the founders of Dan Aidian, or l^AUnn—JEdiniurffA — in Scotland. We find from the writings of Adamnan, «uccessor to Golumba, that Aidan king of Albanian Scots, was, through the interest of St. Golumba, allowed to take a seat at the Gouncil of Dromceat in Ulster, which was summoned to chastise the poets for their in- solence, and which was obviated by the saint's interference. * A friend gives the annexed version. ^A Im ^V Mc TA] ]t) t-leACA leACAf eo rArf C0I5AC ] collo bAbA • Under [this same stone] in the lowly bed of the grave, may Colgach rest in long 8 IVOp* 281 Aidan procured an exemption from the Borivean triboie. His kingdom was hencefurth declared independent, through the in- fluence of Golumbkille, who himself gave up his right to a crown, that he might devote himself entirely to religion. Tlie grandson of Aidan (Hay don,) turned his arms againstCDounell, king of Ireland. A.D. 603, who defeated him. His defeat in Ireland weakened his power much, and a part of his kingdom fell into the hands of Saxons for some years after. . Aidan/ Eadun, Headan or O'Haydan, was a great name amongst the Irish. One of the sons of Miledh (Meelay) or Milesus was so called. i , Some of our readers may wish to be informed on the term " Picts." The Criuthini, or Picti, migrated very early from Asia to Thrace, thence to Prance, to evade the criminal passion of the king of that country for the daughter of their leader. In France they built the city of Poictiers. Here also the monarch of that country wished to enjoy the young lady without mar- riage, but her father, to preserve the honor of his child, fled, and sailing north of Britain, landed, according to the Yenerable Bede, in Ulster, whence they were afterwards driven to Albania denominated in Scotland by Nial, at the request of the Da- lariads. It should be sooner noticed that, according to the Chronicle of Stow, some of the Scots settled in Albania so early as A. D. 73. Numerous and learned are the authorities that make it certain Scotland was peopled by the Irish Scots. It appears to us that these Picts (so catted from the painting the figures of persons and things most admired by them on their clothes and sMns), though they are by origin, Scythians, were natives of Crete. — " Q^ttthini" differs very little from Crethini, or Cretini. Indeed the reader, who is acquainted with the spirit of Latin, and aware of the practice of the old authors of substituting one vowel for another, can easily have observed, that the words above denote the same thing, and, consequently. k. ,-,. .;-■ «■.■',yi-^_v7>íJj^vi57jí'*r--^: :i» 'í^íJiT,?»^ 232 that Crete was their old land. In that island some of the Milesians, having been old, sick, and others wearj of the wan- derifigs of their chief, settled and multiplied. A colony of these built Miletus, in Asia Minor, to the south of Troy ; of these Scuta or Scots came Thales, the great astronomer. In truth, wherever the Milesians went they carried in one hand he lamp of knowledge and enlightenment, though they bravely wielded the sword in the other. See history of the Milesians in this work. TAe Sj/bil prophetess of Carrigaleea. — The Dalcassians* " fairy queen" was a Sybil. Her cave was near Killaloe, if this be the " fairy'* meant in this passage. An antiquarian says the name of her habitation was " Crage-liath" (Ihyah) and that Murrough, the son of Brian Boroimbe (Borivey) con- sulted her before the battle of Clontarf. The latter part of the story is a fable, as the young prince was a Christian, and would not consult an imaginary being. The Idev. Charles J. O'Connor, of Sandyford, a native of Kerry, a descendant of the illustrious O'Connor-Kerry, whose ancestors suffered the loss of life and property in the awful times of Cromwell, has lately told us, that, when in 1851, he was making an antiquarian tour in his old county, which was possessed by his progenitors many centuries before the Mac Carthys and O'Sullivans came to it (Kerry and Cork were formerly Desmond), a resident learned priest pointed out to him tfaeplace where the Sybil cave stood. It is about one and a-quarter mile west of Tralee (c|tA5 li, Lee shore), and he adds, that the place is still cAT»T*l3e Mac, gray rock or stone. We are aware that many places in Ireland have that name. There is one in Wicklow very much frequented in Summer by Dublin tourists. Not far from the Sybil's is an old church on the Clogherbeen road, near which the Most Kev. Richard O'Connell, bishop of Kerry, and Pierce Fer titer were hanged in the terrible days of that scourge ^^^Y: ^- - TÍ: ■:-''■: ■'■^■^■. ? ■• v;' '^:''- .'■'^TJ^^VJ'^tí^^^^^W^^^ 233 from hell — Cromwell; — and here we may say, that our author mast have been a yoaug relative of the martyred bishop — that it is likely he was a student when the relative was murdered. After the execution of Eichard, there was a great confusion respecting the dates, names, and elections of Munster bishops, especially of Ardfert. In 1691, an attempt was made to annex the latter to Waterford, as we liave learned from a work of that date. In the times of Cromwell, as in the days of St. Patrick, it was perhaps the practice that some of our bishops had legatiue powers in all matters requiring the interference with Eome. Such was the system of espionage observed by Cromwell's sharks and bloodhounds, that there existed a necessity for such a provision, owing to the difficulty of communication with the Centre of Unity. On this point we write in our preface. We should remark that it appears the exact spot on which the bishop and the accomplished poet were sacrificed is called Ct)ocSi^V t)A sleAijij — Fair-kill, nearly Killaoney, or hill of thevale. .; "■ \'.--- ,• .'i:-.:\j''' .■:s^■is•i::^^■ From the fact of the existence of an Irish sybil, it appears that there were more than the Cumean one in Italy, who was consulted by ^neas. There were several fairy prophetesses in Ireland, whom the Pagan chiefs consulted on all great oc- casions. The Mac Mahons of Clare consulted Cliona. Some of the princes of parts of Cork and Kerry had recourse to Ané (Aweny). This goddess was respected in other parts of the country. Ana is a contraction of 6^517^, wisdom. Hence Sanns, fem. Sana, put away s, and we have ''Anna" or ''Anne." The name is something resembling the Mheue Minerva, of Greece. We could adduce nsome thousand words almost, nay, exactly identical, in Greek and Irish. Their man- ners and system of worship were nearly parallel. The pro- phetesses of Cuma vaticinated by means of leaves. Hence the 234 radices — f^Se, /airy, billdse, leaver, and not «!•«, for •«•<, fern. 4«Mt, divine, and B«vXii, jp/a». This is the received deri- vation — though, forced. Hence also may be inferred that the institution of the Italian fairy was borrowed from the Celts, in their travels through the Mediterraneon Sea. The works of the "Kilkenny Arcbwological Society" have much interesting matter on this of knowledge, Jbéul might bethus derived — ol8, knowledge^ hkvX, mouth, to distinguish her from the sybil that gave her vaticinations on /tfavM.— See Virgil's ** ^neid," STANZA LIII. The poet in this quatraine says, there were four bishops in Munster before St. Patrick. By the appellation *' Mnnster," he signifies Leagh Mogha, that part of Ireland which was given to Owen M6r, in the time of Conn of the Hundred Bat- tles, and lay south-west of the Shannon and Boyne. The as- sertion contained in this passage corresponds exactly with the following quotation from the Life of St. Deighlan, Cé|le í)e, or Beicolti», " God-worshipper :" — " Quatour Sanciissimi epis- eopi cum suie discipulis fuerunt in Hihemia ante Patricuum, pradicantei in ea Christum ; seilicit, Albeeus, Deiclanus, Ibarus, et Kyrianus." It should have been stated, that St. Palla- dius was sent by Celestine ; but, as he did not understand the Irish language, the chieftains gave him no reception, and, after twelve months, he withdrew to Albania, or Scotland, where he died. Ailbe was a great saint and scholar; as we treat of him in our notes on St. Patrick elsewhere, it is not necessary to say more of him in this place. Deighlan was bishop of the " Desii," in Waterford. Mr. O'Desey, the emi- nent Queen's Counsel, is a descendmiC from that ancient and illustrious tribe. Deighlan was baptized by Colman, a priest, at whose expense he was educated by Dymna, a Christian schoolmaster ; went to Borne, was ordained, and afterwards 235 --■-:.:• consecrated by Celestine. He met Ailbe of Italy (shortly after of Cashel), iji the Eternal City ; he met Patrick also therein. He was of the poble tribe of the O'Peisies. St. Kyrian of Saigar lived to be very old. He read and taught theology for twenty years in Borne, and was consecrated bishop. He was of Ossory, in Ely O'Carroll, a country in the present Kinp'g Counti/ ; but, in the days of St. Kyrian, it contained the present baronies of Ikerriu and Eliogarty, in Tipperary. He is said to have three petitions to God for his countrymen, viz. one for the grace of repentance at the hour of death ; one against injury from infidels ; and last, for the destruction of Ireland seven years before the coming of Antichrist, lest the Irish should be tempted by his preaching. Probus records otiier petitions made by him. He* was born at Cape Clear, A.D. 352, and was seventy years old when Patrick came to Ireland. His mother was liedama. Ivar, for a long time, opposed the jurisdiction of St. Patrick, until he was warned by an angel to yield to him, as he was divinely appointed to govern the Irish Church. He at once manifested his natural humility. — See **Deighlan's Life," and Hanmer, page 695. These glorious fathers of the Church are more particularly noticed in our notes on St. Patrick. Some of this note may be disputed, but space does not allow us to answer objections. STANZA LIX. Some respectable writers deny this number of bishops and priests. Howev^, we have no reason to doubt it, as the number is to be referred to the consecrations and ordinations of all the years of St. Patrick's mission in Ireland. Some of his first * St. Kyrian was on the mifsion in many parts of sontli and east Ireland. His birth place is said to have been Cape Clear, as stated ; his chief mis- sionary labors were in King's County, Tipperary,and Wexford. Hence writers generaOy set him down as of that ooantry : people will give the Most Rer. Dr. Blake, of Dromore, though born in Dublin , as " of Dronore. " ■ r^ , 236 convetts were meú advanced in life and did not long survive their promotion to the episcopacy and the priesthood. The nobles of this country were as zealous in the caiise of their newly adopted religion as they were before remarkable for their thirst for fame in the practice of arms. Princes and chieftains were foremost in seeking the clerical state. For instance, the children of iGngus, king of Munster j Columba, heir-apparent to a throne in Ulster; O'Brennan of Ardfert; and O'Brennan of Clonfert (though the saint of Aghadoe, in Kerry, did not live in St. Patrick's time ; the latter was about thirty-two years old when Patrick came to Ireland, and lived 112 years after him, that is, until 577, as we find in O'Reilly's " Irish Writers," in Burns' " Remembrancer," and other places — Years. His age was, when Patrick came, • - - - .32 According to Lanigan, the time of Patrick's mission - - 33 St. Brennan's age when Patrick died - - - . > 65 Add to this, after Patrick 112 Almost all writers are agreed, that O'Brennan of Clonfert lived to that age ; during his long life he founded many mo- nasteries, he visited distant lands, and was first bishop of Clonfert, which is named in Keating as one of the Sees re- presented in the early synods of Ireland, and denominated Clonfert Breanuin. He died in the convent of his niece, Briffa, in Annadown, and his remains were afterwards trans- lated to Clonfert, where they repose. Owing to the fact, that there were, according to Keating, fourteen eminent saints of that name in Ireland, he is often confounded with 0*Brennan or Brendan of Kerry, who was not bom in St. Patrick's days, but whose birth and future greatness the apostle foretold. A few years ago there was a beautiful alto relief figure of St. M j^^»-"Sf,r'*"''^ T i^' ~ , .'' ^ . ■*-, - 'iífT'T^srir;^'! »*r»'T5iT- ■ 237 : Brennan in the old church in Ardfert. The diocess included the whole country and a part of Cork, being fifty-two miles from north to south, and forty-eight broad. The most of the rains of that once magnificent church were standing at no dis- tant period ; also a round tower 120 feet high, which fell iu 1771. — " Archdall's Monasticon.*' We see a difficulty in at- tempting a description of some of the galaxy of saints that shed a halo on ancient Ireland ; however it is not our duty, as mere annotators, to enter on such a subject, else we would endeavour to adjust the names, dates, and places of the respective saints. From what we have read in various histories, as well ecclesias- tical as profane, we have come to the conclusion that O'Bren- nan of Clonfert was son of Finloga, of the royal race of Hereraou, in Connaught, who died, 577, in Annadown, a part of Ui Bran^ — that there was an O'Brennan of great celebrity in Ely O'CarroU (now of King's County), who was the son of Luagne (Lhovawne), of the Leinster Heremonians, and that St. Brennan or O'Brennan of Kerry (died 576), was of the royal line of " Ciar." — (Keating, vol. ii. p. 531.) CyFlaherty gives a Brennan or Brendan, son of Fergus, son of Conall Gulban, and of Erica, daughter of King Lorcan. He was uncle of Columbkille. This being so, we see how so great a number of saints of the same name existed. Wherever there are many of one name, there must necessarily be confusion, unless much care be taken to adjust the names ; and, indeed, Irish Cliurch history requires a revision in this important matter. Elsewhere, depending on some authority, we made the saint of Birr and Clonfert one and the same. But there might have been more than one Birr ; and the confluence of the Shannon and Suck, neat Clonfert, could be well called. Birr, which means " waters." There were more Cluanfearts (Clonferts) than one. Wherever miracles or wonders were wrought, or dead bodies interred, 18 '238 was a CluAt)-|:eAjicA, a corner, or place o/ miracles or graves . Thus Tara was at one period called Cluan-feart. '' Many of the bishops that were consecrated travelled to other countries to spread the failh. Moreover, the sudden conversion of all Ireland affords an inference, that the number of prelates and priests must have been very considerable to effect so wonderful a work in so short a time. And St. Patrick saw, that, as the nation was a warlike one, he should engage many hands to conquer Satan, and when the victory had been won, he, like a skilful general, felt that he required more teachers to keep the converts from harm, as well as to push his conquest all over the country. This he did with a rapidity never equalled. Hence it is plain the number here set down, when considered as spread over the space of his mission and over the pentarchy, was not exaggerated. Another reason for the large number might be this — some of the royal blood had joined the standard of Christ, so that our saint sagaciously bestowed the mitre on many of them, who were thus made princes much higher than earthly ones. There was great wisdom in such a course, at such a time. STANZA LXIV. We would, did space permit, comment on the subject of this verse, which alludes to the fatal differences that purpled the green fields of Erin with the blood of men, whose souls should be knitted together in the bonds of love. After the death of Brian Borovey, Malachy, or Maol Seaghlin, regained the throne; he was succeeded, according to Keating, by Donough, son of Brian, in 1048, who after a turbulent reign of some years, and the murder of his brother Teige, was deposed, and went to Borne to do penance for his sins. In ignorance of his right to the crown, which he held only in trust from the nation, he brought it to the Eternal City, and, it is said, he made a pres^ent of it to his Holiness. In this '»'^:íj^?^7*^T?'"^^í*^"^'"" - ^'-■:-^^'-." -..-^v--, *=■;-. .v: ■\';'-.:^i»>'5f«^™---.: ":"í*^;:r-:^í;7 239 atlempt to expiate the sins of his past life he sought to rob his native laud of her sceptre, and thus put an obex to his repentance being accepted by Him, who said on Sinai — " Thou shalt not steal." What madness ! just as if he had the right to transfer, or the Pope to accept, what belonged to Ireland. Monarchs are but the stewards of the throne, the people are the proprietors. Hence, he acted iniquitouslj in transferring it, and the Pope should not have acted on the offer of an old profligate, who, for his unnatural conduct towards a pious brother, was hurled from the royal seat which he dishonoured and stained with fratricide. ' [ ^ " STANZA LXVIII. ' What a man was sent to reform the habits of the Irish ! the sancticide Henry, whose hands were still not cleansed from the blood of that illustrious prince of the Church of God, St. Thomas ^ Becket. Such a monster to be delegated to restore discipline was making a mockery of religion. But. Adrian was an Englishman, and for aught we know, a relative of Henry II. After he was elected Pope, in 1154, England's king wrote him a letter of congratulation. Henceforward a friendship was established between them. The aggrandizement of his native country was his motive, and we may add, that he manifested something of personal ambition in the transfer of Ireland. The spiritual supremacy of the Church, vested in the Pope, is as necessary as that of a ship's captain to steer herself and her crew safely ; but he had no temporal right over Ireland to make away with its crown. Almost every history on Irish matters, even Wright's, (brought out by Tallis), has agreed that the cause of religion in Ireland, at' that very time, did not require any reformation — and could not expect it from the allies of the adulterous, perjured Mac Murrough. Who were his first adherents in Wales ? The Fitz Henrys, illegitimate sons of Henry I., and •f*^W^ '•■'■ •—•-■,'■•.. r-'r >7!'í» :"■.' _-»'"!5íy _'-- r.,.- ■'j.-'v •'í^'~T^r:-^7rrw^y^: rT^^pK^ifVitiiliJ.W^:^^!^^ .». 240 other children of Nesta, the concubine of the said Henry, viz. De Gros, Fitz Gerald, Fitz Stephen, the three De Barris, one of whom was the infamous Cambrensis — all the offspring of the harlot Nesta — a vicious monarch, with Cavanagh, his bastard son, were the nest of robbers who, at first, gave their adhesion to Dermod. God ! how awful is the reflection, that an island which was so powerful in resources should become the prey of such an infernal banditti — all the issue of sin ! The soul shrinks back from the contemplation of, and the flesh of the hand, that writes these lines, creeps with disgust at the mere recording of such turpitude. For the origin of the gang of English plunderers we refer to Wright's " Ireland," chap, ix. p. 1. The idea of Satan quoting Scripture is not more repugnant than religious reform from such sinful reptiles. What a precious company Dermod brought with him to the Abbot of Ferns, in Wexford. Cambrensis says, that the Helen of Ireland, Dervorgilla, O'Rourke's wife, was one of the company at the abbot's table. Can it be P We cannot answer. What a fraternity ! only the presence of the murderer of the glorious á Becket was wanted to complement one of the most remarkable sodalities that ever existed. For the burnings, desecrations, plunders, murders, and all sorts of atrocities perpetrated by these freebooters, before the arrival of Strong- bow, the reader is referred to the work last mentioned. Wright, though a bigoted writer, and, in some cases, a libeller of our character, tells some things with much force, and in good language. At the same time, he is certain to depreciate such historians as most favour Ireland. He says that, at the instigation of Henry De Montmauricc, seventy citizens of Waterford were made captives, brought to the summit of a rock, had their limbs first deliberately broken, and they were then cast into the sea. O' Regan, secretary to Dermod, makes the number greater. This was not the first taste of England's 241 thirst for Irish blood. In fact, the history of that country's career in Ireland has been a continuous chain of bloody deeds and iniquitous spoliation. We may here mention that there were other O'Cavanaghs who were an honor to their country. Dermod's son was a brave fellow, and had his valour been directed against, and not m favour, of the needy adventurers, the latter would not have withstood him for any time. Any- thing that could be said on the next fifteen stanzas will be found interspersed in other parts of this work. Comments on them here would be therefore only repetition. — See notes on stanza Ixxxvi. TREACHEttOUS EFFORTS TO SEIZE THE 0*DONNELL. The following narrative of the measures adopted by the government to get possession of the young O'Donnell, prince of Tir Ck)nnell, and his after adventures, taken from " The Four Masters," are full of interest : — " Red Hugh, the son of O'Donnell, was taken by the Eng- lish. His capture was first effected thus : The English, with the Justice and the Council in general, had contracted a great dislike to the Earl O'Neill, Hugh, the son of Ferdoragh (al- though he was obedient to them), in consequence of the ac- cusations and complaints of Turlough Luineach, the son of Niall Conallagh O'Neill, who was always in opposition to him, and because Joan, the daughter of O'Donnell, was married to the Earl of Tir Owen. Moreover, the name and renown of the above-named youth, Eed Hugh, the son of Hugh, had spread throughout the five provinces of Erin, even before he had arrived at the age of manhood, for his wisdom, sagacity, goodly growth, and noble deeds; and the people in general were used to say that he was really the prophesied one ; and the English feared that if he should be permitted to arrive at the age of maturity, that the disturbance of all the island oi tfÍiitMlÍMi^-hirf fi'MMil'ffrftrf^ rr*---—'-^- * -'WÉ*. ^:^'..^ ■'■-'*».■■ . 242 Erin would result through him and the Earl of Tir Owen ; and that, should thej unite in their exertions, theywould win the goal, as they were allied to each other, as we have before men- tioned. To deliberate on premises, a council was held by the Lord Justice and the English of Dublin, and to consider what mancBuvre they might adopt to prevent this thing which they feared ; and the resolution which they came to was, to prepare a ship at Dublin, and send it, with its crew, laden with wine and beer, north-eastwards, keeping Erin to the left, until it should put into some harbour of the harbours of Tir Gonnell, as if it had gone for the purpose of traffic. The vessel sailed northward toBenmór, in theBoute,*and then turned westwards, with a favourable breeze of wind, without stopping or delaying, until it put in at the old harbour of Swilly, opposite Rathmullan, a castle erected on the margin of the sea, some time before, by Mac Sweeny Fanad, a family, the chief of which has been one of the generals of the lords of Tir Connell from a remote period. The ship being there stationed at anchor, a party of the crew came on shore in a small boat, under the guise of merchants, in the semblance of peace and friendship ; and they began to spy and explore the country, and to sell and bargain with those who came to them ; and they told them that they had wine and ale in their ship. When Mac Sweeny and his people heard of this, they began to buy the wine, and continued to drick of it until they were intoxicated. When the inhabitants of the neighbouring district heard the news of the arrival of this ship, they flocked to it from every quarter. The Red Hugh before mentioned happened at this time to be in the neighbourhood, on an excursion of thoughtless recreation, and youthful play and sports ; and the vehement and fool-hardy people who were along with him requested of him to go to the place. It was * This is still the name of a territory forming the northern portion of the County of Antrim. It is supposed to be a corruption of Dal Biada. .ív?-?''**^:,"''. 24^ easy for them to prevail on him to do so, for at this time he was uot quite fifteen years of age j and there were none of his advisers, tutors, OTollavs, along with him, to direct him or give him council. When the spies heard of his arrival in the town, they immediately went back to the ship. He was welcomed by Mac Sweeny and the other chieftains ; and they sent their waiters and cup-bearera to the ship for wine for the guest who had arrived. The merchants said that they had no more wine remaining unsold, excepting what the crew required for their own use, and that they were unwilling to give any more of it out for any one ; but they added, that if a small party of gentle- men would come to them into the ship, they should get all the wine and ale that was in their possession. When Mac Sweeny received this message, he felt ashamed at the circumstance, and accordingly he decided upon inviting Hugh to the ship. This being agreed upon, they went into a small boat which was on the margin of the strand, and rowed it over to the ship. They were welcomed, and conducted without delay or loitering into an apartment in the lower centre of the ship ; and they were waited on, and attentively served, until they were jolly and cheerful. When they were here making merry, the door of the hatch was closed after them, and their arms were stolen from them ; and thus was the young son, Eed Hugh, taken. The rumour of this capture spread throughout the country in general ; and the inhabitants flocked from all quarters to the harbour, to see if they could bring any danger upon the machinators of the treachery. This was of no avail, for they were in the depth of the harbour, after having hauled in their anchor ; and the natives had no ships or boats to pursue or take revenge of them. Mac Sweeny of the Battle-axes, who was the foster-father of that Hugh, came, among the rest, to the harbour, and offered hostages and other pledges for him; but this was of no avail to him, because there was not in the ■<»4 .■ "^fí'^^-- 244 province of Ulster a hostage thai they would accept in his stead. As for the ship, and the crew which were in it, having secured the roost desirable of the hostages of the territory, they sailed with the current of the tide until they reached the sea, and re- traced their former course back again, until they landed in the harbour of Dublin. It was soon heard all over the city that he 'had thus arrived ; and the Lord Justice and the Council were rejoiced at the arrival of Hugh, though indeed not for love of him ; and they ordered him to be brought before them, and he was brought accordingly ; and they continued for a long time to converse with him, and to ask questions of him, to examine and criticise him, that they might explore his natural endow- ments. At last, however, they ordered him to be put into a strong stone castle which was in the city, where a great number of Milesian nobles were in chains and captivity, and also some of the old English. The only amusement and conversation by which these beguiled the time by day and night was, lamenting to each other their sufferings and troubles, and listening to the cruel sentences passed on the high-born nobles of Erin in general." ** Eed Hugh O'Donnell had now (1 590) been in captivity in Dublin for the space of three years and three months. It was a cause of great distress of mind to him to be thus im- prisoned ; yet it was not for his own sake that he grieved, but for the sake of his country, his land, his friends, his kinsmen, who were in bondage throughout Erin. He was constantly revolving in his mind the manner in which he might make his escape. This was not an easy matter for him, for he was con- fined in a closely-secured apartment every night in the castle until sunrise the next day. This castle was surrounded by a wide and very deep ditch, full of water, across which was a wooden bridge, directly opposite the door of the fortress j and within and without the door were stationed a stern party of Englishmen, closely guarding it, so that none might pass in 245 - or oat without examinatiou. There is, however, no guard w hose vigilance may not some time or otlier be baffled. At the very eud of winter, as Hugh and a party of his companions were together, in the beginning of the night, before they were put in the close cells in which they used to be every night, they took with them a very long rope, to aw indow which was near them, and by means of the rope they let themselves down, and alighted upon the bridge that was outside the door of the for- tress. There was a thick iron chain fastened to this door, by which one closed it when required ; through this chain they drove a strong handful of a piece of timber, and thus fastened the door on the outside, so that they could not be immediately pursued from the fortress. There was a youth of Hugh's faith- ful people outside awaiting their escape, and he met them on coming out, with two well-tempered swords concealed under his garments ; these he gave into the hands of Hugh, who presented one of them to a certain renowned warrior of Leinster, Art Cavanagh by name, who was a champion in battle, and a commander in conflict. As for the guards, they did not perceive the escape for some time ; but when they took notice of it they advanced immediately to the door of the castle, for they thought that they should instantly catch them. Upon coming to the gate, they could not open it ; whereupon they called over to them those who happened to be in houses on the other side of the street, opposite the door of the castle. When these came at the call, and took the piece of timber out of the chain, and threw open the door for the people in the castle, who then set out, with a great number of the citizens, in pursuit of the youths who had escaped from theita ; but this was fruitless, for they (the fugitives) had passed beyond tlie walls of the city before they were missed, for the gates of the regal city had been wide open at the time ; and they pursued their way across the face of the mountain which lay before them, namely, the Bed ■Vv~Sf— * '■ *■ "'■fí' ■, .-r*^rr^r»'V,s«7^ '•-"■■<;' 'X ,. .;■.-■•* -^ .7.':;';--/V*r=: ■' ■^*^ * /.::.> ■•■T'y4^^r3!r^.-'..\^i'c-*í-^Ví^ 249 the son of Hugh (CByrue), who was then at war with the English. This is a secure and impregnable valley ; and many prisoners who escaped from Dublin were wont to resort to a stronghold where they think to be safe from all that prosecute them. And from thence they do at their pleasures, break out into all the borders adjoining, which are well-peopled countreys, as the counties of Dublin, of Kildare, of Catherlagh, of Kilkenny, of Wexford, with all the spoils hereof they victual and strengthen themselves, which otherwise should in short time be starred, and sore pined." In 1580, James Eustace, the de- scendant of the noble family of I'Eustache, Lords of Portiester, broke down his oflstles and joined the national party of the Irishry . ' ' The (0*) Cavanaghs, Cinsellaghs, O'Byrnes, Tuathals (OTooles), the clan of Ranelagh, and the surviving part of the inhabitants of Offaly and Leix, flocked to his assist- ance ; so that the entire extent of country from the Slany to the Shannon, and from the Boyne to the meeting of the Three Waters, became one scene of strife and dissension» These plunderers pitched a camp on th^ confines of the Bed Mountain and Glenmalúr. '.' "A hosting," continue the " Four Masters," " was made by the Lord Justice (Arthur, Lord Gray, of Wilton), and Captain Malby, to scatter and disperse these warlike plunderers. When the insurgents had heard of the approach of such an overwhelming force, they retreated into |^eir fortresses, in the rough and rugged recesses of Glenmalúr. The Lord Justice then selected the most trustworthy and best-tried captains of his army, and dispatched them, at the head of eight or nine companies of soldiers, to search and explore Glenmalúr ; but they were responded to without delay by the parties that guarded the valley, so that very few of those returned without being cut off and dreadfully slaughtered by the party of Gaels. On this occasion were slain Peter Carew, Colonel John Moor, and Master Francis Cosby, with many other gentiemen who had come from England on the return of the Lord Justice. When this news reached the Lord Justice, he left his camp." As a further illustration ^f the untiring vigour of the men of Erin at this time, and of the character of the brave outlawed Chiefs who found refuge in the celebrated glen, the following is added from the " Four Masters," in 1580—*' Shane, the son of the Earl of Desmond, was at this time a roving and wandering plun> derer ; and, though Shane, the son of Conn O'Neill, and Séamus, the son of Maurice, son of the Earl of Desmond, were illustrious for their wars and conflicts with the English ; this Shane was at this time a worthy heir to either of them. One day in the month of July, this Shane went to the woods of Aharlagh, attended by so small a body of troopsi as it was impru- 250 to that valley, for they considered themselves secure there, until they could return to their own country. When the servant came into the presence of Fiagh, he delivered his dent to go forth on a long journey, for the number of his foot soldiers was less than one hundred shields, and he had only thirteen horsemen. He marched in the evening by the limpid-waved Shannon, and by Moyaliff.; and early next morning he seized on a prey in Dovea, and proceeded with his prey directly eastwards, through Templemore and Ikerrin. The forces of each territory through which he passed assembled to pursue him, namely, of Eliogarty, of Drum, and of the territory of the Purcells. These tribes, thinking it very fortunate for them to find Shane thus attended by only a few troops, attacked him boldly and fiercely ; but the pursuers were de- feated, and eighteen of their gentlemen, heads of tribes and towns, were slain in the conflict ; and Shane, after his victory, carried off his prey in triumph, to the fast and solitary woods of the great road of the plain of the meeting. There he was joined by the sons of Mac Gilla Patrick, the son of O'Carroll, and a great number of evil-doers and plunderers ; and they all set out for the mountain of Bladhma (Sliav Bloom), and thither all the men of Offaly and Leix, who were able to bear arms, came to join them. The manner in which Shane, the son of Séamus, lived on this mountain, was worthy of a true plunderer ; for he slept lAt upon couches of stone or earth ; he drank but of the pure, cold streams, and that from the palms of his hands or his shoes ; and his only cooking utensils were the long twigs of the forest, for dressing the flesh meat carried away from his enemies. From this abode he proceeded to plunder the Butlers and Os- sory. He afterwards went to Leix, and burned and plundered Abbey Leix, upon the son of the Earl of Ormond, namely, upon Pierce, the son of Séamus, son of Pierce the red. He also plundered the fortress of Leix, after having slain some of the guards of the town. He carried away from them accoutrements, armour, horses, weapons, and various wealth. In short, he plundered seven castles in Leix in the course of that day. He then proceeded from one territory to another, until he reached Glenmalúr, where James Eustace and the sons of Aodh, son of Shane O'Byrne, were stationed, where he was welcomed by these men ; and here the (O')Cavanaghs, Cinsellaghs, (0*) Byrnes, and Tuathals, and the plunderers of the country in general, came to join him. It would be tedious to mention all^the pro- perty they destroyed and injured upon the English of Leinster and Meath." The brave Fiagh Mac Hugh O'Byrne, Chief of Glenmalúr, was slain in 1597, by an assassin hired by Sir William Russell, the Lord De- ^iS?^';-- 251 message, and how he had left the youths who had escaped from the city, and (stated) that they would not be overtaken alive unless he sent them relief instantly. Fiagh immediately ordered some of hig servants of trust (those in whom he had most confidence) to go to them, taking with them a man to carry food, and another ale and beer. This was accordingly done, and they arrived at the place where the men were. Alas I unhappy and miserable was their condition on their arrival. Their bodies were covered with white-bordered shrouds of hail-stones freezing around them on every side, and their light clothes and fine-threaded shirts too adhered to their skin ; and their large shoes and leather thongs to their shins and feet J so that, covered as they were with the snow, it did not appear to the men who had arrived that they were human beings at all, for they found no life in their members, but just as if they were dead. They were raised by them from their bed, and they requested of them to take some of the meat and drink ; but this they were not able to avail themselves of, for every drink they took they rejected again on the instant-; so that Art at length died, and was buried in that place. As to Hugh, after some time, he retained the beer ; and after drinking it, his energies were restored, except the use of his two feet, for they were dead members, without feeling, swollen and blistered by the frost and snow. The men carried him to the puty. There are several poems on his battles and victories preserved in t^e Leabhar Branach, or Book of the O'Byrnes. According to Dr. O'Do- novan, the clann took its name from one of their ancient Chiefs styled Branitt or the raven. We are likewise told that the name of the Wicklow tribe of O'Toole, or TYm/Aa/, signifies " princely or lordly." Of the latter clan came St. Lorcan, miscalled Laurence O'Toole, Archbishop of Dublin, who assisted at the solemn confirmation,* in the private assembly of the Irish divines at Cashel, of the illegal transfer of Ireland to Henry II., by which the native Irish were deprived of their lands, and excommunicated for resisting the aggression of the English." — Celtic Records of Ireland. * This is false, for lie opposed that nefarious act by speaking against it. :'j~:- ■■■-' ,-^-iS., 252 valley which we have mentioned, and he was placed in a sequestered honse, in a solitary part of a dense wood, where he remained under cure until a messenger came privately from his brother-in-law, the Earl O'Neill, to^ inquire after him. When the messenger arrived, he (Hugh) prepared to depart. It was difficult for him to undertake that journey, for his feet could not have been healed (within the time), so that another person had to raise him on his horse, and to lift him from his horse, whenever he wished to alight. Fiagh dispatched a troop of horse with him, (who accompanied him) until he crossed the river Life, to protect him against the snares that were laid for him ; for the English of Dublin had heard that Hugh was at Glenmalúr, and had therefore posted guards on the shallow fords of the river, to prevent him and the prisoners who had escaped along with him from passing into Ulster. The youths who were along with Hugh were obliged to cross a difficult deep ford on the river Life, near the city of Dublin ; and they proceeded on their way until they came to the green of the fortress unperceived by the English. The people by whom he had been abandoned some time before, after his first escape, namely, Felim O'Tuathal and his brother, were amongst the troop who escorted him to this place ; and they made friend- ship and amity with each other. They bade him farewell, and having given him their blessii^, departed from him. As for Hugh O'Donnell, he had (now) no one along with him but the one youag man who had been sent for him to the famous Olenmalúr ; he was of the people of Hugh O'Neill, and spoke the language of foreign countries, and had always accompanied the Earl (Hugh O'Neil) when he went among the English ; so that he was acquainted with and confident in every road by which they had to pass. They proceeded forwards on their noble, swift steeds, by the straiglit-lined roads of Meath, until they arrived before morning on the brink of the Boyne, a '" i i f f>''llil^ 1 ,>. 25S sbort distance to the west of Drogheda ; and they «ere afraid of going to that town, so that what they did was this, to pro- ceed along the bank of the river to a place where a poor little fisherman used to wait with a little boat, for ferrying people across the river. Hugh went into this little boat, and the ferryman conveyed him to the other bank, having received a full remuneration ; and his servant returned with the horses through the town, and brought them to Hugh on the other side of the river. They then mounted their steeds, and proceeded onwards until they were two miles from the river, when they observed a dense bushy grove, surrounded with a rampart, looking like an enclosed garden, at some distance on the way before them. On one side of this grove stood a fine mansion house, belonging to a distinguished English youth, who was a particular friend of Hugh O'Neill. On reaching the enclosure, they unharnessed their steeds, and entered the grove which was insáde the rampart, for Hugh's companion was well acquainted with the place. Having left Hugh in the grove, he went into the fortress, where he was kindly received. He procured a private apartment for Hugh O'Donnell, and conveyed him thither, where he was attended and entertained to his satisfaction. Here they remained until the evening of the following day ; their horses were got ready for them in the beginning of the night, and they proceeded across Shabh Breagh,* and through the territory of the plain of Connell ; and before morning they had arrived at the strand of the town of the son of Buan.f As the gates of the town were opened in the morning early, they resolved to pass through it on their horses. This they did, and advanced until they were * Now Slieve Brey, a chain of hills, extending iirom Clogher head, in the east of the County of Louth, to Rathkenny in the County of Meath. t This was the original name of the strand at Dandalk, bat it was after- wards applied to the town. , '; ili .-.;.: ,ii^. J 19 '^r^fír'^'^ifrm'^^sp^^^,"^ 254 at the other side ; and they were cheerful and rejoiced fot having escaped €V€ry danger which lay before them thus far. They then proceeded to the Wood,* where dwelt Turlogh, the son of H^ri, son of Felim O'Neill, the red, to recruit them- selves. They were here secure, for Turlogh was his friend and companion, and he and the Earl O'Neill had been born of the one mother. They remained here until the next day, and then proceeded across the mountain of Fuad,t and arrived at Armagh, where they remained in disguise for that night. On the following day they proceeded to Dun Gannon, where the Earl, Hugh O'Neill, was. He was rejoiced at their arrival, and Hugh was conducted into a private apartment, withocit the knowledge of any except a few of his faithful people who attended him ; and here Hugh remained for the space of four nights, to shake off the fatigue of his journey and anxiety. He then prepaied to depart, and took his leave of the Earl, who sent a troop of horse with him till he arrived at Loch Erne. The Lord of this country, namely, Hugh Maguire, was his friend and kinsman, by the mother^s side ; for Nuala, daughter of Manns O'Donnell, was Maguire's mother. Maguire was rejoiced at his arrival. A boat was afterwards provided for Hugh, into which he entered ; and they rowed him thence until they arrived at the narrow neck of the lake, where they landed. Here a party of his faithful friends came to meet him, and they conveyed him to the castle of Bally shannon, where the warders of O'Donnell, his father, were stationed. He remained here until all those in the neighbourhood came to him, to welcome him ; and his faithful * The wood or Fiodh. This is still the Irish name of the Fewsj, in the south of the Coantj of Armagh. ',. : i .,'..:, ■■ ,=;.-!; " .■ ítí M ' f Or SliaUk Fuaid, so caUed from the son of Breogam, one of the Chief- tains who came over with the Milesians. This name is yet preserved, and applied to the highest of the Fews mountains. ■ .. . .j; -<.'> ^'^/t.-k:..-.'. :.- ^ ^iifiiii^^i É.Éíáiirii-.iV III- -^^- ---li^v 255 people were rejoiced at the return of the heir to the Chieftain- ship; and though they owed him real affection on account of his family, they had an additional cause of joy at this period ; for until his return the country had been one scene of devas- tation between the English and the Gaels."* The complete victory at the month of the Yellow Ford, or in Irish, " Béul an atha Buidhe," in 1598, which consum- mated the success of the confederated clans, we cannot but give though limited our space : — BATTLE OP THE YELLOW FOET. " The New Fort (on the bank of the Black- Water) was de- fended during the time of peace and war by the Queen's people ; but when the English and Gaels did not make peace as had been expected in the beginning of summer, O'Neill laid siege to the fort, so that the warders were in want of provisions in the last mouth of summer. After this news arrived in Dublin, the Council resolved to assemble together the most loyal and best * As flome parties are apt to sDeer at the title of prince which is giveii to The O'iNeill and The O'Doonell, the descendants of Conn of the Hun- dred battles, who was king of Ireland in the second century of the Christian era, we will draw a parallel, and leave the reader to draw the conclusion. The princedom of O'Neill comprised, at the time of which we are writing, alBKWt the entire of Tyrone, parts of Down, Antrim and Armagh. Now tbe poptdation of these cooKties, according to the Census of 1841, was 215,881. The Duchy of Saze-Coburg Gotha and Altenburg is 261,600, being not much more than the population of the territory of the Ulster chiefs, and the population is the test of the wealth and strength of any country. It is a well-known tact that the income of the prince, who is the husband of Victoria, is not in bis own country equal to that of the Shrews- bury estates. But he is a German and a foreigner, and that is enough to add weight to his title in the estimation of the thoughtless. The revenue of the prince of Desmond was much greater than Albert's German posses- sions. But the remote and illustrious origin of the princes of Tyrconnel and Tyrone were far before that of any petty German despot — ^whose origin is both obscure and derived from cruel ancestors. íi»lJiÁi,L<^ 256 tried in war of the Queen's soldiers in Erin, who were thf^f,,^ in the neiglibourhood of Dublin and Athlone ; and when these soldiers were assembled together, four thousand foot and six hundred horse were selected from among them, and these were sent to convey provisions to the new fort. A sufficient supply of meat and drink, beef, lead, powder, and all other necessaries, were sent with them. They marched to Drogheda, from thence to Dundalk, from thence to Newry, and from thence to Armagh, where they remained at night. Sir Henry Bagnal, Marshal of Newry, was their general. When O Neill had received intel- ligence that this great army was approaching him, he sent his messengers to (yDonnell, requesting of him to come to his as- sistance against this overwhelming force of foreigners who were coming to his country. CDonnell proceeded immediately, with all his warriors, both infantry and cavalry, and a strong body of forces from Connacht, to assist his ally against those who were marching upon him. The Gaels of all the province of Ulster also joined the same army, so that they were all pre- pared to meet the English before they arrived at Armagh. They then dug deep trenches against the English in the common road, by which they thought they would come to them. As for the English, after remaining a night at Armagh, they rose next morning early ; and the resolution they adopted was, to leave their victuals, drink, their women and young persons, their horses, baggage, servants, and rabble, in that town of Armagh. Orders were then given that every one able to bear arms, both horse and foot, should proceed wherever the Mar- shal and other officers of the army should order them to march against their enemies. They then formed into order and ar- ray, as well as they were able, and proceeded straightforward through each road before them, in close and solid bodies, and in compact, impenetrable squadrons, till they came to the hill which overlooks the ford of Beal-an-atha-buidhe. After ar- .-Jl 257 * . ' riving there they perceived O'Neill and O'Donuell, the Mac Gennis of Dovm, and the men of Oriel, having, together with the chieftains, warriors, heroes, and champiohs of the North, drawn up one terrible mass before them, placed and arranged on the particular passages where they thought the others would march on them. . " When the chiefs of the North observed the very great danger that now threatened them, they began to harangue and incite their people to acts of valour, saying that unless the victory was their's on that day, no prospect remained for them after it but that of some being killed and slaughtered without mercy, and others cast into prisons and wrapped in chains, as the Gaels had been often before, and that such as should escape from that battle would be expelled and banished into distant foreign countries ; and they told them, moreover, that it was easier for them to defend their patrimony against this foreign people now than to take the patrimony of others by force, after having been expelled from their own native country. This exciting exhortation of the chiefs made the desired impression upon their people ; and the soldiers declared that they were ready to suffer death sooner than submit to what they feared would happen to them. As for the Marshal and his English forces, when they saw the Gaels awaiting them, they did not show any symptom whatever of fear, but advanced vigorously forwards, until they sallied across the first broad and deep trench that lay in their way ; and some of them were killed in crossing it. The army of the Gaels then poured upon them, vehemently and boldly, furiously and impetuously, shouting in the rere and in the van, and on either side of them. The van was obliged to await the onset, bide the brunt of the conflict, and withstand the firing, so that their close lines were thinned, their gentlemen gapped, and their heroes subdued. But, to sum up in brief, the General, i.e., the Marshal of bKiii ■■■."Kt? 258 Newrj, was slain ; and as an army, deprived of its leader and adviser, does not usually maintain the battle-field,* the Generar» people were finally routed, by dint of conflict and fighting, across the earthen pits, and broad, deep trenches, over which they had previously passed. They were being slaughtered, mangled, mutilated, and cut to pieces by those who pursued them bravely and vigorously. ; ■ | r? * " At this time God allowed, and the Lord permitted, that one of the Queen*s soldiers, who had exhausted all the powder he had about him, by the great number of shots he had dis- charged, should go to the nearest barrel of powder to quickly replenish his measure and his pouch ; and when he began to fill it a spark fell from his match into the powder in the barrel, which exploded aloft overhead into the air, as did every barrel nearest, and also a great gunf which they had with them. A * " The site of this battle is shown on an old ' Map of the country lying between Lough Erne and Dundalk/ preserved in the State Papers Office, London, as on the banks of the River Callen, to the north-east of the city of Armagh. The place is called Ballymackilloune, and the following words are written across the spot : — ' Here Sir H. Bagnal, Marshal of Newry, was slaine.' The name Beal-an-atha-bnidhe, anglice, Bellanaboy, is now applied to a small marsh or cut-out bog, situated in the townland of Cabragh, about one mile and three-quarters to (he north of the city of Armagh. A short distance to the north of this bog stands a white-thorn bush, locally called the * Great Man's Thorn,' which is said to have been planted near the grave of Marshal Bagnal. Captain Tncker» R.E., who surveyed this part of Ireland for the Ordnance Survey, has marked the site of this battle on the Ordnance map by two swords in saltier, aod the date 1598." t We find the following in a note in Taaffe : — " O'Donnell had but one great gun in his army, a brass cannon, which was sent to him as a present from Spain. It may not be amiss to state, that not thirty years ago there were people living, who spoke with persons, that were at the battle (Ballin- tubber) who stated, that the Irish fought with sticks and pitchforks only, that there was but one musket in the engagement ; and Borlase himself owns, that the Irish musketeers did not come into action, whereas the En- glish, as he says, were then armed in the best manner possible." From the 259 great number of the men who were around the powder were blown up in like manner. The surrounding hillj ground was enveloped in a dense, black, gloomy mass of smoke for a considerable part of the day afterwards. That part of the Queen's army which escaped from being slaughtered by the Gaels, or burned or destroyed by the explosion, went back to Armagh, and were eagerly piirsued by the Gaels, who continued to subdue, surround, slay, and slaughter them, by pairs, threes, scores, and thirties, until they passed inside the walls of Armagh. The Gaels then proceeded to besiege the town, and surrounded it on every side j and they of both parties continued to shoot and fire at each other for three days and three nights, at the expiration of which time the English ceased, and sent messengers to the Gaels to tell them that they would surrender the fort at the Blackwater, if the warders who were stationed in it were suffered to come to them unmolested to Armagh, and to add that, on arriving there, they would leave Armagh itself, if they should be granted quarter and protection, and escorted in safety out of that country into a secure territory. When these messages were communicated to the Gaels, their Chiefs held a council, to consider what they should do respecting this treaty. Some of them said that the English should not be permitted to come out of their straitened position until they should all be killed or starved together ; but they finally agreed to give them liberty to pass out of the places in which they were, on condition, however, that they should not carry out of the fort meat or drink, armour, arms, or ordnance, powder or lead, or, in fine, anything, excepting only the captain's trunk above it appears that the Irish had almost nothing but their courage to op- pose the English. At the above battle Sir Hugh O'Connor D:: •• " Garrisons of soldiers, with all necessaries, were sent to the Earl to Carrickfergus, to Newry, to Duudalk, to Droglieda, to Wicklow, to Naas of Leinster, and to other towns besides. He then selected seven thousand soldiers of the best of his army, and marched from directly south westwards ; for he had been informed that there were not of the plunderers of the Queen in Erin a tribe that could be more easily invaded than the Geraldines, as they were then circumstanced. The Earl and his troops never halted until they arrived in the middle of the province of Leinster ; and surely his approach to the Gaels of Leinster was not the visit to friends from afar ! These were Donall Cavanagh of Spain, Owny the son of Bory O'More, the young ; the O'Connors of Ealy, the clan CyByme of Banelagh, • " His army," says the Goyemment historian, '* wbs as great and as well famished as hit heart coold desire for that serriee, being at first 1,300 horse, and 16,000 foot, which were afterwards increased to twenty thousand men complete." Many of the Irish, we are told hy the same writer, had sworn at a public cross to be steadfast to their colors. According to the most exaggerated return, the total number of the natÍTes at this period in arms for their independence was twenty thousand seven hundred and four- teen. Although these men were but miserably provided, and had to contend with soldiers well disciplined in the wars of the Low countries, the English expenses of this year's campaign, according to Government documents, were within a fraction of three hundred and fifty thousand pounds. This sum was but one hundred thousand pounds less than the total annual revenue of England at the time.—" Celtic Record»." -■"'••^^~= -■'■ — '-'.riiiaEi'i i fill ■•-"■'- "Ttiriliiir-iriy'"-'-'^-''^^'^-^ — »t--j«.^ia.;. •:,.j...... 262 aud mauy other gentlemen not enumerated. These people made fierce and de^erate assaults, and furious irresistible onsets on him, in intricate ways and narrow passes, in which both parties came in collision with each other, so that great numbers of the Earl's people were cut off bj them/' ..V- . -. . i ..' At> ,,l \ THE EABL OF DESMOND AND THE OEBALDINBS. " On the first night after they had left Limerick, in the month of June, they encamped upon the banks of the river of Adare; and as they advanced westwards on the next day, Saturday, through the bog of BobAar, the soldiers and war^ riors of the Earl of Desmond and the Geraldine host shewed them their faces. Fierce and morose was the salute and wel- come which they gave to the representative of their Sovereign on his first visit to them and to his army ; for they discharged into their eyes the fire and smoke of their black powder, and showers of balls from straightly-aimed guns; and he heard the nproar, clamour, and exulting shoots of their champions and common soldiers, instead of the submission, honor, that should have been shewn to him, and of the mild and courteous words that should have been spoken to him. Howbeit, the result of this conflict was, that great numbers of the Earl of Essex's men were cut off, and that he was not suffered to make any remarkable progress on that day; so that he pitched his camp a short distance to the East of Askeaton. On the uext day, Sunday, he and the Earls of Ormond and Thomond resoi- ved to send a body of cavalry to lay up ammunition in Askeaton, and not to proceed any further westward into Munster them- selves on this occasion. On their return eastwards the next day, Monday, when they arrived near FerritCT'a town, they 'W'^r-- t' ^■■' .^'^ 263 received a stout and resolute conflict^ and a furious and formid- able battle from the Gkraldines; and many of the Earl of Essex's people were slain on that day, and among the rest, a noble knight of great name and honor, Sir Henry Norris. The Earl of Essex then (Mroceede4 to Kilmallock; and,, haying remaineld three sights in that town, he directed his course southwards, towards Cean» Feaokrat,* a part of the moautain of Oaoin, the son of Dearff dualach, with the intention of pas- sing into Roche's country ; and, instead of proceeding to Cork, as it was thought he would have done, he directed his course across the ford at the monastery of Fermoy, and from thence be marched with his forces t« Conua of the Flaia of lie (Moygeely), and Lismore of St. Moehuda. During all this time the Geraldines conliniied to follow, pursue, and press upon them, to shoot at, wound, and slaughter them. When the Earl had arrived in the Desies, the Geraldines returned in exul- tation and high spirits to their territories and houses. On the arrival of the same Earl in Dungarvan, the Earl of Thomond parted from him there, and proceeded along the seaside to Youghall,and from thence to Cork, and afterwards to Limerick. The Earl of Essex proceeded from Dungarvan to Waterford, thence into the country of the Butlers, and into Leinster. They marched not by a prosperous progress by the roads along which they passed from Waterford to Dublin, for the Gaels of Leinster were following and pursuing, surrounding and environ- ing them, so that they slew and daughtered great numbers of them in every road and way by which they passed. The Gads of Erin were wont to say that it would have been better for him that he had not gone on this expedition from Dublin to Hy Connett Oaura,f as be returned back afber the first conflict that * A portion of the moantain of Sliabh Reagh, lyiag to the left of the road from Kilmallock to Cork. t The present Baronies of Connillo, in the Coanty of Limerick. ■■^'í- ■™,v:' ;■" » s^;:w'.-f?íi?'^ 264 was maintained against him, without having received submis- sion or respect from the Geraldines, and without having achieved in his progress any exploit worth boasting of excepting only the taking of Cahir." Sir C!onyers Clifford, Governor of Connacht, a veteran soldier, was now despatched against the northern clans, and having marched with a large force from Athlone, took up his position at Boyle, where he was joined by the garrison of that town. The troops of O'Donnell* being dispersed through the country, "•O'DONNELL, impatient for the momeBt which, he was certain» would be dedsive of the fate of his country, harangued hia men in their native language ; he shewed them that the advantage of their situation, alone, gave them a decided superiority over their opponents. ' Moreover,' added he, ' were we even deprived of those advantages I have enumerated, we should trust to the great dispenser of eternal justice, to the dreadfiil avenger of iniquity and oppression, the success of our just and righteous cause ; he has already doomed to destruction those assassins who have but- chered our wives and our children, plundered us of our properties, set fire to our habitations, demolished our churches and monasteries, and changed the face of Ireland into a wild, uncultivated desert. On this day, more particulariy, I trust to heaven for protection • a day dedicated to the greatest of all saints ; whom these enemies, contrary to all religion, endeavour to vilify ; a day on which we have purified our consciences to defend honestly the cause of justice against men whose hands are reeking with blood, and who, not content with driving us from our native plains, come to hunt us, Uke wild beasts, into the mountains of Dunaveeragh. But what I I see you have not patience to hear a word morel Brave Irishmen 1 yon bum for revenge. Scorning the advantage of this imprq^able situation, let us rush down and shew the world, that, guided by the Lord of life and death, we exterminated those oppressors of the human race ; he who falls will fall gloriously, fighting for justice, for liberty, and for his country ; his name will be remembered while there it an Irishman on the &ce of the earth ; and he who survives will be pointed at as the companion of O'Donnell, and the defender of his country* The congregations shall make way for htm at the altar, saying, that hero fought at the battie of Dunaveeragh, ' " In Don Philip O'Sullivan's Catholic history there are only two sentences 265 and engaged in reducing his Irish enemies, " the chief of his army and his. advisers remarked to him that they had not battle engines fit to oppose the English, and that they should not risk of the above speech. Doctor O'Doaovan, in a note, p. 2129^ A. F. M. (1599) says that Charles O'Connor of Balanagare has preserved a great part of the O'Donnell's speech to his army on the occasion, which he translated from an Irish copy in the hand writing of his grandfather. The day before the battle O'Donnell and his men having observed a solenm fast in honor of the Blessed Virgin as it was the vigil of her festival, and having likewise purified their consciences by the sacrament of penance, on the morning of the 15th of August, received the sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord. Being thus religiously armed, the jwinoe of Tyroonnell harangued his men in the burning language, of which the above can convey no idea, as the Irish language only can be the true interpretation of itself; any attempt at a translation of an Irish discourse or speech weakens its force. The Irish orator, if orator he be, reaches the heart, penetrates tiie inmost dqtths of the soul i and if in them there were left one spark of religion or patriotism, the native tongue, like a magnet, attracts it upwaards to urge forward the passion in behalf of the orator's object. The result of the O'Donnell's conduct ought to teach Catholics the great confidence they should have, at all times, in the intercession of the Queen of Heavm. The following extract, relative to the grand national struggle, at the Curlew mountains, is taken from the A. F. M. p. 2133. " When the routed party had escaped into the monastery, O'Donnell's people returned back with the heads and arms of their enemies, and proceeded to their tents with great exultation and gladness ; and they returned thanks to Grod and the Blessed [Virgin] Mary for their victory. The unanimous voice of the troops was, that it was not by force of arms they had defeated the English, but through the miracles of the Lord, at the intercession of O'Donnell and his army, after having received the pure mysterjr of the body and blood of Christ in the morning, and after the fast which he had kept in honour of tile Blessed [Vii^n] Mary on the day before. As for the English, after O'Donnell's people had departed, they took to the road expeditiously, such of them as survived, and arrived at their homes in sorrow and disgrace. English historians say, that if the monastery of Boyle, in which the English took shelter, had been a few miles more distant, not one qf them would have survived to tell of the O'Donnell's glorious victory." 266 an engagement because they had not their forces together. But (yDonnell made little or no account of the words of those gaitlomen, and said that it was not by numbers of men that a battle is gained, but that whoever trusts in the power of the Lordj and is on the side of justice, is always triumphant, and gliijui th? victory oyer his enemiesj. , ■, . ;[ • ■ ■:,■■■' ■■■. .- , ■:; f .,■,.■•:. 1 • . ' ...... .. . fi- k .. , ^., ,„V; :t THB BATTLE Of TUB CU&LEW MOUirEAIKS.;vr.; ' *' When tlie Governor was at the abbey of Boyle he was daily in the habit of menacing and threatening, reviling and seproaching the northerns, and boasting tliat he would pass northwards across the mountain in despite of them ; and on this day (the 1 5th of August) he undertook to perform what he had promised. When O'DonneU received intelligence of this, h» ordered his forces to be assembled together, to b^ re- viewed and marshaHed ; and after they had been reviewed, h« tíien divided them into two parts. In one division he placed his swift and energetic youths^ and his nimble and athletic men, and his shooting parties, with their hÍ£^.so>^<^ii?g7 straight- shooting guns, with their strong, smooth-surfaced haws, and with their bloody, venomous javelins, and other missile weapons. Over these soldiers he appointed a fight- directing leader, and a battle«8ustaining champion, with command to press, urge and close them to the battle, and to hew down and wound after them, when they shonld have their missile weapons ready. In the second division he placed his nobles, chiefs, and veteran soldiers, with strong keen-edged swords, with polished thin- edged b«t4le-axes, and with large-headed lances, to maintain the fight and battle. He then converted his cavalry ii^o pedestrians among his infantry, in consequence of the difficulty of the way that lay before them. When O'DonneU had thus arranged his people, he commanded his shooting party to advance before the other division, to meet and engage the foreign army 267 before they should pass the diiiicait part of the mountain, and he told them that he himself and the other divisiou would eome is contact with them at a place wiiere he was sure of vanquishing them, for he knew that they could be more easily defeated in the end, should they be first wounded by his first division. O'Donnell had kept wat>^^^ ?W5S^p?^7liBff'- 270 Son, I am no Queen ! that man is above me ! Who gave him command to come here so soon ? I did send him on other business.' She bid me go home. I did not stay to be bidden twice. If all the Irish Rebels had been at my heels, '' I should not have made better speed." " In this year," say the native writers, " the province of Ulster was a still pool, a gentle spring, and a reposing wave, without the fear of battle or incursion, injury or attack, from any other part of Erin ; while every other territory was in awe of the men^ of Ulster." O'Neill, in the year 1600, made a hosting to the south of Ireland, " to confirm his friendship with his allies in the war, and to wreak his vengeance on his enemies." Despite the Earls of Ormonde and Kildare. and Lord Barry, he con- tinued his royal progress, and " did not injure or waste any in these territories through which he passed, excepting those whom he found always opposed to him in inveterate enmity.^ It was during this expedition that the confederacy of the Northern Chieftains received the first blow, by the death of Hugh Maguire, the valiant prince of Fermanagh : — *HuGH Maguire and the Confederates before Kinsale. " O'Neill proceeded southward, across the river Lee, and pitched his camp between the rivers Lee and Bandon, on the confines of Muskerry and Carbery. To this camp all the Mac Carthys, both southern and northern, came into the house of O'Neill in this camp. Thither repaired two who were at strife with each other concerning the Lordship of Desmond, namely, the son of Mac Carthy Beaghy and Mac Carthy Mor. Thither repaired the s^ of the Chiefs of Alio. Thither repaired the O'Donohoes, O'Donovans, and O'Mahonys, and the greater number of the English and Gaels of the two provinces of Munster, except those in the great towns, to sub- mit and pay their homage to O'Neill ; and such of them as were not able to come to him sent him tokens of submission • John F. Maguire nobly sustains the character of the illustrious name. S7l and presents, except Barry, before mentioned, and the Lord of Muskerry, and 0*Sullivan of Beare. O'Neill obtained eighteen hostages of the Chieftains of Munster at that camp ; and he remained ^wenty days examining the disputes and covenants of the men of Munster, and reconciling them to each other in their contentions. Hugh Maguire was along with O'Neill at this time. One day in the month of March of this year, a short time before the festival of Saint Patrick, he sent out a troop of cavalry^ and another of infantry, to scour the districts in the neighbourhood of the camp ; and he did not halt till he arrived at the gates of Kinsale, and from thence he went to Btnoorran, the castle of Barry óg^ in Kinelea. He afterwards returned back with preys and spoils, with a great deal of accoutrements and flesh meat. As Maguire's people were fatigued at the end of the day, after a long journey, on account of the vastness of their plunders and spoils, they halted and encamped at the nearest convenient place, to protect their preys and spoils ; but Maguire set out, resolved to make no stay or delay until he should arrive at O'Neill's camp. When Maguire had left the camp in the morning of that day, a message was sent to Cork, to Sir Warham St. Leger, Deputy of the Governor of the two prov'inces of Munster, acquainting him that Maguire had gone forth from the camp with a small force, as indeed he had, and mentioning the direction in which he had passed. Sir Warhara did not neglect this thing, but immediately assembled a body of vigorous, well-armed, mail- clad horsemen, and marched with them from Cork to a narrow defile, by which he was sure Maguire would pass on his return back. He had not been long in this ambush when he saw Maguire coming on with a small party of cavalry ; and after perceiving each other, the person who had arrived thither did not retreat back, or exhibit a desire to shun, or an inclination to fly ; but, rousing up his courage, as was his wont, he ad- "^.r -. ;• ^i^^^-i".'..- .-.s»*. , '-.'■•- .■*.■■'-»- .'''-*^-' '^!v-^ít.f^'** .TiS •^•7F>=^r^í5^=^*^■H>'^■ 272 vanced forwards to kill his enemies^ as he did on this occasion, for he and Sir Warham attacked each other fiercely and i^ngrily, boldly and resolutely, and mutually wounded each other severely. But, however, Sir Warham wae immediately slain by Maguire, and five of the horsemen who were along with Sir Warham were also slain by Maguire ; but he was himself so deeply and severely wounded in that conflict, that he was not able to contend with an overwhelming force on that occasion, so that he passed through them without waiting for further contest ; but he had not passed far from the scene of battle when he was overtaken by the langour of death, so that he was obliged to alight from his horse, and expired immedi- ately after. The death of Maguire caused a giddiness of spirits, and depression of mind in (yNeill and the Chiefs of the Gaels in general ; and this was no wonder, for he was the bulwark of valour and prowess, the shield of protection and shelter, the tower of support and defence, and the pillar of the hospitality and achievements of the men of Oriel, and t)f almost all the Gaels of his time." " New commanders were now despatched from England : Charles Blount, Lord Deputy -, Sir George Carew, President of Munster; and Sir Henry Docwra was appointed Commander- in-Chief of the troops destined for service in the north. Although lavishly supplied with men, money, and munition, these cautious leaders determined, instead of venturing, like their predecessors, into " the gap of danger," to reduce the confederate clans by tortuous chicane and stratagem. Shortly after their arrival, we find a Queen's O'Reilly, a Queen's O'Donnell, a Queen's Maguire, a Queen's O'Neill, and a Queen's Earl of Desmond, set up in opposition to the hostile Chieftains. By the intrigues of Sir George Carew, dissensions were sown among the national party in Munster. With the aid of the Anglo-Norman Peers of the south, and by alternate é.L^J£í\k,atl..h.. -/.':.. '■ í--'™íf!^!vw?r ' 27S bribery, delusive promises, and treachery, the confederacy there was broken up, and the whole province devastated Considerable progress had also been made in promoting dis- union in Ulster, when news reached the Northern Chiefs that certain Spanish ships of war, having cast anchor in the harbour of Kinsale, had taken possession of that town, and were beleagured there by the Queen's troops, two-thirds of whom were Irish in the pay of England. O'Donnell, having disman- tled his stately castle at Donegal, that it might not become a stronghold for the enemy, collected his forces, and with O'Neill marched for Munster. Although the English consi- dered the roads impassable from the severity of the winter, the Chiefs, by almost superhuman exertions, arrived at Kinsale in a space of time which appeared incredible to their opponents. From the period of their first union, victory had hitherto uninterruptedly attended the Irish allies; their triumphant course was now destined to receive a check, from the incom- petency of Don Juan d'Aguila, whose conduct had before tarnished the renown of Spain. O'Neill, recollecting that the famous Duke of Parma had obliged King Henri of Navarre to raise the seiges of Paris and Eouen, and had also, despite all the arts of his enemy, avoided coming to a battle, resolved to cut ofi" the supplies of the Queen's army, and thus oblige them to abandon their position before Kinsale. In opposition to this design, the arrogant Spaniard prevailed on the other Chiefs to consent to make a descent with their jaded troops on the camp of the besiegers. Treachery was actively at work : the whole plan was revealed to the crafty Mountjoy, and the attack proved unsuccessful. The coming of the Spaniards to Kinsale was most injudicious. The Irish Chiefs, in their communications with King Philip, had stated that it would be impossible for them to penetrate into Munster, through a eountry every where beset with armed enemies. Scorning, however, to leave their ■: -' 'iiiThi- 274 ally in the power of their opponents^ on receiving intelligence of his arrival they had marched, iii the depth of the winter, throagh the entire length of the island, to carry aid to a hand- ful of Spanish troops, under the command of a general of whose fidelity there is every reason to entertain suspicions. This expedition was nearly fatal to their cause, as it drew them from defending their own principalities, and by dispelling the prestige of "Victory which had hitherto attended their arms, drove many of their adherents mto the ranks of the enemy. The great strength of the Queen's Irish army lay in the number of natives who served under her banners. After the battle of the " Yellow Ford," the remnant of the British forces had been saved by the courage of the " Queen's O'Reilly," and the principal service was done at Kinsale by native troops in the English pay. Still the two northern clans held out against all, in defence of their lands and ancient institutions ; and although the Queen possessed an army which in numbers, as described by Spenser, was " able to tread down all that stood before them on foot, and lay on the ground all the stiff-necked people of that land," the expences of the war continued to drain Elizabeth's treasury. Seeing that their enemies were daily receiving arms and money from England, the Chiefs, after the affair at Kinsale, resolved that Red Hugh O'Donnell should repair to Spain, to seek aid from King Philip, who owed Elizabeth a heavy retribution for having countenanced the Dutch, whose claims to liberty of conscience were styled rebellion by the Spaniards, in the same spirit as the desire of the Irish to protect themselves from legalized slaughter and op- pression had been pronounced treason bj certain English officials and their partizans : — " Celtic Records." — Hodges & Smith. " Having come to this resolution, the persons he selected to accompany him on this journey were, — Redmond Burke, the son of John; Captain Hugh Mostyn, son of Robert; and ^m 275 riaithri,* the son of Fithil O'Mulconry, a choseu father of the Franciscan order, who was his confessor; with others of his own faithful people besides them. When this resolution was heard by all in general, it was pitiful and mournful to hear the loud clapping of hands, the intense tearful moaning, and the loud-waiUng lamentation, that prevailed throughout O'Don- uell's camp at that time. They had reason for this, if they knew it at the time, for never afterwards did they behold, as ruler over them, him who was then their leader and earthly prince in the Island of Erin. On the sixth day of the month of January, O'Donnell, with his heroes, took shipping at Castlehaven ; and, the breath of the first wind that rose waft- ing them over the boisterous ocean, they landed, on the four- teenth of the same month, in the harbour near Corunna, a celebrated city in the kingdom of Gallicia in Spain. And it was here stood the tower of Breo^an, usually called Braganza, which had been erected in ancient times by Breogan^ the son of Bratha, and from which the sons of Milesius, of Spain, the son of Biíé, son of Breogan, had set out in their first in- vasion of Erin against the Banaans. When O'Donnell landed at Corunna, he walked through the town, and went to view Breogan' é tower. He was rejoiced to have landed at that place, for he deemed it to be an omen of good success that he had arrived at the place from whence his ancestor had formerly ob- tained power and sway over Erin. After having rested himself for a short time at Corunna, he proceeded to the place where the King was, in the province of Castile, for it was there he happened to be at this time, after making a visitation of his kingdom, in the city which is called Samora. And as soon as O'Donnell arrived in the presence of the King, he knelt down before him ; and he made submission and obeisance unto him as was due to his dignity, and did not consent to rise until the King promised to grant him his three requests. The first of • Archbishop of Tuam. k.: ■A7=f®r^ 276 these was, to send an army with him to Erin, with suitable engines and nece8sary arms, whatever time they should be pre- pared. The second, that, should the King's Majesty obtain power and sway over Erin, he would never place any of the nobles of his blood in power or authority over him or his suc- cessors ; the third request was, not to lessen nor diminish on himself or successors for ever, the right of his ancestors in any place where his ancestors had power and sway before that time in Erin. All these were pjomised to him to be complied with by the King ; and he received respect from him ; and it is not pro. bable that any Gael ever received in latter times so great an honor from any other King. When O'Donnell had thus finished his business with the King, he was desired by the King to return back to Corunna, and remain there until every thing should be in readiness for his return to Erin. This he did ; and he remained there until the month of August following. It was anguish of heart and sickness of mind to CDonnell that the Gaels should remain so long without being aided or relieved by him ; and, deeming it too long that the army which had been promised had been without coming together to one place, he proposed to go again before the King, to know what it was that caused the retarding or delay in the raising of the army which he had promised ; and when he arrived at the town which is called Simancas, two leagues from ^alladolid, the King's court, God permitted, and the misfortune, ill-fate, wretchedness, and curse attending the Island of Eremhon, and the Gaels of fair Banba in general, would have it, that O'Donnell should take the disease of his death and the sick- ness of his dissolution ; and, after lying seventeen days on the bed, he died, on the tenth of September, in the house which the King of Spain himself had at that town (Simancas), after lamenting his crimes and transgressions, after a rigid pe- nance for his sins and iniquities, after making hi» confession without reserve to his confessors, and receiving the body and r-w ^ ^.1 ^ . . . . >.^-k ■.,-■ ■■-, ..--^-^■v.'.^.;ij-^.c^s^j^^;,,..^úA^-^j:fa- 277 blood of Christ, and after being dulj anointed by the hands of his own confessors and ecclesiastical attendants — Father Fhithri O'Mulconry,* (then confessor and spiritual adviser to O'Donnell, and afterwards Archbishop of Tuam on that ac- count), and Father Maurice Ultack (Donlevy), the son of Donogh, a poor friar of the order of St. Francis, from the convent of the monastery of the town of Donegal, which was one of (yDonnelPs fortresses. His body was conveyed to the King's palace at Valladolid, in a four-wheeled hearse, sur- rounded by countless numbers of the King's state officers, council, and guards, with luminous torches and bright flam- beaux of beautiful wax-light burning on each side of him. He was afterwards interred in the monastery of St. Francis, in the Chapter, precisely, with veneration and honor, and in the most solemn manner that any of the Graels had been ever interred in before. Masses, and many hymns, chaunts, and melodious canticles, were celebrated for the welfare of his soul ; and his requiem was sung with becoming solemnity. Alas ! the early eclipse of him who died here was mournful t( * This was Florence Conry who was admitted to be one of the most learned divines of his time. At his solicitation, Philip III. established the College of St. Antony of Padua, in Louvain, the first stone of which was laid, in 1617, by Albert and Isabella. In this college many of the most profound Irish scholars of the seventeenth century sojourned. Among them were John Colgan,* editor of the "Trias Thaumaturga," and of the '* Acta Sanctorum Hibemise ;" Hugh Ward,* author of the " Acta Sancti Rumoldi ;*' Patrick Fleming* editor of the " Collectfuiea Sacra ;" and Michael O'Clery* as mentioned at page 5. Conry's tomb is still to be seen at Louvain. Among his various works, he published, in 1626, one entitled Scathan an Chrabhuidh, or, the *' Mirror of Repentance," for the use of his countrymen. Several distinguished natives of Ireland lie buried in the College of St. Antony of Padua; among them may bje mentioned, Dominic Lynch Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment of Lally, and Boia, or Rose 0'Dochartyi> daughter of the Prince of Inis Owen, and wife of the famous General Owen Roe O'Neill.— Ce/«c «ecord*. f • These were Clergymen. 278 to many; for he was the head of the conference and coausel/ of advice and consultation, of the greater number of the Gaels, as well in*peace as in war. He was a mighty and bounteous lord, with the authority of a prince to enforce the law ; a lion in strength aud force, with determination and force of charac- ter in deed and word, so that he durst not at all be disobeyed, for whatever he ordered to be done should be immediately ex- ecuted, accordingly as he directed by his words ; a dove in meekness and gentleness towards the religious orders, the clergy, and the literati, and towards every one who had not incurred his displeasure, and who submitted to his authority ; a man who had impressed the dread and terror of himself upon all persons, far and near, and whom no man could terrify ; a lord, the expeller of rebels, the destroyer of robbers, the exalter of the sons of life, the executioner of the sons of death ; a man who never suffered any injury or injustice, con- tempt or insult, offered him, to remain unreveuged or unatoned for, but took vengeance without delay ; a determined, fierce, and bold invader of districts; a warlike, predatory, aud pug- nacious plunderer of distant territories ; the vehement, vigorous, stem, and irresistible destroyer of his foreign and Gaelic op- posers ; one who never in his life neglected to do whatever was desirable for a prince; a sweet-sounding trumpet ; endowed with the gift of eloquence and address, of sense and counsel, and with the look of amiability in his countenance, which captivated every one who beheld him ; a promised and pro- phesied one, who had been truly predicted by prophets a long time before his birth, and particularly by the holy patron, Cohtmb Ciile, the son of Felim, who said of him : " A noble, pure, exalted man shall come, ~ Who shall cause mournful weeping in every territory. He will be the pious Donn, And will be ten years King," ' Sui- ;",.'. 279 ^ " Pitiable, indeed, was the state of the Gaels of Eriu after the death of O'Doniiell, for their characteristics and disposi- tions were changed; for they exchanged their bravery for cowardice, their magnanimity for weakness, their pride for servility ; their success, valour, prowess, heroism, exultation, and military glory, vanished after his death. They despaired of relief, so that the most of them were obliged to seek aid and refuge from enemies and strangers, while others were scattered and dispersed, not only throughout Erin, but through^ out foreign countries, as poor, indigent, helpless paupers; and others were offering themselves for hire as soldiers to fo- reigners ; so that countless numbers of the free-born nobles of Erin were slain in distant foreign countries, and were buried in strange places and unhereditary churches, in consequence uf the death of this one man who departed from them. In a word, it would be tedious and impossible to enumerate or de- scribe the great evils which sprang and took permanent root at that time in Erin from the death of Bed Hugh O'Dounell." * ■ «-■..♦ ;. -,ty -■■;:■,:,■,; ■ *■: "> * " As for O'Neill and the Gaels who remained in Eriu after the defeat at Kinsale, what Red Hugh O'Donnell had instruct- ed and commanded them to do, before he departed for Spain^ was, to exert their bravery in defending their patrimony against the English until he should return with forces to their relief, and to remain in the camp in which they then were, because their loss was small, although they had been routed. He had observed to them, also, that it would not be easy for them to return safe to their country, if that were their wish, because their enemies and adversaries would pursue and attack them ; and those who had been affectionate and kind towards them, on their coming to Munster, would be spiteful and malicious towards them on their return to their territories, and that they would attack and plunder them, and scoff at and mock them. ■■■v/;-;-^-,s íí''i;?Tí-5™'-5!^ : ' "V. -^^ ' -y^'i^ie^^-^^ ■ i'^." ' ' ' 280 The Chiefs of the Gaels did not, however, take his advice^ and did not attend to his request, because he himself was not among them ; but they resolved on returning to their territory. They afterwards set out in separate hosts, without ceding the leadership to any one lord ; but each lord and chieftain apart with his own friends and faithful people following him. Alas, how different were the spirit, courage, energy, hauteur, threatening, and defiance of the Gaels, on their return back at this time, from those they had when they first set out on this expedition. The surmises of the Prince 0*l)onnell, and every- thing which he predicted, were verified ; for, not only did their constant enemies rise up before and after them to give them battle, but their former friends, confederates, and allies rose up, and were attacking and shooting them on every narrow road through which they passed. It was not easy for the chiefs and gentlemen, for the soldiers and warriors, to protect and defend their people, on account of the length of the way that lay before them, the number of their enemies, and the severity and inclemency of the boisterous winter season, for it was then the end of winter precisely. Howbeit, they reached their ter- ritories after great dangers, without any remarkable loss ; and each lord of a territory began to defend his patrimony as well as well as he was able. Roderic O'Donnell,* the son of Hugh, son of Manus, was he to whom 0*Donnell bad, on the night before his departure, left the government of his people and lands, and everything which was hereditary to him, until he should return back again ; and he commanded O'Neill and fioderic to be friendly to each other, as themselves both had been. They promised him this thing. The tribe of Conall then thronged around the representative of their Prince, though most of them deemed the separation from their former hero and leader as the separation of soul from body. O'Donnell's son, Eloderic, proceeded to lead his people with resoluteness and • He was the brother of " Red Hugh,'" who died in Spain, aged 36 years. - ■•.-..^.'k .- • ^ .... I --..^ . i*>s. \i^;ii^^W!r{^'W^--^^I^W'* 281 constant bravery through every diificuU and intricate passage, and through every danger and peril which they had to encounter since they left Kinsale until they arrived, in the very beginning of spring, in Lower Connacht, where the cows, farmers, pro- perty and cattle of the tribe of Conall were dispersed throughout the country, in Corran, in Leyney, and in Tireragh of the Moy. God was the herdsman and shepherd who had come to them thither ; for although 0*Donnell, at his departure, had left his people much of the cattle of the neighbouring territories, Roderic did not suffer them to be forcibly recovered from him by any territory from which they had been taken ; for he distributed and stationed his soldiers and warriors upon the gaps of danger and the undefended passes of the country, so that none would attempt to come through them, to plunder or persecute any of his people^ The CSullivan Bere. " Donall O'SuUivan, Prince of Bantry, had delivered his cas- tle on the island of Dunboy to the Spaniards, in 1601 ; and finding, that after the battle of Kinsale they had stipulated to deliver it to his enemies, he expelled the foreigners, and placed an Irish garrrison of about one hundred and forty men in his insulated stronghold, who, for three weeks, maintained the castle against the entire land and sea force of England. And when the building crumbled before the perpetual discharge of the English ordnance, the intrepid garrison retreated to the dungeons, contesting every inch of ground, and death alone prevented them from burying themselves and their enemies in the ruins, by the ignition of the powder magazine. " So ob- stinate and resolved a defence,'* says Sir George Carew, " hath not been seen within this kingdom." O'Sullivan, after the ruin of his castle, " went with his cows, herds, and people, and all his moveables, behind his rugged-topped hills, into the wilds and recesses of his country." After nine days' incessant march, in the depth of winter, through mountainous districts scarcely passable even in the present day, he arrived on the brink of the Shannon. *' Daring this period, he was not a day or a night without a battle, or being vehemently and vindictively pursued, all which he sustained and responded to with manliness and vigor. Not finding cots or boats in readiness, they killed their horses, in order to eat and carry with tbem their flesh, and to place their hides on frames of pliant and elastic osiers, to make currachs for conveying themselves acrose the green- streamed Shannon, which they crossed at the ford of the Red Wood." Hence he cut his way, opposed at every step by enemies, to Connacht, the number of the party having been diminished from one thousand to thirty-five. " It is scarcely credible," say the Annals, " that the like number of forces, fatigued from long marching, and coming into the very centre of their enemie^, ever before achieved such a victory in defence of life and renown, as they achieved on that occasion." Donall O'SuUivan, then in his seventieth* year, was accompanied by his wife, on this daring expedition ; and after having thus traversed the entire length of the kingdom, they sailed for Spain; " making choice,*' as the Chieftain himself wrote to the Conde de Caracena, " rather to forsake his ancient inheritance, friends, followers and goods, than to trust to the most graceless pardon or promise of his merciless enemies." ! ' 0*Neill and a few of his faithlal allies, at bay in the fast- uessess of the north, still bravely maintained their independence. The English commanders, aided by their Irish allies, formed a junction, and hemmed in the desperate northerns. The means destined by Providence for the preservation of mankind were now converted into the most destructive weapons. " It seemed incredible," says the secretary of the merciless Mountjoy, ** that by so barbarous inhabitants the ground should be so manured, the fields so orderly fenced, the towns so frequently inhabited, and the highways and paths so well beaten, as the Lord Deputy * This is wrong ; he was only spending his 57th year, when he was assassinated at Madrid, by Hath. See note farther on — at Stanza 104. -^■•-""'■'-^«áiifiíaht fc- ---■:-■■>— '■—'■- -•■"i'-' 283 found them. Our captains, and by their example (for it was otherwise painful) the common soldiers, did cut down with their :? swords all the rebels* corn, to the value of ten thousand pound and upwards, the only means by which they were to live, and . to keep their Bonaghts or hired soldiers/' The entire fruits of ^ the earth were thus destroyed ; and the result was a famine, nearly equal in scenes of horror to the terrible dearth which Í devastated France in the eleventh century. The coinage was ; debased, and no means left untried to reduce the country into a desert. — "Celtic "Records." — Hodges & Smith. Four years after the departure of Don Martin de la Cerda — '' Cuconnacht Magnire and Donogh, the son of Mahon, sou of the Bishop O'Brien, brought a ship with them to Erin, and put in at the harbour of Swilly. They took with them from Erin the Earl Hugh O'Neill, and the Earl Roderic O'Donnell, with a great number of the chieftains of the province of Ulster. These were they who went with O'Neill, namely, the Countess Catherina, the daughter of Magennis, and her three sons, Hugh the Baron, Shane, and Brian ; young Art, the son of Cormac, son of the Baron ; Ferdorcha, son of Conn, son of ; O'Neill ; young Hugh, the son of Brian, son of Art O'Neill ; and many others of his faithful friends. These were they who ■ ' went with the Earl O'Donnell: Caifar (Cathbar), his brother, and his sister Nnala ; Hugh, the Earl's son,* wanting three weeks of being one year old ; B«ose, the daughter of O'Docharty, and wife of Caffar, with her son Hugh, aged two years and three months ; the son of his brother, young Donnell, the son of Donnell; Naghtan, the son Calvagh, the son of Donogh Cairbreach O'Donnell ; together with many others of his faith- ful friends. They entered the ship on the festival of the Holy Cross, in autumn. This was a distinguished crew for one ship ; for it is indeed certain that the sea had not supported, and the winds had not -wafted from Erin, in modern times, a * That is, of Red Hugh. JSi&ícÉÍ&úth ■■.:;.:■%■- ^•:. 284 r ■ -'.iv- party of one ship who would have been more illustnoas or noble, in point of genealogy, or more renowned for deeds», valour, prowess, or high achievements, than they, if Ood had permitted them to remain in their patrimonies until their chil- dren should have reached the age of manhood. Woe to the heart that meditated, woe to the mind that conceived, woe to the council that decided on, the project of their setting out on this voyage, without knowing whether they should ever return to their native principalities or patrimonies to the end of the i'. world/* . i "The causes which led to this event are wrapped in mystery. Whether the Earls were engaged in forming projects for the re-establishment of their ancient power — whether they had learned the dark designs of the State against them — or whether, as most probable, both of these causes actuated them to quit their native land, still remains undecided. " As for us that are here," wrote the Attorney-General of King James, "we ^} are glad to see the day wherein the countenance and majestic I' of the law and civil government hath banisht Tirone out of ^r Ireland, which the best army in Europe, and the expense of |ii^; two millions of sterling pounds, did not bring to pass." In A.D. 1608. *'^6 succeeding year, the death of Sir Cahir O'Docharty, * Prince of Innishowen, driven to take up arms by the savage conduct of the Governor of Derrv, removed the last obstacle to the cherished project of the English " Plantation." " It was, indeed, from his death, and from the departure of the Earls we have mentioned, it came to pass that their principalities, their territories, their estates, their lands, their forts, their fortresses, their fruitful harbours, and their fishful bays, were P^^ . taken from the Gaels of the province of Ulster, and given in their presence to foreign tribes ; and they were expelled and banished into other countries, where most of them died." The last entry in the " Annals of the Four Masters" recordt ^■^ '■'- X the dertth of the Earl of Tir Owen, in 1616 — a fitting epilogaaEí(::;i for a history, many of whose brightest recollections are associ- ated with the names of the ffreat northern Princes :-?— " Cdtie, Records" ''''''''''' 4 XI - :/|t?-' - < . i ■-" 286 : Evny's country, was in Londonderry, between the Foyle attd theBann. He was maugorated " The O'Cane," 1598. He ardently supported The 0*Donnen, prince of T^rconnell, and The O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, in defence of country and religion. The O'Canes and Mac Donnells of Antrim gave formidable opposition to the Cromwellians— Carte's Ormond, vol. 13, part 3, 482. • . - .j . . > ... i.,t We are pained that a respected antiquarian, whom we respect much, could have polluted a work of his by the insertion of an infernal calumny against The O'Cane. He knew that the extract imputing a state of savage naked life to the chief and his daughters, was an English lie, concocted to extenuate their own murderous conduct towards Irish chieftains. And what makes the publication of the lie worse is, that the learned antiquarian did not shew in the very place, that it wore the face of calumny. It was done, we are sure, in the moment of thoughtlessness, for it could not have been printed to gain bigoted or English readers. Stelinger, in aletter to Henty Vlil., describes the robes of " The 0*Donnell" as gorgeous — that is, of the father of Hugh. He describes his magnificent bonnet, and says that his crimson mantle was most brilliant, and that he had on " them thirty pairs of golden aiglets." We ask, was it likely that The O'Cane, his neighbouring, federal chief, would not be comparatively grand in his wardrobe "^ Even the calumniator confessed that he had a rich cloak, and that he spoke Latin eloquently and purely. Falsehood, in any shape, is bad, but when retailed to cry " mad dog'* at us, we brandit. ""^'^-' :''"''.■'"' •-/•■•■'■■-•- -—-'j' ..— ^^-, ' The O'feotEKES, Lords of West Breffney, or Leitrim, with the Mao itanuall, ot ^Reynolds, supported the O'DonnelHn the dark days of Elizabeth, and resisted Cromwell. One of the latter, a chief of great powers of mind and body, like many others, was seduced for a time into the ranks of the enemy. ...'.1 - •,•.-•,-.■. ■-■'•>». >-r'.ii„;;'::^i«»i.'a,.»jv. -^|bij4 ■ est ./:;:V:'': :.;■•;:. Both clans were proscribed ; they were a terrible scoUrge to the English freebooters. Alderman John Reynolds of Esker House, Dublin, and Thomas Reynolds, Esq., City Marshal of Dublin, are lineal descendants of the plundered clan Ranall. They have just cause to hate England*s sway in this country. The Clan Ranali> of Minster Eolus in Leitrim» aided the O'Rourke to beat off the Governor, * Sir Richard Bingham, whose camp was at that time at Oong> in Mayo, in opposition to the O'Donnell of that place, and the Bourkes» The O'Rourke and MacRanall were successful on that occasion» ' The English Maguire is (hchunachl or Conor ^ son of the chivalrous Hugh, treacherously murdered within a mile of Cork by a gang of freebooters, who took him by surprise, as he left The O'Neill to go on some errand. However, he sold his life at a ^ear rate. He cut his way through hundreds, and after having gone a short distance from the murderers — ^he dismounted, died, which gave such a shock to the 0*^Neill that he returned to the north. Connor, his son> was for a timC) in his foolish boyish days, inveigled into the enemies' ranks, but when his judgment became matured he joined The O'Donnell, and re- mained true up to his execution, or murder, in London by the Parliamentarians. He was hanged, and before dead his bowels were ript out before his eyes, and burned. His body was then cut down and quartered ! 1 We have before us Sir William Temple's account of his trial and execution, and anything to surpass it in fiendish cruelty we have never read. He was tormented, goaded to coerce him to deny the Catholic faith, to betray the cause of his country, and that he would be pardoned. He braved every thiiig. His confessorwas in the crowd at his execution ; and from papers, containing prayers, found in bis hands, after death, we infer that his confessor so watched him as that, in the distance, he would give him absolution/' Irish Magviee is Bryan, who never joined the en«my; ha too was a chieftain of great piety and bravery, whom O'DouneU ■ ■^^yJMiilr'iriAtiiii^lM'liirii'-^Ti I- V '•ii'iT'^fri'i iff'- iff '• 'i mUSt " ''^^£^^Ú:^ím\^': ■i"*' S: 288 eateeined very highly. He was termed " Irish Maouibé:/' as he remained always with the Irish. The former was pitted against him by Saxon policy, which was to put chief agaiiwt chief, cousin against cousin, brother against brother — nay, son Englinh against father — that thus tliey might keep the country^ *'S\i5~& English Deputies acted the part of Dogfi-ghtera, vho draw, and oonquar." let mastiffs at each other. "What a pity that the Irish moiUfft did not conbine, turn upon, and tear the gamblers. At this very moment we are penning tliese lines the same scene is ;: being enacted ; Irishmen are being drawn and hunted at Irish- men. May truth and purity triumph — falsehood and corruption be exposed and laid in the dust. Wherever venality and insincerity can be detected, may they be unmasked, and their vassels exposed to rottenness and decay. i' The O'Kelly, a northern chieftain, is here evidently meant, as the poet has arranged the chieftains according to topographical order. Though O'Kelly of Hy Maine, in Gal- way, was in the ranks of the Irish at that time, yet he cannot be here alluded to, as other northern chiefs are mentioned in the same line. CyBoYLE, O'Gallagher, O'Dohebty, were auxiliary chiefs of the O'Donnell, and had territories in Tyrconnell. The CVDoherty (Sir Cahir), owned Inuishowen — between Swilly and Foyle, which, though called loughs or lakes, are inlets of the Atlantic. Though that district is termed " Innis,'' island, it is only a peninsula : hence can be seen, that places are de- nominated '' /»»m/' though not islands. The same mode of " naming peninsulas obtained in ancient Gaul. Innishowen got that appellation from Owen, son of " Niall of tb^ nine. Bos- tages. The O'Reilly* was lord of Cavan or East Breffiiey; he also was faithful to Ireland, and we trust that Anthony • Though tliere was a " Queen's O'Reilly," who did good service for England. :!«■■■ 'i ^" .■'■ -'■-..",-■.. ■ . " A. .'t^J'-'/'iTa^Ji-m/i-l i.>*- O'Reilly, Esq., the present representative of that house, will ; prove himself worthy of his high descent, and that he will come into the bosom of the hoary-headed church, that cotrld not err. However, we wish well to all true nationalists of ;^^ any religion, as we believe, that toleration, in the absence of the universal adoption of Catholicity, is the only path to , í 'freedom. V,- '-^ ''"■■-- r'-^ ':-:'' ''''^^^^^^ The MacMahon* of Orielagli — tlie Magennisses of the . * Mac Mahon, Mac Donnell, Caulfikld, Maouire, O'Kellt, O'Maddbk, O'Nelan, O'Hanlon, Mac Kknna, Mac Adam, Mac íj, '-j *'' Manvs, O'Brennan and O'Connor of Connaught, O'Connell of Li- ''v*'^ ' menck and Clare — Pedigrees of the abore families are as follows : — Eochaidh Domhlaia (Ayughee Dolaa) soa of Kiog Carberrj Liffeachair (A.D. 254) was the father of three Colias, whose posterity were Mac Vey, O'Crevia, Mac Dorney; the proper names of the Colias were Carroll, Murray, and Hugh ; their mother was Oilean (Ellen) daughter of the king of Scotland. These CoUas having been expelled Ireland, fled to Scotland where they remained for three years, thence they returned at the end of that . ' . ' C period, and the eldest, by his bravery, succeeded in placing the Irish crown on his own head. Hence he got the name Uais (noble or ambitious). He reigned from A.D. 312 to 316*. 1st. This king was the ancestor of the 1 / , Mac Donnell. 2nd. Colla, called " Da cArjocA," was progenitor of Maft s 1 Mahon of Oriel, (Monaghan, &c.) This name is in Irish " Mathghamhan," (this word is translated in Connaught Cauljield) ; also he was ancestor of . Maguire (Mac l)huidhir= 0'Z)tryer), O'Kelly, (Cealaigh) princes o^ 1 Maine in Connaught. O'Madden, Mac Egan, O'Nelan, O'Hanlon, Mac ' Kenna (Mac Anaigh), Mac Adam, Mac Manus. Colla Mean, the third Colla, had no issue. . ,^;, \, ^ ' » ^-a r ^, . ,. í^- Eochaidh (Aughee) Tireach was son of i^acha^h Straiththinne (so : ^ called from a place in Connaught where he was educated), who reigned A.D. 282. From Eochaidh came Moighmeadhin (O'Meeghan), a quo, king Bran, a quo O'Brennans or Mac Brannans of Connaught. To ' Moighmeadhan succeeded Criomthan (Mac Crohan or O^Crevip) of the race of Heber. He gave Leagh Mogha to Conall, a quo, the O'Connellt of Munster. Conall was named of the Leamneigh (Limerick), Criom' r / than was son of Eugene (Owen) Junior, son of Oilioll 011am. Conall was descended of Cormac Cas (a quo Dalcassians) the second who had V issue; his father was Lughadh Meann. From the line of Ir, came Feargus by Meadbh, who ruled ConRaoght, . ,i^liAs^íiaLÍsaÍ.: 290 ; County of Down are here meant. Thej were chieftains in theae» districts, and their arms terrible against English power. Theji;, formed a separate column of their own before Kinsale, where, were it not for the unfortunate fact, that all the columns undei^ the command of The O'Donnell, The O'Neill, The Tyrrell, and The Magennis, missed their way, owing to the darkness of the night, all Saxon proud ^esA would have been utterly anni-» • i.^ hilated. Niall GokEV O'Donnell was cousin to Hugh. He |i too was for a time seduced, and set up by the Lord Deputy in • Died in it opposition to the Prince of Tyrconnell ; however, he returnedt A.D. 1626. to his allegiance to Ireland and God. He* was confined in ., London Tower, as was MaoManus O'Donnell — líiall, Mannti |: ^ory, were usual names amongst the O'Donnell clan, so that i MacRory, MacManus, MacNiall, were only as if Christian |v names, or, as we say, prenomina to O'Donnell; it was sa f: with all other clans, viz: MacMahon, MacAongus, Mac- f, Sweeney, MacDonough, MacMurrough — denoted «wi* of Jf«- K. hon, of Aongus, of Sweeny, of Donottff/ij of Mufronghk I Hence O'Mahon, O'Donnell, O'Neill, O'Boyle, &c., Mnrrough f-; O'Brien, Murrough O'Flaherty, Aongus MacDonnell. In I fact these were universal names amongst the distinguished If . A.M. 3956. She had three sons at a birth by Fergaa» a great hero — their |v . ■ , names are — Ist. Ciar, a quo Kerry and O'Connor-Kerry, O'Moriartysi. I^v ' O'Brennans of Kerry. 2nd. Core, a quo, O'Connor-Corcomoe in Clare I;: , ; near Galway County, also O'Loghlen of Barren, O'Cahill of Clare, O'Casey, ^ ■ ' OTierney, Nestor, Marcham (Markey or Ryder), OTynne» OTTeoin p (Tinnius) Brock (O'Bric). 3rd. From Conmhac are O'Parrell of Upper pr Conmac in Longford, Mac Rannall, of Lower Conmac in Leitrim, also the Dorcey (Darcy), O'Shanley, O'Duan (Devin or Devine), O'Roan, O'Ro- nayne, Mac Tighe, O'Maning, O'Gilmore, &c. The pedigrees herein enumerated are given, because Doctor O'Connell mentions in hi^ poen» fe some of their offspring who figured prominently for creed and native land. ^i , ;: We could not, consistently with our subject, introduce names» not immedi- E:y V ately connected with the puem. lí - Ííl'- MilesiftQ families of Ireland — especially t%e rojal branphes of Connaught, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. ,^,:yUim& m^i^.-^aT The reader is referred to page 143 for the three Murchaa a^ Th? O'Murphys of Wexford, a county that has been re- markable for its pat^tism. It is a historic name. Charles G. DuSjf* the intrepid assertor of his country's rights, is one of its reprMentatives ; another is Thomas Devereux, Esq.,, (those of the name who became Protestants changed the sur- name, when they reueagued the creed, and took the cognomen, " Bolion*'), one of the most graierous oS Irish Catholics. Patrick M&cMahon, I^q., of the English bar, is a faithful representative of Wexford. He is a descendant of " Niall of the Nine Hostages,'* and in his veins circulate the mixed blood of the Oriel and Limerick tribes. His father's great grand*, father. Con MacMahon, of Limerick, commanded a body of cavalry at the Boyne, where he received a wound in the knee. He assisted Ssrsfield in blowing up William's artillery at the siege of limerick. His wife was Ellen MacMahon, niece of Sarsfield. -;(; t ■ :-:;:,.:.i' .:-;V/i"r^fv Vííní-í^;'^) ;viV :■■■,-•>. .,^:- T&e O'Connor-JDon, The (y ConnorSligo, and The &Cónnor- JBoe. — A remark we had intended to make elsewhere will be made here lest we might overlook it. We are surprised that Charles O'Connor, Esq., the distinguished antiquarian, of Belanagare, left unnoticed old families^ at least as ancient as his own in Connaught. We would not accuse so eminent a wri^ * O'Daffy of Leiaster deecended of Flachadh Baiceada, son of Cathaoir Mór kms of Leinsterf A.D. 122, whose eldest son, Rossa Failge, was the ancestor of the noble family of O'Connor Falie (O'Fally). From the latter sprung the famous families — O'Dunn, O'Dempsey, Lords of Clonmalier, CTBrennan, O'Regan in Leinster. Mac Colgan, Carberry, O'Mukhema, O'Barry of Leaghagh» O'Harty, and one of the lamilies of O'FUbub. From Daire Barrach» another son of Cathaoir Mor, came 0*Gorman, O'Moon^yj O'MnllÍA» («r O'MaloQe; and ^om another mu, . sprang O'FeadhaU (OTayle.) , ,,,, láftflM'■tf»lfi^#i^ar^l■1fl'■^^^lV■i■•fY^■rttf-^f^tf^ ^'^'«^■*^>^'^^^**^i=-*-*-'-'-VÍl^T^^^^ W'S^^. 292 I ter ot vanjty or cupidity, for we feel that historians, who are actuated merely by vanity, or sordid gain, are a curse to society. Through ambition, the one perverts truth, and money makes the other write against his convictions. Such creatures have ever done much injury to Ireland. ]n order to contribute to the pure river of knowledge, of which posterity could safely drink, the writer, when taking up his stylus, should place con- spicuously before his mind the motto— - f- << '' Fiat jtuticia, ruat calum," ' f»i At any risk let truth be told. ; . .. / We cannot recognise the foolish attempt that has been made to ignore some of the descendants of Brian, son of Eocha Muidhmhheadhain (Augha Meeivin), an elder brother of Niall *' of the nine hostages." From Duachghalach [Bkooghyollogh), the son of Brain, who, with his sons, reigned in Conuaught, when Patrick came to Ireland as an Apostle, are descended the O'Connor-Roe, the O'Connor-Donn* and the O'Connor-Sligo. Terlagh O'Connor, who died monarch of Ireland, 1 146, had five sons, viz. Cataldus de Carpo Rubro (of the red wrist). Tradition has it that he was born with a blood-red wrist, owing it is said to the prayers of the queen, who was jealous of his mother, the king's mistress, and, for a time, he fled to Leinster to escape her fury. He was ancestor of the O'Conchobhair- Ruadh and O'Couchobhair-Donn — O'Connor the Red, and O'Connor the Brown, so-called, we suppose, from the color of their ensigns, or battle flags, or it might have been from the color of their hair. It is a known fact, that in Connaught the children of one brother used to be distinguished from those of the other by the cognomen, red, black, fair, yellow, brown, Sfc. Such was the origin of some surnames, the chief ones having been first applied by Brian Boroivey. The second * We have heard old people interpret these words " Brown :" and " Boe," or Ruadh (which is the same) red ; — when young we never heard any other neaning for them, though " Don'' is a Spanish title. 293 ^ ,-■■; . son was Brian Laighneagh, ancestor of O'Conchobair of Sligo. After biin a place in Boscommon was ignorantlj called " Mount Lcinster/' It should be "Mount Leyney^^ as the Barony of Leyney — once the patrimony of the 0*Connor-Sligo — was called after the above king. Cromwell robbed the latter family of that inheritance ; but, by industry, it has since acquired honour and property. The third son was Aodh (Hugh) Dal (the blind), from whom are the O'Gallways, the Keoghs, Mac Keoghs, and Mac Hughs, or Hughes. The fourth son was Manus, from whom Mac Manus. The fifth son was Conchobhair na Midhe (O'Connor of Meath), from whom are the Conniffes, We have found it an invariable rule in the conversion of Irish names into English, that when a consonant was immediately followed by an aspirated letter, that the aspi- rated or dotted one became the same as the uuaspirated one. In other words, that the preceding one was doubled. Hence the two n in " O'Connor,'' which is, beyond dispute, the way to spell the name. The family tombstones in Kilkeevin church- yard, Castlerea, Co. Boscommon, will prove this fact. On that stone will be found O'Connor, not O'Conor. From what we have written it can be seen that all the O'Connors of Roscom- mon, as being of the same stock, are all related. We will not undertake to decide which branch is the O'Conor Donn. '' This family, historically considered, we are bound to say, exhibited at all times a vacillating spirit. In the days of Elizabeth they manifested a hesitancy to oppose her rule.* The glorious O'Donnell had more than once to coerce them into the ranks of the national Irish party. It was strange that so much property was left to them, whilst others were confiscated. It may be that they, like Virgil's Tityrus, were left in their snug corner, whilst all around them were plundered. It * It must be. however, admitted, that a religious ecmple, arising from an erroneous conscience respecting allegiance to a foreign and an heretical monarch, was the cause of such hesitfincy. Dermot, who was married to a, Geraldine, joined the national party. ii^tL^:,.^ :i:'-M*f^n ntH^.lM ^■f , • V- \.r^;_ ^'?S"f?pS«!P»?S?^t~' -J^^ jr may be that their bland manners and generosity^ for whicl» thej were conspicuous, as Bishop O'Connell writes, rendered tlieir persons and properties sacred in those days of spoliation» Our nature inclines u& to be partial to a family so thoroughly Catholic, and with which the O'Brennans were identified, and who possessed as largely as they, up to the time of James I. ;. but our motto is — i... , ..,../ ^' Tro9, Tyriusve mihi nullo discnmiiM agetur." ,',»'>• Trojaa or Tynan shall be treated with DO distinction. Ireland was first lost through the feminine amiability of the last monarch of this name. Had he treated Strongbow as an able warrior would have done, and disregarded all inter- cession, come whence it did — had he annihilated him when he had him confined within the City of Dublin — as the absolute necessity of the crisis demanded, via., to prevent the merciless annihilation of his own countrymen — he would not have had the mortification to see the Irish sceptre in the hand of «an usurper, and the erown oti the brow of a dranger, Alas ? his. ill-timed mercy to robbers was the cause of ruin and slaughter to the innocent Irish. Mercy to the criminal and ambitious has often turned out to be dire cruelty to the innocent. When* some urged on Roderick the expediency of mercy to the sinful spawn, had he addressed them in the following words of Cato,. he would have defended his own right and have saved the nation : — ** Hie mihi quispuam mansuetudinemetmisericordiam nominat ! Jam priden equidem nos vera rerum vocabula amisi- mus; quia, bona aliena largiri, liberalitas; malarum rerum audacia, fortitude vocatur : eb re?publica in extremo sita est.. Sint sane, quoniam ita se mores habent, liberales ex sociorum fortunis ; sint misericordes in furibus «rarii : ne illis sanguinem nostrum largiantur ; et dum paucis sceleratis parcunt, bonos omnes perditum eant.*' What a pity that a wiser head, though possessing a less tender heart, had not the Irish crown on his head at that eventful time. * Here again an erroneous conscience was a terriUe calamity to tiienatioB.: ■■Jsi!.. jpyi-wiffP^pwyi^ «5f%^íf»«?S;5^tf -TP- 205 If it graced the brov? of one of the glorious O'Connors, the offspring of /r, our poor old ooatitrj would now be our own. Nor would we have to shed tears over seven oenturies of mis-' iule, worse than Egy|»tian bondage and Mahomedan persecu- tions. The O'Connors, now living, are lin^illy decended from Sir Hugh O'Connor, of BallintubberOastle (once a great strong-» bold of the name, in B.oscomuion, of the early f)art of the last century), who had four sons, viz. : 1st. Calvach ; 2nd. Hugh Og (young), ancestor of Dominick O'Connor Donn, of Clonalis, and Alexander O'Connor Donn — his brother— who was never married, whose sister was married to Daniel Eccles, Esq., of Castlerea: the legal representative of Sir Hugh is Alexander O'Connor Eccles; 3rd. Charles O'Connor, of Belanagare, the historian. Upon the death, in 1820, of Sandy (Alexander) of Clonalis — grand uncle of O'Connor Eccles^ of Roscommon — Owen, of Belanagare, adopted the title, *' Don, " and, after his death, Denis assumed it ; but, in right of blood it belonged to the son of Eccles. Alexander, being an eccentric man, left Clonalis, by will, to the issue of the third son, and, if he left no issue, to the children of Bryan, fourth son of Sir Hugh. With that arrangement we have nothing to do as writers. It was about 1790 the Belanagare family, to serve some whim, first spelled the name " O'Conor." • The branches of that regal house, now living, are as follow : — the Minor O'Connor Don, whose father was a most accomplished character, of courtly address, cultivated mind, and refined taste. He was M. P., for Roscommon, and Lord of the Treasury. He had great weight in the House of Com- mons, because of his high royal origin as well as on account of his prudence. Denis O'Connor, Esq., D.L., Mount Druid ; Roderick O'Connor, Esq., J.P., Miltown, Tulsk; Patrick O'Connor, Esq., J, P. Dundermod, Ex High Sheriff; and * Arthur O'Connor, Esq., J.P., Elphin; also Roderick O'Connor, " He is married to Miss Moore, of Moore Hall, Mayo, and would, we are sure, make an excellent Member for Roscommon. . *:íJT^.7?'7*!^.^?^^5m|2^3í?f7^^ 296 Esq., J.P., Clareview, County of Galway (who is brother of the above Patrick), are the living representatives of theEoscom- mon O'Connors. The late John O'Connor of Balliulough and his son Thomas, also Alexander and Patrick of Taam, were of the same family. There is, we think, a branch of the family in Willsbrook, near Castlerea, to the south, whose ancestor was Denis, grandson of Colonel Eoderick O'Connor, son of Bryan and of Miss O'Connor Roe of Castleruby. To complete the note we will say, that the heir-at-law is The Bon, but every member of that family is a Bon^ just as all the members of the Mac Dermott Boe family and the O'Connor Roe are designated Roe. The term The Don, simply implies at present, the heir of the Clonalis estate. In a former edition we gave it as our opinion* that the term ** Don"'\ was not a Spanish title, but the perusal of the Annals of the Four Mas- ters, edited by Dr. O' Donovan, has inclined us to change that opinion, and it affords us pleasure to have it in our power to do so. Historical evidence must ever have weight with an impartial author. As we would be the very last person to offer an intended wrong, so we would be among ttie first to make reparation The following passage from the above learned work goes to shew that there was such a title as '' Don," and, no doubt, it was introduced here by the Spaniards — C]CFA íeATt Aij ét;5A, A.\\a>, . ■■< ■-*> "Oo bétiA 50I ii)Aincc (_5) 11J 5AC CÍTI, . ; ji ; 1)U6 é ri!> A») t^on &TA6A, 1r bjAb T TT).bl|A6l) A1) A t^IS. ;:- (There) will come a man, noble, exalted. He will bring mournfol weeping into each country. He will be the Godly Don, . ' .v And will be ten years in a king (a king). ^ - Such was a prophecy regarding Red Hugh O'Donnell, and the language attests the fact, that there was such a title as • We mean as regards this family. + We would be glad to inform the reader when, and how the title " Don" was conferred on the family of O'Connor, but we could not learn. . <■ ■■^i/^r-^.iií'^s^^^^_^^vp!^'^o^^vt':'í^ Í"ÍCV?«?^/ •' ÍW- 297 "Bon." However, the O'Connors of Cloualis have a higher claim ; for royal blood circaiates in the veins of the heir, and if tlie present Emperor of the French was, a few jears ago only, such a man as not to be recognized in the Court of England, which now owns his superior sway, we know not what is in the womb of time for the O'Connor Don. As for ourselves we would take, if we had the power of making a selection, any native Irishman as ruler before a foreigner. That revolu- tions are lawful, and not inconsistent with religion, is attested by the very fact, that a member of the house of Brunswick is on the British throne, which belonged to the Stuarts, and a Napoleon wears the crown of France, which was hereditary in the house of the Bourbons. These are facts. * .-■. ^ . . .■■■■■;■'. I.. ■- > * STANZA. LXXXVI. Í. .■-'... ' ■'■'■■ ' • ' O'Connors noted for integrity. — In our former edition we left the reader under the impression that the illustrious Teige O'Connor Kerry alone was alluded to in this line ; nor was that a matter of surprise, as so many of the royal name throughout Ireland took up arms, sacrificed liberty, life, and property in defence of this old green isle. To be able to distinguish any particular chieftain in the bloody strife of the "fifteen years war," from 1578 to 16 OS, one would require to read closely the Four Masters, O'SuUivan Beare's Catholic History, and other such works ; and the duty is interesting — though painful. We feel it due to some of the 0'G)onuors to give the annexed short notice, as we did an unintentional injustice to the O'Con- nor Roe family, which we now hereby repair ; but there is such a confusion of names in Irish records that a writer can scarcely avoid mistaking one chief for another. As our poet did not specify who was the O'Connor he had in view as being execu- ted for his country, we were induced to infer, from the fact of himself being bishop of Kerry, that he alluded only to the ' -■^-'.«at- "v| H.'ii ni|>rM 298 O'Connor Kerry, who was basely put to death in the days ot Cromwell, However, we find at A.D. 1592, Annal$ Four Masters, that T^ige Óg O'Connor Boe, whose family was á branch of the royal O'Connors of Connaught, though an aged feeble, blind old chieftain, was hanged at the sessions of Bos- common, becanse his sons were up in insurrection against England. The British policy was so dexterously played in Ireland that some of the best intentioned men were seduced from their all^iance to national feelings, though not from their religion^ and, under the influence of an erroneous conscience, gave their occasional adhesion to the enemy. One time the O'Con» nor Don was with England and another time against her. It was so with many other Irish princes ; what a pity that they should, for a moment,forget their high and illustrious royal origin. How much wiser would it have been to yield to the power of one native king, who would be of their own blood and faith, than to yield to a foreign heretic, whose faith was a falsehood and whose throne was a robbery, as far as this country was concerned .. I . ' > ■■- In 1595 The MacDonogh of Tierrell and Corran, The MacDermott of Moylurgh, in Roscommon, The O'Conor-Sligo and nearly all the Connaught native chiefs were up under O'Donneli j but Charles O'Connor, Esq., the eminent historian of Belanagare, says the O'Connors of Boscommon were then loyal to the English throne. See O'Donovan^s Annals Four Masters, page 1973. How transient is the condition of human affairs! O'Connor Sligo, during five years after this event, joined the English, visited Elizabeth, and fought against his country, whilst Dermott O'Connor-Don supported thenationid cause under The O'Donnell. This Dermot had charge of a body of Irish soldiers under the great Earl of Desmond. We should have earlier remarked, that the Earl (Hugh) of Tyrone, L^WPT' ■i^'*--'-; T^f^"^- • m believed himself the king of Ulster, as lie got a plume of feathers from the Pope. Tyrone was himself for a time with the English, until he was brought to a sense of his duty bj *Hugh Maguire (The Maguire), Prince of Terajanagh. ThB 0'Ck}NN0B^KBRB¥, í ^^ ' ' • Besides the CyCounars of the royal t^eremoiiiaQ line, who, as stated above, were mercilessly struck down by Cromwell, another family, of the same name, but of a diffe- rent race, suffered a like fate ; and, with the entire confisca- tion of their possessions, lost, also, two of their chiefs by the gallows^ at the close of this war. These were the O'Connors of Kerry, of the ro^ line of Ir. Their martyred chiefs were John O'Connor, of Carrigafoile Castle, and Teige O'Connor, of Aghalahanna, Lord of Tarbert, both in Iraght- i-Connor (O'Connor's inheritance or principality), the most northern barony in Kerry county. The fate of the latter chieftain is described in stanza cviii. of the poem; (hat of the former, which is unaccountably pretermitted by our author, is thus pithily detailed in father Morrison's "Threnodia," a work of unquestionable authority. ''The illustrious John O'Connor-Kerry, Lord of Kerry and Iraght, on account of his adhesion to the Catholic party, and his efforts to draw to it, not only his personal followers, but all with whom he had friendship, was, after having beeu by slantagem seized upon by the Protestants, brought to Tralee, in that county, and there half hanged and then beheaded^ A.D. 165Sr ' To neither of t^ese remarkable executions dees Smyth, who wrote a hundred years ago, make the idightest allusion in his so-called " History of Kerry," nor in his statemeist of their forfeitures does he mention even the names of the 0*Connors. Perhaps he did not deem it prudent to remind álares of their rights in the midst of their oppression. Their estates were bestowed on Trinity College hj the ungrateM Charles II. ; * He was treacheroasly murdered before Kinsale. ■■■■■\l ■ • :-\ 300 and the learned Corporation, thus enriched, possesses, (in- cluding other grants), at least one hundred thousand acres of good profitable land in Kerry alone. " The largest gift of lands," says Smyth, p. 64, " under the said act (* Act of Set- tlement') was that, made to the Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, who, by the letters patent of King Charles II., dated November 10th, 1666, had a very large estate set- tled on the said University for ever, with Courts Leet and Courts Baron, at Noghoval and Carriffo/bile, together with fairs, markets, &c., and the king was pleased to reduce the crown-rents of the said estate in this county to the sum of £100 per annum/* And thus, for ever did the last remnant of the once princely possessions of the O'Connors of Kerry, pass out of the strong hands that held them for sixteen hun- dred years and upwards. For, all our histories concur in stating, that the ancestor of this most ancient race was of Kiar, an Irian Prince, w ho conquered and gave name to Kerry (Ciarriad/ie, "Kiar's Kingdom"), so early as the first century of our Era ; and that the O'Connors continued in the undis- turbed enjoyment of the northern half of the present county, until the arrival of the English invaders, when, in the course of time and war, they were gradually deprived of the greater portion of their princely territory by the Desmond Geraldines, who finally compelled them, by treaty (recorded at Berming- ham Tower), to confine themselves in future to the single Barony of Iraght i-Connor. Yet, even upon this diminished inheritance of their's, encroachments were made by the rapa- cious Elizabeth and her immediate successor, the virgin queen rewarding Fitzmaurice — Lord Kerry — with estates - in Iraght for his services against the O'Connors ; and " Scottish James" bestowing the Seignory of Tarbert upon the M'Crossans, alias Crosbies, for still worse acts of treachery and baseness. Nevertheless, they retained, down to the Protectorate, con- siderable estates both in Iraght and Truenachmy Baronies, as 501 appears by the following extract from Petty's " Book of For* feitures and Distributions/' an authentic record of Crom well's ruthless spoliations, according to which : — 1st. The Carrigafoile family, the eldest branch, now extinct, but then represented by Connor Cam O'Connor Kerry, for- feited Cahirnuili Kiletine, Carrig Island, and Lislaghtin^ in Ahavallin parish, with Kilbrachach, in the parish of Murhur. 2nd. The Aghalahanna family, the next, and now the re- presentative branch, whose then chieftain was Thomas M'Teige O'Connor, father of Teige, hanged, as above, forfeited Agha- lahanna (Ahalanna), in Murhur, Ballaghenespic and Larhoe, in Ahavallin, ReenturJcj in Kilnaughtin, and Gallard, in Liseltine parish. • 3 3rd. The Knockanure family, who soon after became, and still are, peasants on their own lands, but were then repre- sented by Donogh O'Connor, forfeited Culleengurteen, in Knockanure parish, and Corventoine. 4th. The Liselton family, descended from Dermod, son of Donagh, slain in 1405, whose representative, Thomas O'Connor, is marked in Cromwell's " List of Catholic Proprietors" as, by connexion, a Protestant, (his brother John, a pervert priest, being then a Protestant minister) forfeited Kilgrevane, now Kilgarvan, Lachach and FarrenstacJcey, all in Liselton parish. This family, like the preceding, continued to locate in Iraght, without, however, being reduced to the same state of obscurity. The r^í>r«zíí? minister had a son and a grandson, the one archdeacon^ the other chanter of the Cathedral of Artfert, who intermarried with the new Cromwellian proprietary, infusing a much boasted improvement into their Saxon blood ; and, strange to say, their last known descendant, Mr. Ambrose O'Connor, became a convert to the Catholic Church, and, being an excellent classical scholar, kept a school at one time at Mill-street, and then at Listowell, in both of which some of 22 tA^ .,-^.:N.>fc<.i, .■-■vi>'^-.>.' ■•■■■■■ ' ■ 't ■• .__..- ■■,:---.. .t'.v -,;.-,""..-•.;..,. .^ i.*,- ■- :^-.^.--iv-".. -■ - . .* .- -■ . w.::.iií'i;i.',-k.L;LiiÉ.j««.*ST ■ 302 the existing priests of the diocese were educated. Of Thomas, hy connexion a Frotestant, the present representative is Mr. John O'Connor, of Glanmore, near Dundrum, m the County of Dublin, a native of Liselton, the old locale of his ancestors. 5th. The Ballyline, or Ahannagran family, descended from a younger son of Dermod Sugagh (the pleasant), who died in 1154, just seven hundred years ago, forfeited those two estates in the parish of Ahavallin, where they had been located for five centuries. The forfeiting chief wa» Murrogh O'Connor, who remained, as under tenant to the College middleman, on his own confiscated property, and was succeeded, as such, by his son, grandson, and great grandson. But this latter, another Murrogh, who was a good poet, having represented to the Board the oppressive conduct of the chief tenant, was himself put in his place by that body, who indeed have always maintained the character of good landlords. — See "Poems, Pastorals, and Dialogues, by Morrogh O'Connor, of Augh- anagraun;" Dublin : E. Jones, Clarendon -street, 1739 j in which volume Murrogh does justice to his benefactors. The book is alluded to by Smith (who was contemporary wiWi Murrogh O'Connor), in a note to the " History of Kerry," without any mention of the author's name. [ Two other families are recorded in Sir William Petty 's book, as having forfeited, at this period, in the Barony of Truhenachmy, whence they were never, until then, dislodged ; having held uninterrupted possession since the middle of the eleventh century. Both were descended from Donal, second son of Cathal O'Connor-Kerry, slain in 1069, whose elder brother, Connor O'Connor-Kerry, was ancestor of the five families of Iraght, already enumerated. These descendants of Donal were : 6th. The Bahonane family, now untraceable, but represented in Cromwell's time by Bryan O'Connor, who forfeited " Ra- ^ honanCi Cahirslee, and Zisloose, in the borough of Tralee, and :¥: " « ? • ' S03 Carngreague, in the Parish of Annah," near that town: and lastly — 7th. The Nohoval family, vf\\o settled at Gárríhees, in Corki^uinny, after their confiscation, having forfeited Nohoval, Luglis9an*, Cluantarriff, and Ballf Égan, near Castleisland, Its chief, in Petty's time, was Thomas M'Tarlogh O'Connor, of Nohoval, ancestor of Thomas O'Connor, Esq., of Beal, and his brother, Maurice O'Connor of Rushy Park. Among the distinguished chiefs of this family during the two centuries jwrior to Cromwell's war, were, Tst, John O'Connor-Kerry, Prince of Kerry, and Iraght (son of Connor ob 1345, son of Connor ob 1396, son of Connor ob 1366), who founded Lislaughtin Abbey in 1470, and, with his wife (Margaret Nagle), was buried therein A.D. 1485 — Annals Four Masters; 2nd, their son, Connor O'Connor, styled Glaucus, whose name occurs in the original* MS. of the Masters, as well as in Connellan's Translation, ad annum 1599, and in all the genuine pedigrees; Srd, his son, Connor- O'Connor, styled Fion, or " the fayre," slain in the battle of Lixnaw, A.D. 1568; 4th, /lis son, a third Connor O'Connor, styled Bacach or tke Lame, slain shortly after Desmond's escape from Feltrim, near Dublin, which occurred at Martin- mas (Uth November) A.D. 1573; 5th, John O'Connor, styled Shane i Cathach, or " of the Battles," (a minor at his father's disease) who died s. p. in 1639. This John was succeeded by his elder nephew, another, (6th,) John, called Shane an phina — or of the wine, who, as stated before, was hanged at Tralee, in 1652, by the Cromwellians. Dying without issue male, he was succeeded in the chieftancy by his brother, Connor O'Connor, styled Chm or the Crooked, who forfeited under Charles the Second. Their father was Donogh * The name as written in the original is a contracted word. Doctor O'Donovan omits it, by mistakei both in his Irish copy and translation of the Four Masters. ■■-''*■ Mii;illll'>««l7llttl'ill ' "llll " • \..,-':.. .ii.,. -■jí^ .■ -j^.t-ir"^.*- ■ ; -.%'»*'■; »;.-!'V^ ".»•■;•.',■■" >^-^fc,"'L " ^- 304 Maol, wLose death is thus recorded by the Four Masters, ad ann. 1699 :— "The son of O'Connor-Kerry, namely, Donogh Maol (son of Connor, son of Connor, son of Connor, son of John), was slain in the month of August by a party of the Earl of Desmond's soldiers (the M'Sheehys), and that slaying ■was considered a great loss by the Earl, for O'Connor himself, i.e., John" (of the Battles) " and Ais Irother the said Bonogh, together with all those in their country, were his allies." Through his 2nd son. Conn, styled Cam, he was grandfatlier of Charles O'Connor-Kerry, the last inaugurated chief, who was outlawed at the Tholsel of Dubhn on the 20th May, 1691 (D'Alton's MSS.), and whose pedigree, as certified hy his own hand on the 18th August, 1688, we have scrupulously followed. We cannot close this note without censuring the forged, false pedigree of this family that appeared some time ago in a Kerry magazine. We know the Rev. dignitary, and we would advise him to learn Irish before he touches our antiquities, and to practise a little impartiality. The subjoined should have been placed in order sooner, but we wished to give all the O'Connor families in an unbroken account : — MURTA.GH NA. D-TUAITH o'fLAHEBTY. ^ -■ Murtough na d-tuaith, or Rory O'Flaherty, " of the battle- axes, cattle, and lawns^^ of Moycullen, hereditary prince of lar (West) Connaught, was father of Hugh O'Flaherty, the father of Roderick, author of that master-work, the " Ogygia." Rory committed frightful havoc, with his " Battleaxe men," amongst the enemies of his creed and country. Now and again, he and other chiefs walked, from a prudent necessity, along with the English ; but when occasion presented, they made the foes reel before the might of their arras. Rory held out against Clanricarde, who supported the Ormondists, in V 805 opposition to the gallant policy of Rinuccini, the Irish bishops, and the native Irish Catholic Lords, who declined entering into terms with the notorious Murrough O'Brien — the Church- hurning Inchiquin, whom they knew to be an inveterate apos- tate ; the bard weeps over the recreancy of such a man who freed Ireland from Danish oppression, but not to be con- demned for the acts of one man. Every family has had its bad men — William Smith O'Brien, Esq. is an honor to the name, lineage and to his native land, — ^Thomond was the predeces- sor of the O'Briens, and was,' in 1576, united to Munster. Their castles were Clonrode, Bunratty, and Ibrakin, in Clare. The lar Connaught O" Flaherty» were great patrons of learn- ing and learned men. They were themselves distinguished for erudition, and the cultivation of the fine arts. They were great musicians, and were famed for hospitality. Their de- scendants owe no fealty to the English crown. When the present members of the family will have calmly considered the following lines from O'ElaherLy's " History of Ireland," they will have learned how little devotion they owe England. The author, after having mentioned a famous battle between a mer- chant, named Orsberif (from whom Lough Or^í^» or Corrib), and Ulinn, (the grandson of the monarch, Nuadh {Nhooa)^ whence Maghulinn {Moycullin), thus writes : *' This is my natal soil and patrimony, enjojfed by my ancestors, time immemorial. There was a manor exempted, by a patent, from all taxes. It likewise had the privilege of holding a market and fairs, and was honoured with a Senesclial's Court to settle litigations. But, having lost my father at the age of two years, I sheltered myself under the wings of royalty, and paid the usual sum for my wardship. Having come to the age of possessing my for- tune, I was deprived of the patronage of my guardian by the detestable execution of my king. T was obliged (at the age of nineteen) to take refuge in a foreign clime. The Lord wonderfully restored the prince to his crown, but he has found 7^,5S 306 . me unworthjr to be reinstated in the possession of my own estate.*' This language was a cutting satire on the perfidy of the faithless Charles II., in whose service» Muriaph Boe, and Hugh, the author's father, fought, bled, and forfeited. The words quoted were recorded in A.D. 1684, and we. cannot learn what since happened to make any member of that ancient, plundered family, render any service to the Saxon. Eoderick O'Flaherty, who was born in the town of Galway, was a half year older than Charles II.— See ** Ogygia," part iiu page 27. STANZA LXXXVIII. . J4^|tU xeAt)i)uibe. This was the great Earl of Deivtondy who fought his way so gallantly at Youghal. His greatest fortress was Shanat at Shanny Golden, in Limerick. Hence Shanat-aboo, *' hurra for Shanat." He was afterwards treach- erously murdered by a ruffian, named Koilly. His head was sent by Ormonde to Elizabeth, who had it placed on a spike at London-bridge. The three great insurrections were those of the Earls of Desmond, (or, Munster Eitzgerald), O'Donnell, and O'Neill, in the days of Elizabeth, the Stuarts, and Cromwells. Some of our readers are to be reminded, that the Shannon skirts a part of Kerry, and that the Earl had a stronghold on its bank. In the days of Desmond, Hugh O'Neill, and O'Donnell, and other chieftains, fought many a hard battle with the Saxons at the close of Elizabeth's reign. The young Cf Moore of Leix, " who set the wisp a-going,*' as our poet has it, all the way towards Fermanagh ; in other words, " who lighted the blaze of nationality," acted a chivalrous part io the struggle. There was a migration of this sept into Con- naught in the days of the English Neroes. How honourably does G. H. 0'Mot)re, Esq.* M.P. for Mayo — a lineal descen- * Since the issue of our first edition Ireland has been deprived of the important parliamentary services of this faithful son of the Catholic Chnrch. £ngland's parliament would have bought his exclusion from St. Stephen's "T^^.i*^ 307 dant of Rory O'Moore of Uathne — rq)resent that ancient fa- mily in his ardent co-operation with the present band of trve men to nphold the rights of Ireland. The state papers, to be seen in the Castle, present a frightful instance of the turpitude of recreant Irishmen, both in old and modern times. The examination of them would bring the reader to the irresistible conclusion, that the independent opposition of our representa- tives to any government — no matter what may be their promises, that will not concede protection to our industry and perfect re- ligious equality to Catholics — is the only sure path to vindicate what is due to Irishmen, and to resist insult, to redress wrongs, to maintain the dignity of our old land, and to command at any price» She strained every point, devised every means to effect that end. She has succeeded for the time, but it is to be hoped that the coun- try, whose prospeHty he would promote, at any risk, and whose religion he would die to defend, will, ere long, ^have the benefit of his brilliant talents. In the parliament of James II. which met in Dublin in 1689, sat (as history tells ns^, Garrett O'Moore, Esq of Balla, Mayo, as the representative for that county. Twelve years previous to the above period Jane O'Moore, daughter of the aforesaid Garrett, was married to Sir Lucas Dillon (ances- tor of the present Lord Dillon) of Lough Glinn, Co. Roscommon. This fact shews us two things, first, that it was no new thing in the O'Moores to represent Mayo — and that there was an early tie of friendship between the house of Balla, Moore Hall, and that of Lough Glinn. The influ- ence of these two houses, if properly cemented, in our days, would be able to uphold honor in Mayo. Old manuscript records in the Four Courts, Dublin, will shew the reader that, in troubled times, Dillon, though a Protestant, did what he could to save from plunder the monasteries and some families of the Jordans of Mayo. But it must be remembered that Jane O'Moore was his wife — and as blood like water streams down through the channel of time, there must be in the veins of the present Lord Dillon some of the blood of the O'Moores. The very ancient and respectable families of Mayo» descendants of the De Burgo, who, in the worst of times denied not their faith, we would like to see always identified with the people's only true guides — the Catholic clergy. Tber* was a tíbM when the Irish clans had temporal leaders, but since the Reformation tb« ptitsts have been their chief guides on all matters. i^^'Jialir^ÍLÍ:. 308 respect. But to return. "Were it not for the unhappy differ- ences that occurred in 1602, between O'Neill and O'Donell before Kinsale, British rule and tyranny had been ended for that time in Ireland. And may we not say with shame and sorrow, that even at this day (such is England's prostration, and her contemptible figure before Europe, when her soldiers in the Crimea are obliged to beg old clothes and bread from • Frenchmen) were it not for our representatives, we should and would obtain good terms for this country. The English trea- sury has debauched most of our public men, and scattered the seeds of division. They hawewell played the game : " Divide ei itnpera '/' yet dum scribo, spero. "Every dog has his day." The days of venality must end, and purity and honor will, in due time, be recognized. Men will find, at last, that no English ministry has ever kept their word, nor monarch his or her oath with us- History presents this sad picture of human depravity. Elsewhere we have written on this painful topic. In the reign of James I., son of Mary, Queen of Scots, the diabolical treatment of the Irish is to be found in the case of the O'Byrnes of " The Ranelaghs."— See Matthew O'Connor's " History of the Catholics," appendix ii. ; also *' History of Confiscations in Birmingham Tower, in the Dublin Castle.'* The aforesaid James had the following words as a maxim : " Plant Ireland with Puritans, and root out Papists, and se- cure it.^' Was not such language an unmistakeable royal mandate to extirpate — quovismodo — Catholics? Could words he plainer or stronger ? The Scotchman did not confine him- self to the expression of Chief Baron Wild, who said — " Popery is not to be endured in that kingdom." This phrase might be rightly interpreted, " Uproot Popery,* but do not * The ways of Providence are wonderful 1 The Indians are now inflict- ing signal chastisement on the robbers of their native land. The Irish are their offspring, and our wrongs are being practically vindicated by our Eastern relatives. 309 injure Papists." No, no I That would not satiate the sanguinary appetite of the king who, thirsting for blood, trampled upon every law, human, natural, and divine, and raised the cry of " To Hell or Connaught" with Papists^ who, as Matthew- O'Connor writes, " were cooped up together in a barren corner to perish." Catholic prelates and priests were hunted down like wolves. In fact, the total extirpation by butchery, starvation, and transportation of God's anointed clergy* was the favourite system. It was thought that by the removal of the faithful shepherds, the sheep would become an easy prey to the wolf. * When the agents of the alien govemmentt had, like the young Tarquin of olden days, in Gabii,* hunted from their princely hereditary domains, or cut down by fraud and treachery, — not in open or fair war, — the natural temporal leaders, — then the people, having clung to their priests, even when many of the recreant and profligate scions of the chieftains deserted them for England's bauble honors and accursed gold, seeing the Milesian princes lost to them, had to look up to the priesthood for guidance as well in temporal matters as in the affairs regarding their eternal salvation. The priests and people have ever since held together, braving death and danger, supporting and consoling mutually. It has been this mutuality of confi- dence and dependance, this exchange of services that has rendered them formidable to, and not to be annihilated by the common enemy — England. If the latter can ever succeed in destroying the Gordian knot, then indeed will the church have reason to apprehend terrible results. But as we sin- cerely believe, that Providence, when it is meet, vindicates its ways, so do we feel assured that, through the intercession of our glorious Apostle St. Patrick, heaven will keep the people and clergy always united. In no secular pursuit of any kind should the ministers of religion engage, but all their time, their talents, zeal and labors should be solely and wholly de- voted to their spiritual duties. However, wlien the thorough, faithful, and necessary discharge of the latter involves the former, as is unquestionably the case in Ireland, Poland, and Prussia in their present condition, it is not only expedient for, but it is clearly, and imperatively incumbent on all who are able, and especially on the Pastors, to direct the people how best they can get rid of their grievances, and improve their hitherto anomalous mode of life. •Llvy, lb.,54 c. I ■-■ j.^t.<^:.. - . : -L ,■ - ■■ ■. :.■_., - ■ ' . ''- , ■. ■ " _.'"... 'í--.--' -;■ '!"- ■ -;- ' ■■- C ■ ''wv^iiTti^j .'.,*?'";> iSiHffW--;; T'j 310 It is no wonder tbat the impioas, the profligate, and the de- bauched should have an implacable hatred to an order of men eminent for sanctity, ornaments to religion, and a check on the turpitude and depravity of the demons of those awful times. As a palliation for the butchery and plunder of the old Irish, and the English Lords and Catholics of the Pale, it was alleged, (though without a shadow of proof), that a massa- cre of Protestants was committed by Catholics on the 23rd of October, J 641. If such a thing had occurred the despatches of the Lords Justices of Dublin, dated 25th October, 27th November, and 23rd December, of same year, and directed to the House of Commons, would give an account of so impor- tant a fact, but in them there was not a word on that point, though they specified that ten of the garrison of Lord Moore's house, at Melifont, were killed by a party of rebels, as they called patriots. There is not a word in the '* Journals of the House of Commons" relative to a general massacre. The ab- sence of a governmental record of the alleged fact is a clear proof that the assertion was a pure fabrication, a barefaced falsehood. Milton states, that 600,000 Protestants were mas- sacred 1 ! ! Though, according to Sir William Petty, a most accurate statist, there were in all Ireland, at the time, only 220,000, that is 380,000 less than Milton said were killed I The Rev. Dr. Warner, F.T.C.D., reduces the number to 4080 ; he adds, " it is easy to demonstrate the utter falsehood of every Protestant historian of the rebellion." Milton, Barton, Temple, Erankland, Kapin, Wormius, Clarendon, and Hume — the last of whom makes the number but 40,000 — stand convicted of a wilful and satanic lie, by parliamentary evi- dence as well as by Warner. The cause of Sir Phelim O'Neill's insurrection, which was as follows, may not be known to some of our readers. Having seen the estates of the old owners in the possession of robbers— 311 the mráions of Betty Mary, Harry, James — and haviug found Charles faithless, deaf to all entreaties for justice, and allowing his infamous minister, Strafford, to get up " a commission to enquire into defective titles," and thus intending to rob such Counaught gentlemen, as were not plundered— Ulster having been already confis(»;ted — and having seen might thus triumph" ing over rights Sir Phelim had recourse to the promptings of nature, and the principles of equity — self-defence and self-pre- servation. He sought to win back Iieland for the Irish, and to secure freedom for Irishmen. The ifljustice began with England and its monarchs, in favor of any one of whom, as having acted justly to their silly creature supporters, no excep- tion can be found in the bloody pages of their history. On the contrary, the spoilers were confirmed in their plunder. Were Irishmen but vigorous and united at the time, such villany could have been successfully resisted. Rinuccini, aided by God, would have righted the ancient land, would have restored the churches, and have put an end to foreign domination. STANZA IC. '•'' ' < " When they drove away the Holy Ntincio, Plague and famine overran the land." These two lines, if proof were wanted, mark Dr. O'Connell's estimation of the most illustrious, uncompromising, and daunt- less Rinuccini, Archbishop of Fermo, m Italy. He came to Ireland to uphold Catholicity, to protect the native Irish, at all hazards, and against all enemies^ and, according to his own words before the Council of the Confederation of Kilkenny — Mountgarrett presiding-^"/*) uphold King Charles against the Cromwellians.'^ Richard Beeling, alluded to in the next verse, who was secretary to the Confederation, went to Rome to implore the aid of His Holiness in the distressed state of the Catholics of Irelad. The patriot Franciscan friar, Father ■■■' .■■. -•••. ';•■•:■«,'"%> '■, 312 Wadding, went with him, as did the Most Eev. Heber Mac^ Mahon, of Clogher. father Luke Wadding's powerful and feeling addresses, delivered publicly in Rome to the people, had such an effect on Einuccini^ that he volunteered his services, if he got leave from the Pope. This being obtained he came away, Beeling prommng — that the direction in all matters would be left to the Nuncio. How unstable are human affairs ! This same Beeliug became faithless to Rinuccini. He became the scycophant of the infamous Ormond, and de- serted the Archbishop of Fermo. Let us see who this Beeling was in whom Catholics confided. It would strike us that he sought the post of secretary to betray and to create division. But he was a cunning man. O'Flaherty, author of the "Ogygia," thought him a true man, when he asked his appro- bation of his work in 1684. We have read Beeling's short note of approbation, and it appears strange that Harris places his death in 1677, anterior to the introduction to the " Ogygia" whose dates are brought down to 1684. Beeling did what he could, in his writings after the Restoration, to blacken the character of Rinuccini. He, in this matter, acted only the part of every man, who, to make himself secure in his property, or to acquire wealth, writes to support the powers that be. In vindication of the Nuncio's conduct, we insert a beautiful letter of his, against holding any terms with i\ie apostate Catholic Inchiquin. We have translated it from a work well known-— " Hibernia Dominicana." Before we present our readers with this interesting document, let us see, as we find in Harris' '* Writers," what was Beeling's parentage, which, we have no doubt, will shew that little confidence should be reposed in him. We find in Harris' " Irish Writers of the Seventeenth Centurv," that Beeling was " the father of Sir Richard Beeling, Knight, who was secretary to Catharine, Queen of Charles II." and that " he was married to a lady named Arundel, heiress to ;&f-.tf>-:.r;'-v\-- 313 a large estate/ 'HííTchilcíren were bWiged io adopt ttie moffielr'á familj name/'— Harris' " Ware's Writers of Ireland," book i. p. ] 65. From the fact of this plunge into another name, sight was lost of the Beeliug family. The father stood by Ormond, who gambled away Ireland to Colonel Jones, and fled, leaving Dublin to the mercy of that ruthless, manslaying, city-dismant- ling, church-desecrating, infant-mangling, woman-torturing faction. How keenly our poet cuts up Ormond, in his allusion to Tankardstown Battle. We refer to stanza xciii. We find in Carte's " Ormond," vol. i. part 8, p. 494, that Ormond " gave money and relief to the Covenanters" in Ireland, to enable them to massacre the loyal Catholics. This was the ** miller's dog," whom Beeling would support, and whose advice he would adopt in preference to the Nuncio, who came to Ireland resting on his promise. It was this treachery on the part of Beeling, as well as the Prestons of Gormanstown, of those days, that made Rinuccini retire in disgust from a people for whom he was ready to lay down his life. How different from Bishop Dease is the present venerated and pa- triotic Most Rev. Dr. Cant well, who is an ornament to religion, an ornament to society, and an honor to his country. • ; > How dexterously does our poet refer, in stanza xci., to the writings of Beeling against Beeling himself. He quotes Beeling v. Beehng. A letter, purporting to be from the Council of the Catholic Confederation, was sent to Einuccini, relative to the cessation or making terms with Inchiquin. The document was not signed by even a respectable, or an honest fraction of the Council. It had Beeling's name to it. Such was the document that was sought to be foisted on the Nuncio, as a genuine minute of the Supreme Council. Here is a mas- terly argument and eloquent reply. We select this from many of his lucid letters in our possession, translated by us from De Burgo's Hibernia Dorainicana. •.*i..^ giift Pw' r>- ' 314 ttti LltTBB or TItB itOit ttLUSTIUODS NUNCIO, DISStíADÍNO tAlsU VROM ▲ TKUCfet " A consideration, as Well for oar own dnty, as a respect for your fflus". trious Lordships, alwavs requires, that, in all the deliberations of the Sopreme Council, we be most pwticularlj anxious, that both the advance» ment of the Cadiolic religion, and the glory aad the fiune of eountry, aa well as the joy of our Most Holy Lord, should be manifested, especially «t tiie present moment, when a deputation from this kingdom to Rome hsB, as it is hoped, arrived safely with his Holiness. Wherefore, unless these three oonditions meet in the truce, which is being just now treated of, with the Lord Baron de Inchiquin, it is very much to be doubted, but that a quite contrary effect to what is expected may follow, and that the way to a more extensive and a heavier injury to the country may be paved. For whereas the tendency of the present truce is to leave the state of affairs as it now is, and that no change of parties is made -—eU. see the existing wretdied condition of religion in Munster, since the cruelties and plunder that have been perpetrated therein, during the autumn and winter by the Baron himself, besides the fines imposed upon, and die transportation of so many priests, and the demolition of churches, all of which might continue to the destruction of so many sonls, particu-' larly at a time when, because of the weelcness of the opposing army, and the impaired strength of even the Parliamentarians, it was to be hoped, that the Catholics would recover whatever they had lost in Munster, and would commence a year remarkable for, and favourable to religion. And hence proceeds the respect due to fame and glory by the Confederated Ca- tholics ; for it is now public throughout the entire of Europe, that the Lord Baron has laid in ruins the city of Cashel, and has, within its Temple, dedicated to St. Patrick, by a horrible sacrilege butchered many priests and women at the very altar, and afterwards imposed a tribute on many counties, and lastly at the very walls of Kilkenny insulted its chief Magis- trate. Consequently let no one imagine, that the strength of the Catholics has been so exhausted, as that they would ofier a truce to so deadly an enemy, having received so many calamities at his hands. Nay, even it will be the general opinion, that no greater glory could accrue to the Supreme Council, than, if upon an army being mustered, they should order them to enter the enemies' quarters, and effect both the exemption from the contributions (tiiat is, the tribute imposed), and the safety of the people. For who can bear, that the money and other means, which should be to suj^ort Catholic scddiers, are, by an unfortunate exchange, in the hands of the enemy, and make them our stronger and more implac- able foes. Certainly all the counties, to be fVeed from such tendency, ' :L.^ 315 ought, and wiU, give us, more cheerfully, than the enemy (from whom many always expect greater wrongs), resources. But as regards our Most Holy Lord, I confess, illustrious nobles, that I know not how I can offer this message to Um, to obtaia for the eaeaay a 4i-uee after neb. rapine and losses. Because His Holiness ia already aware, that from past cessiitions have proceeded all the evils to which the kingdom has been siibjectedt and he is conscious Qothing can be more pernicious than by delays to serve the enemy. For what will there be In this case in which it will not be unknown te His Holiness, that the enemy have a weak army, and that, through hunger and want, they have been nuking repeated excursions : moreover, that relief from England cannot be expected — that it has been gravely prejudicial to the Catholic religion, and that they, however, will have been persecuted. How, I ask, will this embassy obstruct the Dele- gates, appointed by your noat illuatrious Lordships, whom His Holiness will upbraid with this fear of the Confederation, and vnll justly thmk, thaft he is deservedly released from giving any further aid. On tha contrary, if for the sake of restoring our holy religion in Hnnater, an army be raised, with spirit, and s(Hn« maritime stronghold be recovered* it is needless to tell your Lordships what will be the joy of Bis Holiness, or what will be his diqMsition towards the eoofrderation, whereas themselves will be able to understand satisfactorily from Denis* the Deacon how much money and what honors His Holiness had in store for them if Dublin should come into their hands, as he moat ardentiy wished and even yet wishes. I certainly now wish, and all along these two years have wished for nothing more than to be once able to announce to His Holiness, something to incline his mind to greater benevolence towards your Lordships — and I know what can be expected from him. — In this case, I am of opinion, the secret judgment of God is, that hitherto I could write only adverse, and inauspicious mat- ters, nevertheless, I would judge it wonderful if the Confederation would not, for once, strive to do that ; as they will experience in the result (other- wise useful to themselves), if what I have so often endeavoured to impress on them be true ; and I have done so for no other reason than for the greatest happiness of your Lordships, and the due promotion of the Catholic religion. On this accoiuxt I thought it my duty to write thus before my arrival. :.'•■.";■• --n- ■ ■:> ',./;-.■ ....-' I remain, as usual, iUnstrions lords " 4» JOHN BAPTIST RINUCCINI, ' "Arehbukop, FermoJ" * He was tbe Deacon of Fermo in Italy, •ad we are to «nppow that as Binoccini'B Secretary he rcilded at tbii time at Rome. So&k-j^^-.v 'FM ai6 To the above brilliant Jocameut a lengthy, shuffling rejoinder Was sent bj a clique of the Supreme Council, amongst whom was the Bishop of Limerick, Beeling, and Lord Athenry. Thos. Dease, Bishop of Meath, figured in another anti-national letter, replete with arrogance and self-sufficiency. In fact, at the time, the Council consisted mainly of Lord Mouiitgarret> Beeling, Bishop Dease of Meath, Bishop of Ossory and Lime- rick, whilst all the other Prelates and the native Peers were with the Nuncio. The annexed is the intrepid Nuncio's bold, straightforward, and brilliant reply : — " Having seen the response of your illnstrious Lordships, and having heard what, in their name, yoar Lordships Commissary Generals have laid before me, relative to the negociation of a truce, it appears to me that the difficulty on this head still remains, unless we come to certain conditions, subject to which the discussion can be concluded, on which result will hang a true judgment to be formed with regard to same. " for, although it be^most tfue as your illustrious Lordships state, that truces have been, at all places, entered into, even with infidels, and that even the mightiest monarchs have, at all times, ratified them, it is still not less cer- tain that these alone are approved of, which have been formed from necessity but to advantage ; and on the other hand, these are censured which want either of the aforesaid conditions. " But necessity in our case is confined to this alone, namely, whether the Confederates be unequal to both wars, in Leinster and Munster, in which circumstance I would suppose it worth while to convoke all the Generals, and hear their opinions, that a judgment may not be formed without the greatest experimental proof of affairs. For it is their province to state, if the Catholic army be unequal to both expeditions, and after having weighed the present state of the enemies, to inquire diligently by what means they can be attacked or intercepted, and with how many legions, and within what limits the affair can be accomplished, otherwise, these, who are not in actuAl service, can easily pronounce as to the other point, to wit, that both enemies have been reduced to straits, as is everywhere heard, and that, therefore, their forces are not to be dreaded : most particularly, and, above all, in a war undertaken in defence of religion, in which something is to be intrusted to God ; or, on the contrary, that the enemies forces may not be so impaired, that aid may be expected from England, and that, therefore, it may be safer to come on terms with one of the enemies ; which contrariety of opinions a Council of War alone can settle. 317 *' But, Mfehig that there was not necessity, let us try if there be utility in the cessation. And, in the first place, it is necessary that I should femove the erroneous impression which I find has been made on your Lordships' minds by my former letter, as not being -explicit enough. For in the letter, which, it is asserted, I wrote on the first of March, I think I did not at ali approve of a truce with the Scots. Now, granting that such an expression be read in it, it was surely beside my intention, as I hare advised a treaty neither with the Scots nor with Inchiquin himself, or others of either religion ; but my meaning had reference only to some accommo- dation, confederation, or some such adjustment. And the reason of the tlifference is this, which I have touched upon in my first writing, namely, that during the cessation, things are to continjie as they now are, without advancing the object for which the war is undertaken. But an adjustment or accommodation cannot be concluded unless something advantageous ac- crue to the contracting parties respectively ; and when Í considered that we could not possibly arrive at that with the Scots unless some increase to our religion had been permitted in these places, so also I not only always recommended, but even wished, that a like alliance, with the same increase, would be contracted with the Lord Baron, as most of the Lords of the Su- preme Council will be able to testify. But wherever no such advantage can be had, I had no notion of approving of any truce, or the like interstice. " Having laid down these premises, let us see what advantage to our re- ligion, or to the king, can be discovered in this armistice. NoW) as re- gards religion, if we do not come to particulars, nothing is hitherto heard that can advance it ; and, therefore, what was considered in my first letter still holds true, to wit, that the state of religion has been no where more deplorable and reduced to greater straits than in Munster, and that these who have inflicted the injury, will, to our greatest disgrace bear away the price, and reap the advantages ; whereas spirits, truly Catholic, had the opportunity of rising up against the sacrilegious enemy, and, by an united eflFort, either subdue or repel them. " But with respect to the King, concerning whom your illustrious Lord- ships seem to suppose, that our Most Holy Father ought to be pleased that the confederation was devoted and friendly to His Majesty, and on this account acted wdU In having embraced with, and having moved to a truce, Lord Inchiquin, who declared for the king. I indeed signify to your illustrious Lordships, that His Holiness was of opinion, it was always a thousand times a better plan for the sovereign, if the citadels and strongholds of Munster continued in the hands of the Catholics» than in the Lord Baron's, though he declared for the King, nay even that neither a more faithful guarding of them could be afforded, nor a more implicit 23 í'.»'- - , -• .... . . ■ ■• ,- • ■■ ■.-■^' ■^'::v-\-ri.i'"-''i^~ 318 obedience yielded to His Majesty than by Catholics, who can observe their allegiance to God. For why has His Holiness, daring the past years, interposed so many acts of kindness, and admonitions through the Most Reverend Scarampiors, and snbsequently. through me, that the confedera- tion would attack Dublin, which was in the possession of the Marquis of Ormond, who, not only declared for the King, but was even a Viceroy ; perhaps forsooth that its obedience might be withdrawn from His Majesty ; nay, but that the King would be served better by Catholics than by Pro- testants t and wherefore if His Holiness were persuaded, that a truce with Inchiquin were entered into without evident necessity, and that, too, when the recovery of his Quarters might be expected, they may believe for a certainty, that he will take it very much to heart, that this had been done under such pretext, forsooth, of a declaration for the King ; on the con- trary. His Holiness would be found to think, that neither the interest of religion, nor that of His Majesty was consulted. " But, indeed, my most illustrious Lords, what I if this declaration, as having been made by a man (hitherto most hostile to the king), fickle^ and naturally most cunning, be considered trifling by foreign princes, and in the eyes of persons who profoundly enquire into all matters, and not to be attended to, unless it be first proved by the surest and safest experi - ments ? What ! if Her Most Serene Majesty, the Queen, and the Prince, also consider it trifling, and believe it would be safer for them that the Catholic Confederation, rather than the Lord Baron, should hold those quarters ? What 1 if, finally. Lord de Inchiquin, who has been united during the past months with Jones to intercept the confederates between them, having now previously sent the above-mentioned declaration, nevertheless, should secretly coalesce with him, and as the confederate army would be ap- proaching Dublin, even Jones declares himself a royalist, and together they should exclude from all acquisition the confederates? Will there then be observed towards Jones a law different from that with Inchiquin, and in what state will religion then be which is now almost lost in Munster, and without any advance in Leinster ? For, that these things may happen, it sufficeth to give as example the Lord Marquis of Ormonde, who, when he was bound to the king, nevertheless, having no regard to His Majesty, made over Dublin to the Parliamentarians, and now again, as though this tergiversation were attended with no inconvenience, he returned to the king. " Those are what our Most Holy Father deplores ; he sees those uncer- tainties, he foresees those dangers, and he bewails the injury to religion, particularly if it happen through a pretext of obedience to the king or other advantage» or quiet, which are to be hoped for in vain, without any progress in religion, and which generally turn out false, as has been often remarked. '• ^w" ■- - 319 *' Wherefore I said to your Lordship's commissaries, that all these things could be managed with great honour and prudence, nay, even with the apparent sanction of foreign princes, and particularly of His Holiness, if, whilst the truce is being arranged, some army also would be sent into Munster against the Lord Baron, which, would effect this, that he being laow reduced to difficulties, and being irreconcileably opposed to the Parliament, would either come on terms, advantageous to your Lordships, and the whole Confederation, or would be stripped of some portion of his power. I thought it my duty to propose that the more on this accounti when after the Lord Baron's retirement from Kilkenny, I had written to His Holiness a long letter, detailing whatever was made known to me generally by public report, but especially by Lord (Bishop) of Limerick, namely, that the confederates being provoked by his hostile domineering, formed a closer union, and resolved, having laid aside their dissentions and jealousies, to send at once an united army against the Baron, and shew him how they value both their religion and their country. But it is now to be deplored, and to be looked upon as the greatest misfortune, that we are compelled not only to write, that all these expectations vanished in smoke, but that the baron, for a mere parole declaration for the king, had altered the whole face of things, and that the confederates had come down to his entire satisfaction which, as I have fully explained in my first letter, I strongly suspect, may change the mind of His Holiness, particularly at a time when the delegates of your illustrious Lordships are most earnestly, and at this very moment imploring him, and I, as I have -also written to you, can see that I am placed in a most unpleasant situation» in which now, after so many months, I cannot, by any joyous tidings, more and more conciliate His Holiness to this country. " However, all this has been said rather to throw light on the matter, shortly to be concluded from the Conventions intimated by your illustrious Lordships, and from the particular conditions of the cessation, many things can be considered which will more fully disclose, and more happily end the affair. In the inean time we have given directions, that prayers be poured out by an the religious and priests during fifteen successive days, to which we exhort your most illustrious Lordships and all the laity, be- seeching God, if this treaty be to His glory, and for the good of the country, that he vouchsafe to promote it by an unanimous consent, bat if not, to prevent it ; this humility of souls will obtain from God what we ask, and will inspire your most illustrious Lordships, whose hands we officially kiss. ' " »{< JOHN BAPTIST RINUCCINL "20tk April, 1646." 320 - We are conviiiced that any impartial reader, who would carefully peruse the documents that passed between the Nuncio, and the Ormondist clique of the Confederation, will decide that Rinuccini, as a man of truth, principle, and honor, had no other course to adopt but what he did. Wherever Ormond found the Protestant party,— though openly anti-royal — likely to be unequal to the loyal Catholics, he was sure to aid either di- rectly — as elsewhere shown — by supplying funds, or indirectly, by betraying the cause of his king — as his having deserted Dublin to be occupied by the regicide Jones. Ormond marched into the Counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Queen's, King's, Kilkenny, and Kildare was present at, and aided in the atrocities, murders, burnings, and other depredations perpetrated by Sir Charles Coote, Colonel Arm- strong, Sir Thomas Lucas, and Sir Patrick Wymes. He fought against the Lord Mountgarrett, Lord Viscount Ikerin, Baron Lughmoe, Lord Dunboyne, the O'Dempsys, the O'Byrnes, and OCavanaghs, and other well-known friends of the king, thou^ he ought to understand that the leaders of his own party were secretly disloyal.— See Eush worth's "His- torical Collections,'* part iii. pp. 510, 11, 12. This last battle was at Tankardstown, in the Queen's County, on the Barrow, near the castle of Grange Melon, within four miles of Athy. Might this be the battle alluded to by Dr. (yOonnell in the ninety-third stanza, wherein he hints that James — that is Or- mond (some think " James, Duke of York," is hinted at) — and the clique, played " fast and loose." As we find the ac- count in a most bigoted work, we must be sure we have a false account — we mean false as to the details of the battle, not as regards Ormond's treachery. As no volume, much less such a book as this, could give a detailed account of the in- justices, from time to time, exercised by England on Ireland, we will here give a very short summary of a few of them. 321 The Irish were excluded from all places of honor and emo- lument. Their language, manners, dress, even the mode of wearing the hair, fell under the severity of England's penal laws. Leland bears ample testimony to the truth of this state- ment. Marriage with the Irish, fosterage, gossipred, was, by law, strictly prohibited under pain of forfeiture of property. Submission to Brehon jurisdiction, adoption of Irish names, presentation of any Irishman to ecclesiastical livings ; the re- ception of the Irish into nunneries and monasteries, and the entertainment of their bards, fell under the English penal code, in the time of the Edwards, and that when England was Catholic — thus confirming the fact, that rehgion has never been the question between the natives of the two islands, that England Catholic, as well as England-Protestant treated us with equal inhuman cruelty — (See Baron Einglas* "Breviat of Harris' Hibernia,'' p. 84, also Leland, vol. i. p. 820.) These unnatural laws had an effect quite the opposite of what they were intended to produce. For the De Burgos and the Ge- raldines of Desmond renounced the English manners, habits, and dress, having conformed to those of Ireland. — See Fin- glas, p. 89 ; also Leland, vol. ii. p. 9. This disposition of the settlers continued to progress until even the humblest of them forgot their own country's language for the sweet, eu- phonious Celtic. Henry VII. revived the penal statutes, but it was all to no purpose. From this tendency on the part of the English nobility, resident in Ireland, and that of their dependants, the author of Ireland's Dfrge inferred that, generally speaking, they were kindly inclined towards the Irish. But a few schemers, who invariably had the govern- ment of affairs, exerted their nefarious influence to mar such a happy fusion of the races ; nay, they did what in them lay to keep them divided ; and effectively to rule this country with a rod of iron, they ever devised means to create jealousy . ■ ^ "1iéé"|-| iiifitli'Th r ■■f,>i':.':í-**7?^ 322 amongst the native chieftains. Such is the cursed machiuerj they have always used, in regard to every country that has had the misfortune to allow them a footing amongst them. The rapacious disposition of their foreign officers, and their underlings, pushed them forward to such aggression on the rights of the mild inhabitants of the East Indies, Ihat out- raged humanity, long writhing beneath the galting yoke, has been at last forced to use the oppressor's own arms in vindi» eating their manhood. Iji the reign of Henry YII. the Geraldines of Desmond were pitted against the Mac Carthy and the O'CarroU, O'Neill was drawn against an O'Neill, O'Doniiell against O'Donnell, Maguire against Maguire, Mac Mahon against Mac Mahou, Bourke against Bourke, O'Brien against O'Brien, Mac Carthy against Mac Carthy, O'Sullivan against O'SuUivan, Fitzgerald against Fitzgerald, for the chieftainship of the respective loca- lities. The divide et impera was never more effectively put in requisition. The Earl of Kildare burned the Church of Cashel with the Archbishop in it, and assigned as his reason for the Act, that " the Archbishop was in it.'* The ffood Catholie, Henry, only laughed at the piece (>f fun of burning a prelate and a, church I !I The O'Briens and their Manater clansmen, backed De Burgo, at Connaught, against his father-in-law, Kildare, who was supported by O'Neill and his dependants. The Kildare having gained a victory over De Burgo at Cnoc- toa, near Galway, Lord Gormanstown recommended to '' cut the throats of the Irish who supported them, in order to eomr jolete the victory." The only motive that influenced Kildare not to act on the suggestion was, " that they migH he yei toanted." Next came Harry the Eighth, .of infamous memory, who never spared woman in his lusty nor man, woman, or child in his anger, He hanged Lord Thomas Fitzgerald and, hi/I. $ve 323 uncles at Tybum. His reign was one continued scene of blood, with which all our readers are acquainted. However, his con- duct towards Ireland was not worse than that of some of his predecessors. They excluded Irishmen, and murdered Irish- men ^ beinff Irishmetiy he did the same because they teere Catholics. Where is the difference ? We see scarcely any. In the reign of the virtuous boy, King Edward VI., the O'Moore and O'Connor, of Leinster, were entrapped to go to London, under the promise of being treated kindly. The former was put to death, and the latter lingered for some tj^me in prison. For the atrocities committed in this vicious lad's reign, see Taaffe, O'Halloran, &c. ^ As regards the justice that was done to natives in Mary's reign, little can be said in favour of her. She treated with contempt all appeals made to her by those who were robbed in the former reigns because of their firm adhesion, under all privations, to the Catholic faith. She refused redress to her Irish Catholic subjects. Hence we assert that English mo- narcbs, whether Catholic or Protestant, treated us alike. We can then safely state, that the question at all times, between the two nations, was one of cash^ not of religion ; and if we would at all aspire to national independence, there ought to be pei!féct religious toleration amongst Irishmen, in respect to the ei&ercise of their religious worship. Mutual toleration is the basis iyi true happiness, and the great bond of mutual good will and charity. Every man to be at liberty to adore God as bis conscience tells him. Any convulsive attempt to revolutionize religion has been always attended with the most terrible results. The soul shrinks back from the bare recol- lection of the scenes of blood consequent on intolerance. We have next the virgin Queen Elizabeth on the throne. As she was the child of a wicked father — whose crimes are too fool to be narratedr-and of a sinful mother, she might, in ' -,' .-^ . %*. /?r%^Vf; 324 truth, be called the offspring of sin. Hence we are not to be astonished at anything, however bloody, that might have oc- curred in her reign of terror. In this reign Sussex, whilst entertaining the O'Neill, murdered him at Clanaboy, and the Earl of Essex did the same, under similar circumstances, to the next O'Neill. — See previous note. The Massacre of Mullaghhast (A.D. 1577.) The reader is already aware, that the above place is in the parfth of Narraghmore, within five miles of Athy "in the County of Kildare. We have to regret that, as a solemn duty we owe to our country and the Catholic faith, we feel bound to animadvert on a note of our valued and learned friend. Doctor O'Donovan, which he gives under the above in " The Annals of the Pour Masters," under A.D. 1577. We had much rather have it in our power to add our meed of praise for the services he has rendered to native literature ; but when he thought proper to distort a fact, never before at- tempted to be denied, as regards who enacted the atrocity, we would consider ourselves culpable did we not meet his false reasoning. What conld tempt him to publish such a note we cannot guess ; however, as he has done so we must refute it, not in anger but in vindication of truth and national honor. The following entry is to be found in page 1695 at A.D. 1577. " Annals of the Four Masters." " A horrible and abominable act of treachery was committed by the English of Leinster and Meath^ upon that part of the people of Offally and Leiz that remained in confederacy with them, and under their pro- tection. It was effected thus : — They were all summoned to shew themselves, with the greatest number they could be able to bring with them, at the great Rath of MuUach Maiston, and on their arrival at that place they were surrounded on every side by four lines of soldiers and cavalry, who proceeded 325 to shoot and slaughter them without mercy, so that not a single individual escaped bj flight or force." This is very plain language, and Doctor O'Donovan s own version of the Irish. It would seem that the learned Editor was so angry with Taafie for having confirmed the above that he calls him " the eccentric Irith AUUtrian/* entirely unworthy of serious notice. Now as to the exception Doctor 0*Donovan makes to the statement of the eloquent and eminent writer, Taaffe, we have to say, that the latter gives seemingly solid proofs for having attributed the slaughter to the reign of Queen Mary, and that it was perpetrated by the command of Sussex, — whilst the Doctor has given no evidence to the contrary, just as if his word was sufficient. Taaffe supports his assertion by facts ; he refers to acts of parliament, wherein the territories of Leix and Offally are expressly mentioned as having .been taken from the ancient chiefs : the preamble goes on to shew that Mary and Philip confirmed the confiscation of the lands of O'Moore, O'Connor, CDempsey and others, " because they have, by Jhree, traitorously entered the said countries, and did hold them against the king's and queen's Majesty ;" and the bill denounces the rebels for liaviug resisted the tyranny of her most worthy brother prince Edward VI. The bill went on then to say, that the Earl of Sussex had reduced the country. It would be tedious, and, at the same time, not, perhaps, interest- ing to follow up Taaffe's reasoning. He clearly shows that the very shire names of " Kin^s County" " Queen's County,** which Leix and Offally had, in the time of Mary, are confir- matory evidence that the places were confiscated by Mary, and O'Donovan admits that they were so called in September 10th, 1558. At the same time we might not be astray if we said that the native chiefs, by bravery and courage, regained their lands, and held them by force long after ; and that^ in 326 t}ie interim, another slaughter of their people took place, as the Annals state at 1577. Whether Taaffe was right as tor the exact date matters very h'ttle. In the great O^Gonnell's " Native and Saxon," are these words — "The next instance I shall mention, occurred in the year 1577 j it is thus introduced by Morrisott, the historian (folio edition, p. 8 . *^ In the same year (1577) a horrible massacre was made by the English at MnUagh Maston on some hundreds of the most peaceable of the Irish gentry, invited thither on the public faith and undef thep rotection of government.' " The Liberatóe then inserts the proclamation, on the strength of which the O'Moores and the other gentry came, and how they were cut to T'iece^ He then quotes a note from a quarto edition of Leland's history ; the words of the note are substantially the same as the language of The Mastbbs. This edition of Leland's woric was printed in Dublin by Marckbank & Moncrief, 1773. To mark his horror of so atrocious an act of English villany, O'Connell in 1843 held a monster meeting at Rathmore, MuUaghmaisten, at which we attended. Oh I that we had the great Tribune now to summon us to that spot, whilst England is in her diiBculty, a monster meeting would tell unmistakably on the nerves of the oppressor^ — ever coward— unless the victim is disunited and powerless. We fancy we hear his thundering voice— " Fellow countrymen, 1 have often told you, * England's difficulty, Ire- land's opportunity,* now or never — rally with me — let us, in a defiant tone, demand back our njitive parliament." Alas ! Alas ! we are disjointed just at the time, when the enemy is in sueb a position as that she durst not withhold our rights, if the nation unanimously insi^ed on them. Doctor O'Donovan writes — "The exact nature of this mas- sacre has been disguised by modern writers." He, after that, pens a lib^ on the strength of an eld raanuscp^t mid to have been found iii the papers of Rev. J^hn Whelan, P.P., Port- arlingtoQ, who Hied in 1775. On the authority of this paper, said to bq co{úed by one Byrne a caliunny is based ; if the doca- ment were genuine, its truth would still be donbtful, as the po8< sesssor, the Bev. M. Dowling, was called a " CkaneeUor." This stcUe term, at a time when the titles of Catholic ecclesiastics were igflpred, leaves the impression, that such Chancellor was a Pro- testant, and wished to place the odium on Catholics. Whether the dociunent be the genuine writing of Byrne or not, matters not. In whose possession was the paper found ? Was it in the hands of a faithful Irishman who would not cook it to blacken the faith and the country ? The Doctor does not tell us the name of the party who gave it to him, though he was so bound. That ^ight not be prudent, as the very name might reveal tíie motive that searched it out, whether real or false. We are entitled to know who gave the Editor the manuscript, which attempts to place on the O'Dempseys and the Catholics of Leúc and Offally the calumny of having butchered their co-religion- ists. The Doctor writes from the manuscript — " The five last of them (meaning of the heads of the S^st) were Catholics, by whom the j90or people, murdered at MuUaghmast, were chiefly invited." Whoever coined the paper was very ingenious. " The poor people.^ This phrase is used to make the puUic believe that none of the gentry were butchered. It announces an O'Lalor as having given the alarm to prevent otliers going to the field of slaughter. The learned author, from himself, then states, " it is not to be doubted that a massacre took place." He tells us,— contrary to the evidence of acts of parliament, — " that the O'Dempseys had not forfeited, and that In all probability they were on good terms with the En- glish." The State papers attest the contrary. The Doctor should give us more than his own words ; when the character . of an ancient, distinguished family, when the honor of creed Mil I ' ■ iriiiiaBi' ^■-^^^'■■^^-^-'^'^"-■^-'lirtittiKiiErmiiiftfci^it^ •7*T -s?'^. 3^8 and country,, is in question, no one man^s word, however pure, will be taken in sustainment of an assertion. It is no4^ to be tolerated that one writer shall oppose his own opinion, however respectable, to the concurrent testimonies of a chain of accredited authors. To give a mere unantheuticated tra- dition (it could not be called a tradition, as it is not believed in Leix) to contradict one of the most prominent facts on the re- cords of Irish history is a thing not to be quietly passed over ; the nation will not submit to such a practice. Nor does the State paper inserted by Doctor O'Douovan serve his purpose. For it does not follow, that because one " Edmund (fDempte^' is set down as having been of the Earl of Sussex and Cosby's party, at one time, when there was a confederacy between the Irish and English, that he was always with them ; and eveu though he were, it does not follow that all the tribe were. Again the name " Edmund O'Dempsey," without " Gent" or "Esq." not being affixed, as is, in the same paper, after " Cosbif" will make any common sense man see that he wa» not Thb O'Dempsey, but an humble member of the tribe. And here let us remark that the State paper introduced by the Doctor would uphold Taaffe's view, that the massacre oc- curred in the reign of Queen Mary. The Government docu- ment is dated September 10th, 1558 ; Elizabeth sacceeded November, 1558, two months after Cosby's appointment, which was in Mary's time, fully 19 years before the affair of Mullaghmast, according to Morrison, the Masters, Mac Geoghegan, and other writers. There is another fact, that tells in favor of Taaffe's opinion. Sydney, not Sussex, was Lord Deputy in 1577, that is at the time the occurrence took place. The massacre was perpetrated by Cosby^ who was * This Francis Cosby, aa Englishman (and at first, it is presamed, a Catholic) was sent over to Ireland in the time of Queen Mary, as we find by patent, dated 1 0th Sept. 1558, that he was appointed general of the 329 . . made local governor over the Septs. Again, these words are given by O'Donovan when talking of Leix and Offally, " re- cently made into shire groands under the names of Queen's Co., &c." This note is in p. 1788, A.D. 1580, but alluding to A.D. 1558, the word " recently" refers to 1558. There- fore so far all these things tell for Taaffe; and we have to say for ourselves, that the fact of Mary being a Catholic was no safeguard to Irish Catholics when English interest was in question. We have seen too much to convince as of that fact. Even though Mary were kind, just and pious, she was just the person in whose time atrocious deeds would be per- Jteme of Leix (Annals of Four Masters, p. 1738, O'Donovan) by the Earl of Snssez. Cosby was slain as he was on a plundering excursion towards Sleeveroe and Glenmalier ; he was then 70 years old. This was A,D. 1580, just 22 years after'his arrival in Ireland, and 21 years after Mnllaghmast. The old villain, apostate from the creed he professed in Mary's time, met a death which some would think honorable, but he died the death of a rob- ber, as he with Lord Gray and Peter Carew were plundering the property of others, namely, of the O'Cavanagbs and other clans of Offaly and Leix. We find our warm friend. Doctor O' Donovan, in page 1744, dealing out a severe chastisement to Moore, the poet, for having palliated the cold- blooded murder of the Italians, on Dun-a-nór hill in Kerry, by Lord Gray in Sept. 1580, and in the page O'Donovan charges Moore for having alto- gether passed over the murder of Mullaghmaston. To close this note we would say, that no one will pretend that the five names alluded to in the diteovered MS. of Rev. Chancellor Dowling, could be Catholic, as the members of that creed were not entrusted with any place until they had first professed the new creed. It is true that the chief murderers were the Cosbies, Hartfields, &c. (all English,) but the facts and acts (patenti) place beyond all doubt that they were Protestants. There is not one parti- cle of historical evidence to prove that the O'Dempsey was one of the murderers. But though he were, he was only the forced engine of Cosby an Englishman, in such case he would be a mere machine, exercising no voluntary act. O'Sullivan, at the reign of Queen Mary, states that wicked deeds were perpetrated in Ireland by the Queen's officers, and that the O'Moores and others were proscribed for no other cause than, " that there vere family dispute» ."' 830 pelrateá hy knaves, who, in her presence, wore the mask of piety^ «s did Elizabeth heitelf, but in her absence, and in her name, ' but without her knowledge, committed deeds the bloodiest, and barbarities Qnequalled. It is therefore not at all impro- bable that Cosby, invested with the Qoeen^s authority, enacted the tragic scene ; and thus p;ave an early proof to Elizabeth of how useful a tool for deeds of blood he would be to her to enforce the Reformation. We have seen it given in some works that Sussex was, in person, present at the butchery, and that it took place .whilst the chieftains, with the native gentry, were at dinner in the camp with Sussex, by the unexpected rush of armed soldiers from a place in which they were concealed for the purpose j that a harper gave the alarm, which saved some of them. There were clearly itoo butcheries in Mullagh.. Mac GeoghegMi, writing of this massacre, tells us, that so great a monster was Cosby in delighting to put Catholics .to the torture, that he hanged n>en, women, and children iy the dozen, from a large tree, that grew before his door at Stradbally where he resided, which was a plundered monastery. O'Sullivan* gives similar testimony. Doctor Curry, in his Review of the Civil Wars of Ireland, is equally clear on the massacre of Mullaghmast, as the pre- vious authorities. Fortunately for us, history — the evidence of Protestant writers, is too plain to admit of cavil on the fact. When these villain dastards were not able to meet the Irish chieftains in the field, they dishonored the right of hospitality, which should protect, and not murder the unsuspecting guest. But no crime, however diabolical, was too red for the agent of English power in this country. No language can paint, or mind conceive the inhuman conduct, pursued at this time * Catholic History. ...L..^ towards the Irish. 'The utmost ferocity and cruelty prevailed. A succession of massacres, diversified with the demolition of houses^ the burning of churches, and the wasting of substance, took place in all parts of the south by the government. Morrison, in his account of Lord Mountj'oy's conduct, in the 0' Moore's country, when he murdered Owen Mac Eory O' Moore ; and of Calvagh Mac Walter, says, " the captains and soldiers did cut down and destroy £10,000 worth of the rebel's corn.*' He adds, he was surprised to find such a know- ledge of agriculture amongst such barbarous inhabitants^ aud the reason whereof was, that the Queen's forces, during these wars, never till then came amongst them. — See "Annals of the Four Masters," at this period. ' Let us hear Spencer on the humane policy he suggested to extirpate the Irish race — " The end of them will be very short, and although there should none of them fall by the sword — their being kept from manurance, and their cattle from run- ning abroad, by this hard restraint they would quickly consume i/umselves and devour one another I The proof whereof has been seen in the late Warres of Mounster — 'ere one year and a-half (by Spencer's system) they were brought to sucli wretchedness as any stout heart would have rued the same — they were creeping forth (from the woods) upon their hands, their legges would not bear them, they spake like ghosts cry- ing out of their graves, . ... the very carcasses they spared not to scrape out of their graves . . . . in a short time a most populous and plentiful country suddainely left voide of man and beaste ; in all that Warre there perished not many by the sword but by the extremities of famine. " — "View of the State of L-eland," pp. 165 and 167, Dublin edition, 1800. Ben Johnson, in a letter to Drummond of Hawthornden, says, " that Spencer, himself, Aha for lack of breads in Lon- don." What a righteous and appropriate judgment. '■\\\'\i nrEJifi' fcitftitTi ik . ??:y; ;• ■ .' . ■■■ •-•;■-.•;,,'•■•. ^•:íí,-i^i.-r>ví«c-.j ::wn, of Hospital, County Limerick, (this is the Brown of Feilé, alluded to in the Dirge by Bishop O'Connell when he says " Brown of Turc and Brown of Feilé"). His son Valentine was likewise outlawed in virtue of the father's and grandfinther's outlawry— simply because they were Catholics. This noble family has ever been true to the Catholic faith, also liberal and chari* table, as we stated in a former note. Lord Castlerosse, M.P. for Kerry, who is Colonial Secretary, is the heir to the Earldom of Kenmare. The dates of these attainders place beyond all doubt that the Dirge was composed after 1691, as the bishop mourns over the fate of these noble Catholics. The Books of Peerage are very deficient in some particulars, in as much as they dont set forth the origin of some families. They don't tell us, for instance, whence came to England the first member of the Kenmare family^ but we assume that he came with William the Conqueror- There are several Brownes in Ireland, but as the Most Rev. Bard, on whose poem we are commenting, notices only the two families, we don't feel bound to follow them. However, we cannot close without remarking that we cannot find any authority on which was grounded Mr. Burke's assertion in liis " Peerage," that all the Brownes of Mayo are oflTdhoots of Browne of the Neale'. It would appear, according to Mr. Burke, that the latter were unknown in Ireland until the days of Elizabeth. We have ever thought that the Brownes of Westport and their spreading branches only were Cromwellians, and tradition in Mayo is very accurate and faithful. Sir John Browne of the Neale, father of the present Lord Kilmaine, we have been made believe, was the first Protestant member of his family. The families of Brownstown, Ballinrobe, and Glencorrib, remained Catho* 336 The Geraldines. The ancient and iliostrious family of the Eitzgeralds, ac- cording lo Lodge's Peerage, is descended from Otho, or Other — a rich and powerful lord in the time of king Alfred, who derived his origin from the Dukes of Tuscany. The family migrated from Florence to Normandy, thence to England and Wales, wherein they remained, until Maurice, son of Oerald, or Fitz-Gerald, accompanied his relative Strongbow to Ire- land. Sir William Dugdale tells us that Otho was a Baron of England in the sixteenth year of Edward the Confessor, A.D. 1053. Walter was the son of Otho, father of Gerald and grandfather of Maurice above-mentioned, whose mother was Gladys, daughter of Bywall of Conyn, Prince of Wales, Prom this Maurice is lineally descended the Clan Pitzmaurice, all over Ireland. This Maurice Pitzgerald was the chief an- cestor of the distinguished Pitzgeralds of Kildare, of whom is the adage — " Hibemiorea ipsis Hi^emis." The present noble Duke assisted in the cause of obtaining Catholic Eman- cipation, and his son the Most Noble the Marquis of Kildare is a nobleman of most amiable qualities of heart ; he is pos- sessed of a highly cultivated mind, a great store of Irish lite- rature, and a great adept in the delightful art and science of music. The first Earl of Kildare was John Pitzgerald. This John was the son of Thomas, Lord Offaley, and was himself the eighth Lord of Offaley. His father was called Thomas an appagh or Siniactu, that is, " of the ape." The origin of the soubriquet is this : — Thomas " the Great" Lord of Offa- .ley in A.D. 1260, married into some families in Desmond, and having thereby got large possessions, he thought to rule lie. Of these families, the oaly BorrÍTÍng descendant of whom we are aware is George Browne, Esq., Brownstown, just approaching his majority. His grandfather, in the days of intolerance in Mayo, was a great support to the persecuted priesthood ; may we hope that the grandchild will emulate his ancestor by being ever with the clergy and the people. ».'■' 837 the Mac Garihy clan. His castle of Callan was set fire to, awi^'homas, the only child he had by his first wife Margery, daughter of Sir Thomas Fitz- Anthony, having been forgotten in the castle, was rescued by a favorite ape. Hence the Kil- dare family have ever since preserved the ape on their coat of arms. Eildare and Croom Geraldines were one and the same branch. Maurice, son of a brother of the aforesaid Thomas, and brother of John, was created the first Earl of Desmond on the 27th August, 1829, A.D. Thomas " the Great," had, by his second wife, Honora, daughter of Hugh O'Connor, four sons: — 1st. Gibbert, alias Gibbon, from whom Fitzgeralds Fitzgibbou — called the White Knight. This family was termed Clan Gibbon. 2nd. John, ancestor to the Knights of the Glyn and Valley.* 8rd. Maurice, first knight of Kerry, alias — the "Black Knight," from whom descended several families in Leinster and Munster. 4th. Thomas, progenitor of families in Kerry and Limerick. STANZA CIV. O'SULLIVAN, PaiNCB OP DuNBOY AND THE OTHER MEMBBES OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS SEPT. Before the English invasion the O'Sullivans, descended of Olioll Ollum of the line of Heber, son of king Milesius, oc- cupied rich lands in the South-East of Tipperary, but like most of the Irish families of Munster, having been expelled thence by the invaders, they went westward, and seized on the western parts of Cork and Kerry. The tracts so occupied by them, were mountainous and wild, lying around Bantry Bay, and may be said to be of equal extent with the present Barony of Beare and Bantry. These territories the O'SuUivan Beare held to the end of Elizabeth's reign. At the extreme point of the promontory of an island formerly called Baoi- *ThÍ8 family is descended from a bastard soa of John of Callan — "Tribes of Ireland by O'Donovan," p. 74. 338 Beara, but now Dorsay, lying between the bays of Kenmare and Bantry, was born Don Philip O'Sullivan Beare, author of the Catholic History of Ireland. ; - -, k His grandfather, Dermod 0*Sullivan, was accidentally killed by an explosion of gunpowder in his castle of Dunboy, A.D, 1549, and was succeeded by his brother Aulliffe, who fell by the sword as did his son Donald. But how or on wliat occasion history does not tell. After them Owen O'SuUivan became the O'SuUivan and Chieftain of the Principality which he held until A.D. 1593. The English then deposed him, and trans- ferred Dunboy to Donald his nephew. It must be said, that during Owen's government.of the Princedom, he sided openly neither with Fitamaurice and the insurgent Catholics, nor with the English.* At the same time we find that he was once seized by the Earl of Ormond (A.D. 1580), and that after- wards his name appears as beiag present at the Parliament in * The subjoined note ought to have been inserted at the close of note on " MuUaghmast massacre," p. 324. It would be a very convenient thing if, through the help of an Irish writer, this brand of infamy could be placed on Ireland. We will guard against the effect of that attempt. In closing this article, which a stern sense of duty has caused us to draw up, it may not be out of place here to notice the legends — the calumnious legends — that were written against the glorious O'Hanlon, who is set down as the head of a gang of robbers. He was a noble chieftain, prince of Orier, whose splendid mansion and rich lands were in Armagh, near Newry, from which he vas turned out, becaute he wan a Catholic. All our native chiefs and princes were audaciously termed robbers, because they resisted the common robbers— the common demoralizers of the Irish nation and of every country that has been cursed by their iniquitous power. Had space permitted we would shew that Bagnall, who got from the English crown O'Hanlon's property» was in reality the robber. Some nine years ago we wrote a long paper on O'Hanlon and his faithful dependants who sought to reinstate him in his castle. If Irishmen would stud^ the history of their country and of their progenitors they would be different men. They would learn that this country must remain a degraded nation as long as she is under the rule of a government and a parliament resident in another island. Eí' -. 339 1585. His nephew, Donald, observed allegiance to the English notwithstanding the triumphs of Hugh O'Neill. From his after-life it is clear that such conduct was the result of prudence, and that he wished only " to bide his time." That time had now arrived (as he thought), A.D. 1600, when the Spanish fleet landed at Einsale. Now that he thought an effective and final blow could be struck for creed and country, he resigned his castles to the Spaniards, and transferred his allegiance to the king of Spain. The only member of the O'Sullivaus whom we find illuminating the pages of the Ca- tholic History was Dermod, Philip's father. From 1569, when Elizabeth was excommunicated by Pope Pius V. to the death of the Earl of Desmond, the aforesaid Dermod was ever in the field, leading on his chosen Beare infantry against the heretics and their numerous Catholic slave-auxiliaries. Donald O'Sullivan, Prince of Beare, was amongst the first who, under the leadership of the chivalrous Fitzmaurice, in 1569, hoisted his standard to defend the Catholic faith. He was supported by Owen, Edmund, and Murcha Mac Sweeney, three uncles of Don Philip, author of the " Catholic History." This eff- ort of Fitzmaurice not having succeeded he withdrew to the continent, whence he returned in 1579. At this time Dermod, father of Philip and cousin of the O'Sullivan, with the Mac Sweeneys, joined John Fitzgerald, brother to the Earl of Des- mond, and continued in the struggle to its close. Two of the Mac Sweeneys, namely, Giollaiosa and Bernard, were seized and put to death by" the English, whilst their brother Rory, and the d«6ris of Desmond's army, fled for shelter to the chief- tains of North Connaught and Ulster. It is to be supposed that Dermod O'Sullivan took refuge in the impregnable island of Dorsay whereon lie had built his castle. It is probable that it was at this time his son Philip O'Sullivan was born of Jo- hanna Mac Sweeney ; she bad besides him sixteen children, thirteen of whom had the good fortune to die before the Ex- , V-i.'P^^.il 340 cidium Hiberniae. The mother, and the foqr sons were in- volved in the fate of the father who supported The O'SulKvan when he declared for the Spaniards (A.B. 1 601). It has been already stated that Donald, The 0*SulUvan, received a Spanish garrison into his castle of Dunboy. After the failure of the Irish Chiefs at Kinsale, one of the conditions of capitulation made by the Spaniards with Oarew was the surrender to the English of all the castles, held by tlie Spaniards for th«r king. Donald, of course, not thinking himself bound by a treaty entered into by strangers, and which involved the surrender of his castles, no way dismayed by the gloomy aspect of the Ca- tholic cause, made a daring effort to regain his territory. During the night he succeeded in effecting an entrance into his castle of Dunboy, and having deprived the Spaniards of their arms, their artillery and stores, sent to the king of Spain bitterly complaining of Don Jon de Aquila for having without any authority consented to surrender to "cruel, cursed, and infidel enemies'' his castle. In this letter he notified to his Majesty that, with the help of his people and some few tried friends, he had determined to keep the castle until such time as the king might be able to send auxiliaries to repair the dis- grace which the cowardice and incapacity of de Aquila had produced. To attest his sincerity to the king, he sent him Daniel* his son and heir, who had now attained his fifth year, .. ,- . : 1, .' . .■i;;it i: * Young Dennod, son of The O'Snllivan Bearr, was five years old in the Febnury of 1602, when he and other youths, with Don Philip, had sailed 'from Castlehaven for Spain. They landed at Corunnaa the point to which an noble Irishmen steered their course when bound for Spain. Be- catise, as Don Philip says, there was Brogan's Tower, in which the Mile- sians took counsel, and adopted measures for the invasion of Ireland, 1080. A. Flood. 273Pt A.M. 1268, A.C. As the young O'SuIlivan was only five years old in 1602, he was only 21 at his father's death in 1618. Don Philip had not been long in Spain until he was joined by his whole sur- viving famUy, his father, mother, brother, and two siaters, with the |fír^-t:j,-. . \ ■- ' ;■ -■.■'-:■-; ^ ..■;•■.■•.■'-'. ._i '; r\:, •::;jj^Ns^*ft;;>,^^. T^^i^^-r^.-^^^^sp-rg^^^ .-sra^aCTff.i^^ 341 and with him Don Philip (about the same age) and several other noble youths. They set sail from Castlehayen in the February of J.602, just ten months after the departure from the same port of The O'Donnell (Hugh) and Archbishop Conry of Tuam, chaplain to the latter. The place at which they landed in Spain was Corunna, where they were generously received by the Marquis de Caracena, who engaged father Patrick Synnott,''^ an Irish priest/ to take charge of the edu- cation of Don Philip. When these noble youths had been removed from the scene of danger, the (^Sullivan resolved to make a noble stand. (ySuUivan^s history gives us the names of the chieftains who rallied round the O'Sullivan. Their names are — Daniel Mac Cart by, son of the Mac Carthy (Flo- rence at the time in London Tower), Daniel O^SuUivan, son of O'Sullivan M6r, Cornelius and Dermot, sons of O'DriscolI M(5r, Dermot O'Sullivan, father of Don Philip, author of the Catholic History, Dermot Mac Carthy, the two Donaghs (Mac Carthy), Florence Fineen (Mac Carthy Biavagh), FmeftSf the three Mac Sweeneys, knights, Donagh O'DriscolI and his brothers, O'Connor-Kerry, Fitzmaurice (Mac Morris or Mau- rice Fitzgerald) baron of Lixnaw, the Golden Knight of Kerrjr,t O'SallÍTan Beare himself. Don núlip's father died at the age of 100, and was buried at Coninna. His mother was buried at the same place. His sister Helen was drowned on her passage to Ireland. Another sistor, Iieonora, became a nun at a Tery early age. * Patrick Sywnott wa$ a prie$t. The Rev. Mr. Kdly calls O'Snllivan Beare the nephew of Don Philip instead of " eouam-ffenmaÍH," the Latin being patrueli*. t O'Sullivan's history does not give his name, but " Hibemia Dominicana" names three knights, vix. the Black Knight, the White Knight, and the Knight of the Glyn and Valley. In 1602 <• The O'Donoghu» was the Kinght ^f Glynt and Daniel Mac Carthy was the Knight tf Kerry. The White Knight was Flfo^'^te»"— " Mac Geoghegan" at A.D. 1602. De Burgo, p. 284, writes — " There were also three Knights of the Geraldines," &c. According to the same authority the White Knight was a Fitzgibbon. — See note, page 338. ♦■ ■ 34e the Golden Knight of the Glyn,* John Fitzgerald, bro- ther of Earl (James) of Desmond, James Butler, brother of the baron of Cahir, William Burke and Aichard Tyrrell O'Malley of Mayo, and others not given ; but a subsequent fact makes it appear that O'Donovan, Donagh and Fineen Mac Carthy, brothers, deserted the prince of Bere and weni over to the English. Besides these three last mentioned, there assisted the English Ponagh O'Brien, the Earl of ThcMHond,. Mac Carthy S^agh of Carbery, Charles Mac Carthy, chief of Muskerry, Barry M<5r, the Viscount Buttevant, the Golden White Knight (Eitzgibbon), Owen O'SuUivan. " Fitzgerald" as Gilbert, the great grand uncle of the Arst Earl of Des- mond, was called in Irish " Gibbon." Hence " Clan Gibbon," Tulgarized litzgibbon. This fanuly in Kerry was originally the offspring of " John of Callan." * Thb O'Donoohub, M.P. for Tipperary, is lineally descended from Cas, son of Core, who is the sixth from Oilioll Ollnm (both included) king of Munster in the second century of our Redemption. Ollum was married to Sadhbh (Saiav) (or Isabella) daughter of " Con ^f the Hundred Battkt," monarch of Ireland. A.D. 125 to 145. Though Oilioll had 18 sons, yet three only had offspring, 'viz. — Ist. Owen Mór — a quo. The 0*Donoghue, The O'SulIivans, Mac Carthy, O'Briens of Tipperary with their branches. 2nd. Cormac Caé — a quo, O'Brien of Clare, Mac Mahon, Mac Namara, O'Brennan, and O'Grady, with O'Donnell also of Clare. 3rd. Cian—^ quo, O'Carrolls, kings of Ely for a loiig period ; O'Mbaohsb, O'Hars, O'Gara (of the latter name some are Firbplgs), O'Connor of Ciannachta in Meath and Ulster. Ollum was the first king of the line of Heber Fionn that ruled Munster — (See Keating). From what has been Written it can be seen that the above illustrious families are of double royal blood — being descended of the daughter of Con and of Oilioll Ollum. Thb O'DoNOOHUEg were Lords of the territories, called of Lough Leane, at a very early period — See Annals of the Four Masters at A.D. 1039, p. 7S7. There were kings of the O'Donoghues in Cashel between the years 1016, 1078 and after. — A. F. Masters. What an honor to Tipperary to have a faithful royal scion of the name to assert its rights in the British parliament. In a note under the Irish we said that the Very Rev. P. O'Gara, P.P. of * Wf^^j^ 343 It may be interesting to mention here that six* noble Irish young men fell in a naval engagement, fighting in the service of Spain against the Tarks, who were wasting one of the For- tunate Islands. Their names are Daniel O'Sullivan, brother of Don Philip, author of the Catholic history of Ireland ; Philip his cousin ; Daniel Mac Garthy, grandson of Mac Garthy Beevagh ; Gornelius O'Driscoll, grandson of O'DriscoU M6r ; Cornelius OTleilly and William Fitzgerald. This occurred on the 2nd of July, 1618, in which year the great CCane died in the Tower of London, (a spot ever to be execrated by every lover of mankind, but especially by Irishmen). On the 16th of the same month and year the glorious Daniel O'Sullivan, Prince of Bere, who made such a stand-r-a stand unequalled Drumcliffe, a faithful pastor, and as genuine an Irishman as breathes, was of Firbolgic descent. We were not then aware that another sept was in Connanght, bnt of a different and royal descent. The formation of the head, the large intellect, and the varied learning of the above clergy- man, are nnmistakeable characteristics of his Milesian origin. The Fir- bolgs' skuUs are small and flat — a fact shewing the possession of small intellect. We could mention a family of that character neair Ballyhaunis, Mayo, but as a member of the family pursues a political path different from ours we will not give the name, , i, .. ■ j" . t ' It is a very difficult matter for a writer to keep Wore his mind all the fkcts he may have read whilst preparing to compose « work, or not to " for« get what he may have written." Thus in a note already referred to, we forgot the fact, that Ferral O'Gara, Lord of Magh O'Gara, and M.P. for Sligo, of the parliament held in Dublin, A.D. 1634, who was the patron of the Four Masters whilst they were writing their learned work, was from Cian, son of Oilioll Ollum of the line of Heber, as Brother Michael O'Clery, one of the Masters shewed in the pedigree of O'Gara which he drew ap. In that document we find that O'Brennan was the ninth ancestor before Gadhra (a quo O'Gara). Though we thougl^f it our^wty to present the above explanation, yet we must confess that any of the Firbolg race now living may feel justly proud of their ancient lineage, as their ancestors were here long before the Milesians. . :r " • t ;ii:r -ir í t * Don Philip's only-surviving brother was amongst the six whom I set down as killed at the Fortunate Inlands» 3U in the pages of history — in Dunboy, and his native moun- tains, was assassinated by John Bath, an Anglo-Irishman. Bath was an obscure, poor dependant of the (ySuUivan, and from time to time, borrowed sums of money from his princely patron ; but the latter happening, on the day mentioned above, to be talking to Bath concerning the loan, was grossly insulted by this pauper follower ; Don Philip, the historian, and cou- sin-germain of the Lord of Bere, having overheard the insult, remonstrated with Bath ; the result was, that with naked swords they fought a duel in Madrid. Bath, having become terrified, and crying out for mercy, was withdrawing from the ground, Philip wounded him in several parts of the face, and would have killed him had not the O'Sullivan protected him, who made Edmund O'Moore, Gerald Eitzmaurice, and two Spanish knights interfere. Don Philip was arrested by a constable, who, however, was unable to keep him in custody.- Thereupon a crowd having collected around them, Bath, taking advantage of Daniel (ySullivan, who, apprehending no danger, and therefore, off his guard, having his rosary in his left hand and his gloves in his right, treacherously stabbed the man to whom he owed his life. Thus fell one of Ireland's purest, best and bravest sons. The Don escaped into the house of the Marquis of Seuecia the Erench ambassador. John Bath, his cousin Erancis, his second, and CyDriscoll the second and cousin of Don Philip, were put into prison. The nobles of Spain per- formed, with great pomp and solemnity, the funeral obsequies of the Prince of Bere, whose remote ancestors were from that old land, as may be seen from O'Sullivan's history, and which fact he says, is confiri|;ied by the concurring testimony of the Spanish Becords — (see C/Sullivan, tom. i., p. 3} . Such testimony in behalf of the almost universally received opinion of our Spanish origin, ought to be sufficient to have taught Doctor O'Donovan better than to hazard a theory of a Gaulic source. 345 - in opposition to a host of foreign writers 'and all native autho- rities, with the exception of O'FIaherty and De Burgo. These two are not to be credited, inasmuch as they present but con- jecture. Here is their assertion : — " Providence so arranged the islands that one can be seen from the other. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that people went from island to island, as each was nearest to another, and because Britain was nearer to Gaul than Ireland, therefore Britain was first inhabited be- fore Ireland." This is only the theory of two writers, but opposed by the concurrent testimonies of all other learned men, Iiord Boss, Parsons, Camden, Bede, Huntingdon, &c., especially by the native records which are the only reliable evidences, as our ancestors from the earliest period have carried down the fact to us by an unbroken chain of oral and written tradition, and they could have no object in telling a falsehood.— See preface to second volume of this work, and ** O'Brennan's Essay." We find in a letter of Philip's (the historian) dated Cadiz, April, 1619, and addressed to Dermot O'SuUivan, Earl of Dunboy, and son of the late Donald, that the father had not completed his 57 th year when he was assassinated. — See page 269 of Catholic history. In page 261 are these words — "Obiens annum 57 agebat," "at his death he was in his 57th year." . It is strange, therefore, that in The Celtic Becords, published by Messrs. Hodges and Smith, page 97, that he is said to be 70 years old at his death. Clearly the latter statement must be wrong, as CSnllivan is a better authority. Barely has there been found a more polished letter than the one quoted. It is full of wisdom. Catholic piety. Scripture knowledge, and classical lore. In it he sought, by striking examples from the Greek and Boman authors, as from Holy Writ, to console and strengthen the young Dermot O'SuUivan on the untimely fate of his illustrious father. It is a master piece of composition '7"* 346 as regards language and stjle ; the Latin is pure> and the words bro^ie the most perfect resignation to the Will of Providence in the heavy blow that had fallen on Ireland. It is to be re- gretted that the learned and accomplished Bev. M. Kelly, of Maynooth, omitted it and others from his new edition of the work. Confidence in his handsome volume was thus destroyed. In the pretermitted parts are deeply interesting passages, as every thing connected with the time and the man is dear to all true Irishmen. It may be the eloquent editor, seeing that the letters did not form a part of Irish history, thought their in^ sertion not necessary. However, in them are incidents neces- sary to the research of the historian. It is a great pity that such an oversight occurred, as otherwise the edition brought out by the Eev. Mr. Kelly is a very handsome book, and a great desideratum to the student of Irish history. Had not Mr. CbnnoUy of Ormond>quay kindly lent us an original copy of the work, we would have felt very unpleasant for want of a few facts. Prom the new edition is omitted from p. 264 to p. 283, except two short letters and an extract from a third. In connection with the death of CSuIlivan and O'Cane, it may be the place to state, that on the 20th of July, 1616, died, at Éome, Hugh O'Neill, Prince of Tyrone, the hero of the Yellow Ford— and on the I6th of August, 1617, Bernard O'Neill, the son of Hugh, was strangled in Brussells by some unknown persons where he was at College. His death created great alarm and wide-spread sorrow. He was a child of great promise, and was a great favorite of the Boyal family, both on account of his illustrious origin as his great talents, and divine appearance and serene countenance. ' 1 ; ' ' "■ '' STANZA CI. '■ ■ " '■' The O'Briens were kings of Thomond (Tuath, Thooa)^ Múmhuain (Mooin), North Jf»ff«/«r— comprising part of >*«í^;-.-. 1"r .,;;,' .,..>•_- -_.^.^, -., ■...■•,.■. .-v:. .-.-;;--. ^;:; ••..;; . ■:. ^ ^'::^'\.: ^ ■■■ ^\-: ■ f^ffir 347- Ltmerick, all Clare and Tipperary as far as Casliel. In the time of Donogh O'Brien, who stole the Irish crown to Borne, O'Donegan was chief of Lower Ormond, or Eaáfc Munster. It occurs to as that Mumhain, in olden times, comprised only Cork, Kerry, Waterford, and a part of Limerick. — See 0' Brien's " Dictionary." Some writers confound Leagh Modha (Lhá Moa) with Mun- ster, but erroneously, as part of Leinster was included in Eoghan's (Owen's) southern half of Ireland. Clare was ori- ginally in Connaught. Thomond meant — not merely North Munster, but líorfA j>art of Munster — (Hr Mutnhain, " Or- mond,*' JSasf part of Munster, lar Múmhain^ West part of Munster, and that called BeM Múrnhain^ " Dedmond," South part of Munster» At one time the Mac Carthys ruled South Munster — that is, all places south of a line, drawn from Duu- garvan to Brandon's (0'Brennan*s) hill, in Kerry ; and the O^Briens possessed all parts north of the same line. This bi- partite division, belonging to the descendants of Eoghan M6r and Cormac Cas, was, in truth, Desmond and Thomond. STANZA C51X. ■ ' \\.,:\ Dun Ross, or Ross Castle^ on the Lake of Killamey. — In the awful and troubled times of Charles, this Donogh Mac Carthy, who was the second Lord Viscount Muskerry, the fifth Lord Muskerry, the first Earl, and the fifth in descent from Cormac Ladir (Lhadhir), was, as we find in the appendix to the translation of Keating's " Ireland," the last who, in behalf of the Stuarts, laid down his arms. He was the Gene- ral of the royal forces in Munster. He sided with the English at the dose of Elizabeth's reign against the glorious CSulli- van Bére and the Catholic Confederate army. We shall shew, before we close, that it had been fortunate for Ireland and her religion, had he never taken a prominent part in the lockkss wars of the faithless and perfidious Stuarts. . — í' T^>^ rw^srrr. ■:p ■••' y-y^- -'^.^ ~t:, • - -'-/^r;^?!;™' 848 The Castk oí Eoss is situated in the lower lake of KiUalr-i ney» anciently Lough Lane, whence the river Iiane flows into the Atlantict at Killorglin, or Castlemaine harbour. In the time of piout Bess, this place and the surrounding lands, were taken firom the old Catholic proprietors, and given to an apos- tate, named Conway. After this family, it was sometimes called " Castle Conway .'* If we are not mistaken^ it came by a female heir to the Bleunerhasset family. It is in the di- ocese of Ardfert, County of Kerry, four and a quarter miles soutb>west from Milltown. The fortress of Mac Carthy was on an island in the lake, which was embosomed in lofty moun- tains, and could be approached, at thid; time, only by rugged paths. Hence, it might be deemed impregnable, or, at least» not to be taken, unless by a protracted siege. After the un* successful battle of Gnock-na-glosha, Lord Muskerry, with about 1500 of the Catholic Confederate army, betook himself to this mountain fastness, and thought to secure himself there- in, until succour would have come to him from Charles II., who was then in France. But nothing could secure him. For, as the author of our poem has graphically sung, plague and ruin overspread the land, because of Muskerry's contempt of the holy Sinuccini, who sought, as himself stated in elo- quent language, in the presence of the intolent Mountgarrett> President of the Kilkenny Confederation,'*^ to assert the rights • The Confederation of Kilkenny is not to be confotuded with that of 1601 in which " Tna O'Sullitam," Red Hugh O'DonneU, Red Hogh O'Neill, Thomas Bonrke, O'Malley of Mayo, Lord Maguire, The O'Do- noghne, Hie 0*Connor-Kerry, and other native chieftains acted so chival» rons a part— See from pages 230 to 320. The O'Connor-Kerry accom- panied the O'Snllivan Beare to the north, as can be seen in O'Snllivan's Catholic history, in which is given an address of O'Connor to his feet, entreating of them to carry him a little farther after the good service they had hitherto done for him, in having enabled him to have escaped his re- lentless enemies. "•^''" !'■, ."■•.?■'.,. •,'. ■ /.-■■•^^;^ ■^-::'77'; ■=T-'. ■, - - : .. ■ ■■..■ v -, ---^,. .- , _,rCT-p:!., -■ ,,-.;v . T=?f«!r>' 34« ef the king, but at every risk, to vindicate and uphold tlie privileges and dignity of the Catholic Church. Such, said the glorious Nuncio, was the commission he had from Holy Inucn cent. He farther added, " that he was instructed not to quit the island until he had seen the churches and lands, of which violence and Araud had deprived them (the Catholics) restored.'' Heber Mac Mahon, Bishop of Clogher, to whom Binuccini was confided, supported the eloquent appeal. • • ' ' . 8mith, in his " History of Kerry," p, 316, writes that the people believed,^ — owing to a prophecy^ — that Castle Ross '* could never be taken until a ship should swim on the lake." In the " Gesta Hibernorum," which are annexed to Sir J. Ware's "Annals" (p. 183, Dublin, J 705), we read this pas^ sage — " A.D., 1652. Rosse, in the County of Kerry, a castle in an island, is yielded up to Ludlow, after he had caused a small ship to be carried over the mountains and set afloat on the lough, which terrified the enemy/' The hold the supposed prophecy had on public opinion, it would seem, from the words quoted, had also its effect on Protestant superstition» However, the facts themselves will shew that Ludlow did not make so light of the difficulty of capturing the castle, as hos-^ tile writers have asserted. Let us hear Ludlow himself, who gave his memoirs to the world years later than the annals at^ tributed to Ware. Though his own narration of his mode of besieging the castle is but very obscure, yet the reader will see that he had a considerable force» " Whilst Ludlow was thus engaged in watching the place of Mac Carthy 8 retreat^ we find by a letter of the Rev. Mr* Jones, whose brother was the general to the regicide Crom.* wellin army, and who was himself afterwards made Bishop of Meath, under the very moiiarch whom they sought to keep from the throne, that an expedition was in readiness to sail fiom Kinsale to Castle Conway, on the next day. This lettet 26 360 was forwarded on the 14th of June, 1652 : it reqaested that a force would be sent down to protect them as they were land- ing. This Jones was Scoat Master to the rebelliouB parlia- mentary insurgents, whose objects were the subversion of monarchical power, the extirpation of Popery and Papists, plunder, and personal aggrandizement. His plan, as ^posed by bis dispatch to the commander-in-chief, was to prepare the materials for twenty boats, capable of carrying, each, sixty men, two of them pinnaces with two pieces of ordnance in their bows. These we would now designate " Gunboats." ;i It is here to be observed that a branch of the Mac Carthys took the name of Mac-Donogh. They lived in Mallow in Cork. See note on stanza ciii. ' • u -• STAUZA cxx. St. f ursa was the son of Fintain, of the tribe of Heber, king of south Munster, and of Gilgesia, of the royal Here- monian tribe of Ui-Bruin, in south-east Oonnaught, bordering along the Shannon. He was baptized and educated by his uncle St. Brennan. His father, because'of his marriage with Oilgesia, was persecuted by his father. The saint built a house for them near his monastery at Clonfert. Here it was that St. Fursa was reared, and imbibed the early lessons of piety, which iired his soul m\k a burning zeal for the salvatioa of man. When he was of age (with the consent of his uncle) he founded a monastery in Lough Oraben (Lough Corrib). At this tíme, Ware and Hanmer write, that he, wishing to with- draw from the tumult of war, which was then raging between the wicked Saxons and the Britons, and the influence of which was felt here, withdrew to France, and founded several monasteries^ which were filled with thousands of holy monks; he reeled in the Lord, according to the Annals of Boyle (a place which has ever been surrounded with the clan " O'Breuuan," ■■^^F^^^^vV'r's'- "- ^^ 851 for years a farmer class, through English plunder), Á.D. 65S) in Peronne in Picardy. It should have been mentioned, that he and one of his brothers were consecrated bishops at Rome by the Pope. He was a great patron of the arts and sciences, «lid walked in the footsteps of his illustrious uncle. The Vnonastery built by him in the above mentioned lake, though -allowed for a long tame to be in a state of dilapidation, was re- painsd with great splendor, and endowed with rich presents by a king of the East Saxons, or, we are apt to think, by a queen. It was situated in the deanery of Eanuichduin (Annadown), County of Galway, Archdiooess of Tnam* Near the monastery of Clonfert (in ancient times a bishop usually resided in each monastery) several thousand monks were edified by his in- structions and sanctified example. The holy saint travelled for seven years as a pilgrim, spreading the light of the Gospel whoever he went, founding monasteries, attracting, by the magnetic influence of his piety» thousands of pious anchorites, establishing ndes for their guidance, whilst he was, in his person, an example of self-denial and mortification ; all the monks of his institution lived by the sweat of their brow ; he also visited foreign parts, Ware, vol.ii. p. 34 j Hanmer, pp» 107, 117: also the life of St. Ruadanus (Ruane). Doctor O'Donovan, in a note in the Annals of the '* Four Masters," guards his readers against confounding him with another. A manuscript, lately discovered in the Burgundian library, it is said, asserts that he visited and taught not only the Ice^ landers, but even many parts of North America, and that he celebrated seven Easters on sea, and then returned home by France) having thus paid homage to the birth-place of Ireland's great Apostle, as well as to hear about and see his nephews, Fursa and Ultan. The fact of his having, at his own private expense, built his church and monastery, the nunnery and monastery of bis niece and nephew, and having supported Fiontan and hit KyS5'5\y',W,?»t-*'..^^vT • ■"— :? ;í>^jpTyW>W/U«j5Wlíf^5!|jf^jJ^^ 35e wife, as became members of royal families, is an evidence of bis royal descent, wealth, and influence. We regret that our available space will not allow us to give more of the history of the saints, mentioned in the poem, than will be found in the notes under it. Whoever would read more of them must have recourse to Doctor Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History, and to our History of St. Patrick in this work. We had intended to place before our readers, a sketch of the origin of the Anglo-Norman Catholic families, who forfeited in consequence of their adhesion to the faith ; but we were unable to get a work on the subject. Lodge and Burke, on even the Irish Peerage, are very unsatisfactory. They give us the men, but not their origin, if we except that of a few. They had no difficulty in tracing the pedigrees of the Milesian peers, owing to the accurate manner in which the records of their iUustrious royal ancestors were kept ; whereas, the En- glish noblemen had, in reality, no pedigrees, unless ones of which they should be ashamed, with the exception of a very few. ■í^SP!^- ~™; ,"'•■- ■ »-^A.-*i.r ;. ; Tryy-i'^ " -'t -y, v. '■;-«"iS.»T8iítr5:sTiw»ri55j,-r5;«l-í7r?)^^ 358 which stand in tlie centre of onr valleys, whilst with wondering gaze he look:} upon «tapendous, awful erections of another character. These latter are to be found as well in the viscera of the earth as on the summits of mountains. His curiosity is excited, and his wonderment heightened I He asks himself what are these ? what are those ? what the uses of the latter ? what of the former? What are they but the everlasting monu^ ments of high antiquity — of early civilization, of former splendor I They are indestructible records of the early pos- session of enlightenment by Ireland more than 8000 years ago. They have defied the ravages of time and vandalism ; they have mocked the power of the creedless spoilers, and they still '* lift their heads" to attest ihe skill of their pagan artificers, and to give the lie to the the-orist of the present day, who, either actuated by sordid gain, or by an overweening vanity, having allowed his judgment to be clouded, has presumed to falsify the authenticity of our records, and to throw a doubt on the fact — that Irin had an enlightenment at least ISOO years before England — the idol of thisjso/fto^ic Irishman — was known to Borne. What he cannot claim for the Saxon he would deny to the land of the Shamrock. But who will unravel the mystery of these buildings to the antiquarian ? He sees that they are " Bound Towers," and *' Cromleachs," and " Mithratic Caves." He asks his guide — ^were these made for religious purposes ? But one antiquarian, as Sinon, who deceived Priam about the wooden horse, would mislead the inquirer's mind ? Who then shall essay to explain the difficulty ? The answer is simple ; history will explain the matter. As the inquirer is a scholar and a philologist, there will be placed before his physical and mental vision records, facts and circumstances, whence he can learn the uses of tliese reliques, the surviving-chronicles of pristine greatness and primeval civilization. It is admitted that these are only the monuments of druid- ical idolatry and unenlightened paganism, but when it will be ■.f^'|!°!»í?!?F^?fií!^Sffi ^'9r'?«!r 359 language. As well might a mariner commit his frail vessel to the waves of the Atlantic without the needle, compass, and chart, as an antiquarian, (if sach he can be called,) witJioni a thorough knowledge of our language, uay, without au eiLten- sive acquaintanoe with other tongues, which aire its ofbpiing, aim at the development of Bound Towers-— which is, howev^, a ^cile task to the general linguist. '- i -itv- i-iá^ »■; s; -• " ii«^ Quale per incertam Innam sub Inoe maligna '^^ ^ Est iter in sylvisubi ocelnm condidit umbra "^ >' Jupttear, et nox abstnlit atra colorein. Doctor Johnson, and all eminent writers, are agreed that to be an antiquarian, a man must know the origin of languages — and justly, for philosophical philology, supported by facts, circum- stances and analogy are the key whereby entrance is effected into the history of any nation. With this prefatory remark let modern theories be investigated, and it will be seen that the reduciio ad absurditm, will be as cogent as in the case of a proposition in Euclid. One theory is, that Bound Totoers were " pu^torial columns," or " penitential eminences ''—to remove culprits or sinners from converse with the good, and to place them near to heaven ! I ! This opinion is too contemptible to be dwelt upon* The idea of elevating criminals above virtuous citizens, who lived in timber and clay huts with wicker frames, is an outn^e on common sense. Nay, at the time that it is impudently asserted that penitents were thus elevated, the Christians of Ireland had only mud walls, or, at best, timber ones, for their chapels ; it was so in England up to the i7th century. The inventor of such a theory, therefore, deserves a man's pity. -* That they were beacons, as far as they regard Ireland and Persia, is equally as absurd. Because, if that were even one of the uses for which they were built, the designers would have placed them on lofty places, not in valleys ; but the contrary is the £act. Hence follows the nonsense of such a theory. The supposition that they were erected for belfries, though '^; '■•' ■-t'^r''f?p'P'iy^,*T'^jí'^v,;;»'^:iX ^yy: 360 not entireljr as ridiculouá as the other notions, is equally as untenable. A valley is the best position for a belfry. It is a physical fact, founded on the science of Acoustics, that the sound of bell», hang up in plains and valleys,is heard at a greater distance than is that of those which are hung up on hills. The higher the air — which is the medium of sound— *the more rarified, and therefore the worst conductor of sound. This is the reason why in churches with low roofs, the pulpits must be low also, the better to convey the voice of the preacher. It is a known fact that a speaker raised too near the ceiling, becomes exhausted and hoarse in a very short time. ^^ (^ So far therefore as this phase of the belfry goes it is not unintelligible, though untenable. " • : i- \ • * '^'^; In some parts of the country two of these splendid monu« ments of early artistic knowledge are to be seen in one spot. Now if their use were for belfries or beacons such would be an insane extravagance — a monstrous waste of money to erect two such costly towers in the same position. What makes the theory less tenable is the very assertion of the theorists themselves, who allege, that these gorgeous bell towers were raised by Grecian missionaries, and that at a time when the natives, as well kings, nobles, and humble classes, were all Pagans. Imagine poor, strange missionaries, daring to erect such edifices in a Pagan country, not only without the co* operation of the princes, but, clearly, against their will. Whence got they the money ? whence the materials ? whence the laborers, who, if such could be at all had, were the clients of the chieftains ? Th^y durst not work for foreign ecclesiastics who were themselves and their religion, at first, hated by the natives. , — - •■•;!*'' • : '< .' -■ '■ ■( ■ ■ ' -l '^v-^-'í' The object of the theory about Greek missionaries is to deny to Eowe the merit of having converted our Pagan ances- tors to the Catholic faith.* In the history of St. Patrick, • See Doctor MUncr's Antiquities of Ireland (p, 122-23) on this subject. '.'/■ . .• -M.ii..M^,^ÁÍ,^ ^le^^^^Ks^-'^^^y^f^i^s^^^i^s^m^:- . . --^i^?!?.?^f?»i:. m contained in "O'Brennan's Ancient Ireland," it was proven by the clearest, most reliable, incontrovertible authorities, that St. Patrick brought the light of the Gospel to illaiuine this island, whose horizon was muffled up in a thick cloud of droidical and necromantic superstition. Here, consequently, to enter into a disqnisition of that snbjeot would be irrelevant. The cost of the erecti(m of Nelson's Pillar was £6856 ; that of the unsightlj and imperfect one in the Phoenix Park was about £20,000. Let the reader then fancy, if he can, the criminal waste of money in erecting two Bound Towers in one spot, if they were for the purpose of belfries or beacons. We are thoroughly convinced that the money neeessary for the construction of some of our Bound Towers was larger— as we are equally certain that there were subterranean places attached to them. The discoveries lately.made by touri$t8, in the East, in connection with buildings qf.a similar character, lead to this irresistible conclusion. Bat, to keep to the pointy let the reader hear the account Herodotus gives of an inscription on one of the Pyramids of £gypt which, in design and aim were, (if we be allowed the expression) sympathetic with our towers, and the form of some of them not very unlike that of the latter. The purport of the inscription is this. About £400,000 of our money, or 1600 talents of silver, were expended on garlic, onions, radishes for 800,000 men who were engaged during the space of 20 years in bringing that wonder of the earth to a completion. That pyramid was erected for religious and scientific purposes. Considering the early period of the construction of the Bound Towers of Ireland, the reader will have easily concaved that the cost of their erection must have been, comparatively speaking, not much less. For such an enormous oujiay there must be a corres- pondent important motive. Surely the receptacles for bells were not of such moment. In former days, as well as 4'ji_<'-Aii.V..Í4 •"'< e*><«»7T ^ ?'^'^ I, li-i; ij'-f~ ::ffi-- á6á now-a-days, the building of the place of worship WaS, aha tsj the paramount — the first conaideratiofit The belfrj is of the last importance, the temple of the first. It is, for tiiese reasons, a mad theory to <»11 them belfries, espedally whilst the temples were of clay, or stick») stuck to- gether, as was also the ease in England bng aftert Sttofa is the case as regards (lie ehsqpels of the first missioiiaried in the f«r west of Amenea, in which tiiere is religious toleration. 1^ {Mvtext for this baseless theory is this-<-Buiind tovrefs are foimd contiguous to Ghristiui temples, therefore they were belfries 1 ! I Mighty fine logic 1 Lucid enthymeqie \ ^ '■*■'■ -^ The Paotiieon, and other (Marches in Borne, are Christian temples — tiMrelore they were always such 1 1 One argument is jnst as cogent, as valid as the other. The veiy wise, conciliatory motives that indnced the Bppes to worship near, nay in. Pagan temples, prompted St. Patrick and the first Irish Apos- tles^ There ean be no doubt bat that what St. Patrick saw done by the popes, from whom he got his mission, he did himsdf in Ireland. He looked to Borne as his model in every re- spect. Hence he got bis smiill churches bu& near Bound Ttfwers to gun over sools by every mean» to God. He said to the Pbgan princes what the Popes faid to the Boman nobles—** We can have no objection to worship near your Bndhist temples, (which are of stone) ; — ^they can do ua no harm— neither can our «tnall insignificant ones injure you-~- let us be good neighbours. If you allow us, we will even worship our Triune Deity in your tem|^ — periiaps, in time you may join ns. Our system (^ wonhip is very simple^^-v^ in. expenuve— -very harmless; this you will leani, even in your own estimation. It means no harm to man, beast, nor any creeted thing. The difference between your system and ours is tWs-»- you worship many objects — we adore only one Qod in three persons. Tou many Gods, and even a Trinity of Persons in one of your Gods. Let us reason with each other. As you ■a.v,i'.../t .i. ■■'■.. ..,■■, . .. ^ , ^. ,^ .. . .^ . .. " ■...••■■ .-...-*.: ....".., .■■-— -^...-.r...*'^-LikaaÉ,^--A>Éa--A.iVL-. r . ^. . . :iJL :.-..w.:^ ^ ■.^í.^I-í^ wjm^^ «fT.vi-si^'t'Eiiahirf'iiaSrrfitVymf ^^^^^^«í'^írr^^s^^ ■^'^wpW-^'^^^^W:' 863 believe iu a Trinitj of persons in one of your Gods, as you have it from your ancestors, you can have no difficulty in yielding a belief to our Triune Divinity." Let us here add, that though the tradition about St. Patrick having converted Leoghaire by the tarefoil shamropk is uni- versal and old, yet it was the emblem of the Em^d isle many ages before Christianity. The Qhamrpck is as old a native of this green isle as the ialaod itsdl£. It was a matter-of-fact emblem, and just at hand on the hill of Slane, for Patrick to ty pify the Trinity. However, the Budhists of Ireland, as well as those of Hindooatan and othw nations of the earth, believed in a Trinity ; bat, of course, not in the same way as we do. Their system of faith in that respect will be explained — from a work entitled, " The Jesuit in India," by the £ev. William Strickland, S. J.,*— be£we this chapter will have been closed» , To use a sacred phrase, Patrick had the coAnuig of the serpent, and the innocence of the dove in his eSott» to convert this island. He kept in view the language of St. Paul, who said that, *' ^ made himself all to all. Hat all mi^JU be saved J" He felt that stones had no paganism in them, «nd be therefore appropriated to Christian uses any Ps^pm temples that migiit be granted to him. However, we . have no posUwe record that " Bound Towers " were diverted from Pagan to Catiiolic worship. Wherefore, in the absence of such, a»d wpportcd by the most undeniable records to tHe contrary, the reader must reject the modern theory respee^g the Christian aim of our IU>and To was. Again, Cr^unleachs aiid Mithratic caves lu» found near Catholic places of worship, and yet it is strange that the theorists dont connect them with Christianity 1 But that would not subserve their purpose^ There was no great art required to erect them. Tbeae, the Irish themselves, savages * See also Counter, St. John, Kelly, and Jonathon on this subject. ?^JUi5Jl||j|l5iM(L/3|^K^'^í!5'».l^ 3«4. though tlifey were, could erect ; but savages could not devise, nor build the noble Bound Towers — and the Irish, up to the eighth or ninth century of Christianity, were savages. They could not, consequently, be the architects of sach imperishable monuments of architectural grandeui. No, no, Greek mis- sionaries, without money, without influence, in a strange coun- try, were the artificers ! ! ! ! Before this chapter will have ended, the insolent, anti- national phantom will be forced to withdraw, as hobgoblins do .when the clock chimes the twelfth hour. It is a solemn duty of an Irish Catholic to run any risk to annihilate a theory that is so inconsistent with truth, 80 opposed to Catholicity, and so intentionally adverse to national honor» Aignment, without acerbity — reasoning with- out rudeness — the enunciation of facts without finedrawing-^ the narration of circumstances without over-colouring, and the use of strong language, but without coarseness of invective^ shall be exercised. Though, when a man has learned that such a dishonorable theory did, for a time, receive some at'- teution, he finds it hard to moderate his terms» What prompted this chapter at all was, that the few lines on the same subject, inserted in " Ancient Ireland," seemed to win the kind opinion of some journals, recognised for the ability of their reviews. The lines alluded to were printed as a mere incident, never for a moment thinking that Irishmen — that is these, who are educated as Catholics, and who know the lan- guage of the country— ever dreamed of any other use for Bound Towers, save these enumerated by us. These were the uses the simplest peasants in Oonnaught have ever thought of — though few of such buildings are in that pro- viiice. The father of the writer of this article was a- Seana- chee and an Irish scholar known to be such. He taught us the traditions of bis ancestors, back to the time of the first settlers íh this island. He never once mentionecl any Chris- tian use to which " Tur TeinCf" were applied. To presume to build up a theory, with sneers at local traditions (if they dont chime in with one*s views) is the height of folly — to give it no worse name. '*-,'-/'^^^í^'^^*'^»^:^ r:i'f^ni^i^Apíu^::,^,^l^m^ lí, indeed, antiqoariaiis had devoted some small por** tion of their time, looking after the true faith, the result would be to themselves most profitable in reference to the hereafter and highly edifying to others ; as there is no doubt, but that Catholicity would be embraced, and that, instead of coercing even the consciences of those over whom they may have assumed control — so far as to make them put on the garb of a heterodox creed-^they would on the contrary be now kneeling at the same Catholic altar with them. The continuous study of profane literature — uninterrupted by the reading of practical religious works, including the sacred volume — leads to indifier- etitism or to infidelity. If the mind only be cultivated, whilst the garden of the soul is allowed to be overgrown with weeds> and the heart left to be the prey of lawless and uncurbed pas- sions, irreligion, or theoretic, if not actual, atheism must be the awful consequence. Hence it is that schools and colleges, which exclude religious instruction, have been, ar^ and. ever will be most dangerous to faith and morals. i-u-fc-^ic ?: • Such training being, once» neglected in the teaching of youth, the channels of grace are shut up — the light is put out — the flood-gate of vice is opened, and spiritual darkness over' spreads the souL The writer gives this as his settled opinion after having examined the subject practically and largely, and with no narrow-minded reasoning. Religion must be the first, the middle, the end of a Christian education — and experience has proven that the greatest Christian scholars have been practical Catholics. It is idle to enumerate them ; their names i^í,t.n%.yf: *^i . Jh'Jl:,- -?. t^-.i-iiiitv. ■{- .t. . 366 crowd on the mind of the reader — Saint Paul, Irseneus, Bazil, Gregory of Nazianzen, Gregory the Great; and the horizon of Irish history was illuminated with countless saints, distinguished as mucli for leaning as for sanctity. Even the mangled, butchered martyr. Archbishop Plunkett of Armagh, was a brilliant poet, and wrote poetry on several subjects, amongst them on Tara, the residence of the monarchs of Irelajid. The poem begins thus — " a 'CheAipAjt i)A hjoJ bo bV^Arb leAc." " O Tara of the kings, it was rare with you." Seep. 19 " O'Eeilly's Irish Writers." This digression forced itself into the current of thought, but it cannot be indulged, however pleasing. The belfry theoiy shall be dispatched in a few more pages. There can be no doubt on the mind of any enquirer into Oriental customs, that bells were used in the religious ceremonies of the Pagans. They are extensively, still, used by the Pagan priests. -- Let me here observe that the use uf bells was the invention of an era, which cannot be pointed out, so ancient is it. In eastern tales, which resemble those of Ireland, nothing is more common than the expression " steed of bells." fiells were an essential part of Pagan worship — as will be seen farther pn. Doctor Milner writes, " none of these towers are large enough for a single bell of moderate size to swing around in it ; they are rather calculated to stifle, than to transmit to a distance any sound that is made in them. We constai^tly find other contrivances for hanging bells in the churches ^(yoining them"— p. 136. So far as his opinion may be valued (and, here, it cannot be denied) he opposes the belfry theory. But Bev. Dr. Milner was himself in the dark as to the use of them, whereas he says, they were for recluses, — " because St. Bernard relates that St. Malachi, afterwards Archbishop, got reli^ous instruction from an anchorite who was shqt up in a ceU" — p. 140. It would be no trifle to erect such a cell ! It would be a vicious vanity to incur such enormous expense in building a cell. Nonsense!!! : 'V More space cannot be given to this absurd theory, nor, it is to be hoped) is it necessary to waste more time on it. Others say, that Bound Towers were places of security in time of invasion^ Their áimimsion9,firima/aeiey subvert such an idea. Betreats on suoh occasions should possess^ on top, an area, large enough for many men to defend themselves ; this cannot be said of Bound Towers. It would be a mark of in- sanity for men in time of danger to shut themselves up in such con- fined places. '*The towers^^' writes Milner,/' are, as their shape imports, perfectly rounds both on the outside and in the inside. They 'are carried up, in this shape, to the height of from 60 to 150 feet (Kilkenny tower is estimated at 152), and they terminate at the top in a tapering sugar-loaf covering, which is concave in the inside, and convex on the outside. They are, in general', about 14 feet in the diameter at the bottom, comprehending the thickness of the walls^ and about 8 feet in the diameter at the cavity. They decrease insensibly up to the top, where they measure about 6 feei in the interior. There is a door into them, at the height of from 8 to 1^ or 20 feet from the ground. Near the top there are 4 loop-holes cor- responding to the 4 cardinal points** — pp. 131, 82. Clearly such places could not be places of refuge for the inhabitants of a town, moeh less of a soldiery. • Granting that those edifices could not be battered, erections could be m^de by an enemy so as to get to t^e top, and pour, such matemls down as would kill or smother the occupants. Vineee, otpent ioutes^ sq(^ «s were used by the Aomaus> having, in each, a ^nat many men, could be rolled about the Bound Towers so as to overpower the few tenants* The notion of being used as retreats, excites the risible propensity of any one, having the slightest knowledge of strategy. y ,,™. 368 Stanihurst talks of " watches on top of a castle." Whence some fancied that the castle was a Round Tower. The former class of buildings have nearly vanished, whilst the latter remain to attest to our very remote civilization. It is objected that the bards make no mention of the Towers. Now it happens that Amherghin (Avereen), the sou of Milesius, expressly names them in these words — i . ; 2lot)Acl) ii^sb "CeArijiiAC, teAtbo|i "Cult "CuACAcb "CuAc njAC *D]le6, 3t)lle6 loi)3 t^beA|tT)e.* From this quotation it will be gathered how unfit any man, not well acquainted with the native language, is to write on Irish subjects which refer to olden times. There can be no doubt that other bardic allusions to the Eound Towers will be • Noble is the king of Teamor, i -• Teamor the Tuatha Tower, ' Tuatha were the sons of Miledb, ,. Miledh of the Libern vessels. * Here the Tower a,ná Teamor are convertible terms, plainly shewing that the Tower was Teamor, — that it was the ereat attraction for the provincials. There is no passage in all oar old records, as far as antiquarian research requires, of more value than these lines. Because from them, the reader will have inferred that Teamor's (Tara's^ eminence was not attributed to any taagnificent palaces, but that its renown arose from the fact, that at, and before the Milesian invasion, all the provincials annually, after the celebratira of Telton games, flocked thither to solemnize their religious rites, around their Tower, and then proceeded to their legislative delibera- tions which were held in an amphitheatre, encircled with trees and in the open air, like the Cretan sages so brilliantly delineated by Fenelon in Tele- machus. The Tower on Tara was assuredly a Budhist one, erected by the Tuatha De Danaans. An exploration was made to see if the fonndations of stone palaces could be come at. However, it is certain that the attempt was a failure, no vestiges having been discovered except those of a Round Tower. That palaces were there, no one could have the hardihood to deny, 1 1 n iV iÉti ■liiin>ml»'iiiirii- 'ii^iiáiMilÉÍÉIflfaha fiSTr??BfB,- S69 • yet discovered by some explorer into the hidden treasures of this old land. How many passages of like value could be added, had St. Patrick not consigned to the flames so many hundred volumes of druidical compositions. The only thing to be regretted is that standard literary works were not spared ; but the saint, in his anxiety to destroy the filthy rituals and abominable works on pagan doctrine, overlooked everything in order to get rid of the abominations. How differently did the Popes of Eome act, who as soon as they got influence, and could have destroyed all Pagan writings, wisely, and to their everlasting honor, preserved the Eoman Classics as we have them at this day. ISo doubt, gross and abominable works and obscene rituals wer^'iurned. However, in the Classics that remain we have the means of concluding how the Pagan Romans worshipped. In fact mythology remains intact to this day. The same can be said of Gieece, over which the Popes had all control until the ninth century. From these two sources we are acquainted with the religious rites of Asia Minor, Persia, and Egypt— but they were, perhaps, of timber or some material other than stone, as were the English buildings of Elngland up to the time of Charles. It is said that the Scythians were not apt to raise edifices of stone. The Miledh alluded to in the quatrains cited was a Fomorian, whose sons by a ^ueen of the Tuatha De Danaan race, were Brian, Inchordha, and Inchor' according to the Book of Lecan. " Their father was of the race of the Fomorians and the mother a Tuatha De Danaan." Besides this the Mi- ledh here alluded to could not be Gollamh, the father of Heber and He- remon, as he was never in Ireland, much less was its " noble king," — such is the language of the poem. The ascription of the erection of the Irish Round Towers to the Da- naans cannot be doubted. Language could not be plainer — " Teamor, the Tuatha Tower, ^^ or Budhist Temple. It is here worthy of remark, that gwies, exactly similar to the Telton ones, and almost similarly named, are to this day celebrated in India— See " Jesuit in India," by Rev. Mr. Strickland, S. J. '..!"'' • 370 and, as our ancestors migrated from Iran, which comprehended Scythia, it is only common sense to conclude thai the ancient worship in Irin, or Erin, was the same as in the parent country. However, it is just to observe, that when Cyras and Mandaná, his mother, visited Astyages, king of the Medes, the Piersians were a very modest people, if we can credit Xenophon. Hiere could be no purer people — their habitik were such as to do honor to Christians. No Christian nation of which we have read had stricter modest habits. It was an offence to spit out in presence of another. To do so a person should retire. Xenophon's narrative would amply repay a pwusal. That the Irish were equally exact in early ddys, can be sufficiently ascertained by having recourse to the laws w]i/e& regulated society in the days of Ollamh Eodbla. It tzai} "be that when other countries adopted obscene ctremonies they were introduced here by the Phcenioian merchants, who traded with us, as well as by the Carthaginians. The first inhabitants of Phoenicia* were the ofispring of Chna^ son of Ham or Cham. They were called Canaanites, and fell shortly after the deluge into idolatry, and, according to faithful records, idolatry of the grossest nature. Prom them it made its way into Egypt, as it did south-eastward. Hence, because of such a corrupting torrent, the primitive purity, practised by the Iranian» or Irish, whether in the east or in tíiis " Saered Isle" • In a map of the dispersed tribes, after the Flood, and the coafdsion of tongues, to be seen in a most learned, and extremelj rare, large historj of the World, published in London, 1614, by Burre, we find the word " Phoenia," instead of Phoenicia— how near the name " PhoBnios," who was father of Niul. Obviously the father gave name to the former as did the son to the latter. By this same map we hare learned that Paradise lay on the north-east part of the valley of Senair, and where is tha ruin of Babel. This work is of vast importance to the historian, ' especially to the sacred writer» as it may assist him in correcting some geographical errors of the Old Testament. ■i I ■váiamiMiáÉÍitÉÍI •^íwSfTíT^P^T-, ''-'■í'T!iií;íJ«PK^7i9j?wí-?^5rTH»9!(w»!í!''?!f''j^^ --«• -^í^rr- 371 was subverted, and all the abominations of the Lupercalia of Livy — the Bacchanalian Orgies and the like demon rites, were celebrated. Bishop O'Connell, in "The Dirge of Ireland,** has said, that such was the case. It is not pertinent to dwell longer on this point. '^ It is urged, that Diodorus Siculas, Strabo, Solinus, Pom- ponius, and other ancient writers, represented Ireland and its people as barbarous in their days, and that therefore the natives were not, could not be the architects of Pillar Towers. The answer to this objection was given already, yet it may be well repeated ; it was this : — The Towers were erected centuries anterior to the days of these authors — who knew nothing of our island, unless what they had heard from others, and these others had never themselves penetrated into the interior of the country. They could, therefore, have known nothing for cer- tain of the natives ; no man could at that time know anything positive of a country unless he was in it and spoke with the people. Again, the term " Barbarous*' does not necessarily imply uncivilized. The usage of the ancients was, that the conqueror called the conquered^ barbarous, no matter how en- lightened the latter might be. The classical scholar has no trouble in admitting this fact. Indeed the word — philologi- cally considered — imports nothing more than "dissonant voice/' OT different language. Besides, when the Tuatha De Danaans raised these sublime structures, Greece and the site of Borne were in darkness. They were lonely and obscure, and sat in the midst of sur- rounding savagery. At that time the commerce of the east was all attracted to our shores. The polished courts of the universe were acquainted with this country. So write Lord Ro8s(* and Doctor Parsons.f ' ♦ Defence of Ireland. f " Remains of Japhet." * ■''. ■ I.' >. ■ - •'.. 372 Avienus calls this island " Sacred," and an inhabitant of ié " Hibernian/' It could not be idly so called. The author must have had a reason for the terra ''sacred/' Its high careering fame, which was a synonyme with " civilization,** reached all parts in which there was a human being. The enterprising spirit of the Hibernians themselves made them launch their vessels and put to sea, and bringing back what ornamented their houses, making them like so many museums.''^ It is, moreover, argued that our Bound Towers could iiot have been temples to worship Baal, "because thwe is a temple sacred to Baal at Baal-Heremou in India in which they could meet — and as only a few could fit in any Irish B^und Tower, therefore it was not for the worship of Baal." Now every nation had a peculiar view of its own after which it built a temple to its God. Though Baal had various surnames yet, under the veil of all, the sun and moon were indicated. The Irish Baal was called Baal Thearagh or Varragh.\ It was on this account the temples to him in this country got their form. This form was allegorical or symbolic, and the idea that suggested it was a purely religious one, expressive of unbounded gratitude to the Great God for His merciful pro- mise to our first parents. To the pureminded everything is pure. In holy writ are recorded terms which the sensualist and coarse-minded laugh at, whilst the ideas typified exalt the thoughts of the clean of heart. The limits marked out for this theme will not allow us to expend more time on this symbolic case (however sublimated) of the Bound Towers. It would, yet, be an abrupt close, unless it was stated that the votaries of Baal Phearagh, in all eountries, made their temples in the same form as the Irish Towers. In primitive days, when Sol and Lwna were wor- * Mac Curtin, O'Flaherty, Keating, t Baal Farragh can meaa also "Baal's Watching Tower." ...Á. ^^■'n?íx^'*s. w^}'-.iifself and its pure material ought to stimulate the Christian to increased devotion and purity of mind and thought.*^ The many absurdities of Montmorency are unworthy of more notice. 8uch composition on antiquarian subjects could not be found anywhere. It is what might be expected from a man who, clearly, was not a linguist. He made comparisons between the towers he saw in the East, which were square, and the Bound Towers. He would have them places of protection for property and church utensils, and erected for that purpose^-as would indeed a certain Dublin antiquarian in his " Bound Towers." Where could St. Patrick and his brother missionaries make out funds to such an extent, especially at a time when the princes were opposed to his faith, and when his chapels were mere bams made of clay. His piety * That pure fire of the above character might have been kept ia the Towers could be easily admitted, just as the Vestals of the eaM burn Settia wood, though it was not a primary aim in the erection of the Towers. 374 would have urged ^he saijit to raise a place of worship worthy of God and fit to hold an altar for the Unspotted Lamb, before he would have thought of a place in which to hang a bell, and which, at that earlj period, Would have been useless, as his followers were, at first, 80 few. And, as to these towers being built for security against attack, Patrick's only towers of defence were hit faith — his prayer»— and though he were inclined to raise towers of defence, think you that the natives would have allowed inwl&nt stranger* to do so ? It is probable that some readers have been forced to give credence to such trash — but trash which was designed to rob Irdand of her early civilization. As regards the assertions of Professor Heeren and Sir John Malcolm, they are too childish to occupy the attention of a serious person. Porsooth, the terms Iranians, Juted inhabitanta^ and Turanian», wandering tribe», are typified by Iron and Tower — the former denoting the durability cf residence, and the latter, representing something like what the Lnsh Tenant League call insecurity cftenwe, or a want of fixed residence for the oppressed peasantry of Ireland. Wonderful 1 ! \ Before one sentence of the taskmaster's language was fabrica- ted, Persia and Ireland, the parent and child, were shedding an effulgence, which fin^y illuminated all the countries that lay between them. A small omission as r^ards the term " Irin,'' or '* Erin,'^ in a previous passage, may be supplied here lest it might be forgotten farther on. If its first or aboriginal inhabitants had other islands like it, on the east, west, north, and south, the reader could understand the reason of calling the western one "/af-Mi," " western island" but that not being so^' Irin," " Erin," *' sacred isle" must be the name — and ^tras so called for the reason already assigned, as, because, like the parent country " Iran" or " Persia," (including Scythia) it was noted for the purest gentile woi^ship, and distinguished for the cul- tivation of the arts and sciences. ^?" " iron," which is a mere English word, and authors coidd be adduced in which '' Irin" was mentioned centuries long before the Iccpard, mongrel English tongue was forged. Before iron, as a metal for use, was known, the island was denominated Irin. That metal was, according to our Brehon laws, the last that was made profitable. In fact its existence was unknown to the ancients of Ireland, and was an eaotic until a recent period of antiquity, so to speak. The Greek name of Ireland, " lerne," is intelligible, and is the same as Jrin. Its component parts are "h-Iere," " tacred" *' netos" *' isle." The greatest 'blunder is that of Gibbon, author of " The Decline and EaU of the Boman Etopirey" who says the name is to be fdund iíí the word Oreen. ''Ireland has preserved the name Etin from the epithet Green," How dangerous a tbing it is for a man to venttíre iota a field with Which he is not acquainted. Gibbon knew nothing of our ^eoontble language^ and without that knowledgey^owever distinguished in other matter8~-he was only a quaok when he touched on Irish antiquity, as has been, is and will be the case of every such man. One cannot restrain his laugfafter «i awsh igoxmAtd of philology. It may be truly said, that though he knew intlch of Home, " he was greerJ* on Ireland. The tiigher a monkey climbs the more he exposes his nudity. How painfcil is this palpable ignofance on the part q&. so great a writer aa GMibon, and that On matters purely historical. Greek and Boman hi^ologists •'T>'''-'-"*' 'í[ . ••• ■ ?'*-*^g^. "]-'• . -. •: >. • i^r^^ 376 of early days made mention of lerué and Hibernia, &c., before the English language existed, yet according to Gibbon this land was termed Erin from " Green-" beautiful 1 í \ Moreover, if this isle were called Erin or Irin from " lar" (west), Persia, the early name of which was " Iran," should have the same roots, but the eastern position of the latter is opposed to that derivation. Let it be noted that as the idea of isle necessarily implies land, our country may be termed Irin (sacred island) or Iran (holy land), but the same cannot be predicated of Persia, as it is not an island. It is a proposition in necessary tiiatter, wherein the subject and attribute are con- vertible terms, — that is, each, in its widest extent, is predicated of the other. Thus, " Erin is a sacred isle" " A sacred island is Erin," " Erin is a sacred land," " A sacred land is Erin .** But you cannot say Iran (Persia) is a sacred island, but only a sacred land. Dionysius Siculus uses Irin in his fifth book, and though he applies Iris as the nominative in another place, that does not affect our position. For every Greek scholar knows, that Greek authors coined, or altered words, as sound, verse, or caprice suggested. They often strangled words, as in tho case of Irin. The fact stands, — Dionysius called Ireland Irin, long before St. Patrick converted this country — before the days of Christ. 1 . Having elsewhere alluded to the term, Hibemia, a passage from Avienus, a Latin poet of . the fourth century, may very pertinently be given here. "At hinc dnobus, in sacram insulam, .; ; Dizere prisci solibns cartus rati est, ; . Haec inter undas moltom eespitem jacet. Eamque late gens Hibernorom colit, Propiiiqtia rarsni insula Albinorum patet." These lines may be loosely rendered : — " Hence is a course of two days to a place the ancients called ' the Sacred Island.* ^K^W^^W^ ■■ ''^ ^td ptieai^ I ihight add> iritpiEtfáble dadsftge lo oUr history and beautiful language by dlrawing too largely on the information to be gBttucd ixnm the ttBi& of di^vations» How- ever, it must be confessed that Vallaneof '9^ a ^b^er man^ a profound acholar, a uattov iuvtastigator^ an4 an tmprq^ioed writer. Would thtJL the same could be 9aid of certain p^^s^ who have sought to win the enteem of some of the clergy of the old &itii» thougb tbfiw» Ingots detest» i^ well the faith as the clergy of Icdand» - ' . ; ~ -• It is painful to be forced to repeat> that the fiame^ in which St. Patrick consumed the works of ages^ created a wqful loss to Iri^ literature—^ loss that fifteen centuries could not re- medy. It can ncTcr be remedied» The history of the literature civil, mofal, scientific, and niilitwy was so mixed up with the account of Pagan rites that the efCofts tp destroy the latter, to a great extent, deprived posterity of the brilUant advantages of the former. What a pity I What a ma^s of manuscripts^ harmless in themselvesy—as far as they regarded Catholicity,—^ was thus annihilated. If the Bomau Pontiffs had destroyed Koman literature without reference tp the distinction to be made, we woald not hqw have in Qur hands Juvenal^ Ovid and other refined authors of that class. Had Qpiistaptine so acted we were deprived of the sweet poetry of Sappho. There is no good in regret."^ We must only see and make use of what re- mains of Iran's early daezling lamp, whose glare, had it existed in its entirety, would sink into instantaneous obpcanty the li- terature of all thp nations of the globe. But, thank heaven, notwithstanding the extreme zeal clth^lirat great Irish Apostle^ exhibited with a holy aim — despite the vandalism ol (he Saxons of the 7 th century, the demolition pf the vioked Dane^i in spite of seven penturies of dire and unheard of-per9ec\ition on the part of the English Qpvemment, we still possess ample and reliable materials for a body of histpry ancb as np natipn cf^ * The Rev. M. Kelly, of Mayaooth, joins in this regret, as can be seen in his Cambrensis. 379 boast of. This is not the assertion of an ardent Irishman only ; it is home out by a str^ngerr— John Toland, a writer of the 1 7 th century, wliothos says "Ii^otwithstandÍDg the longstate of bMrbs- rity in which that nation hath lain, and after all the rebellions and wars witl) whicb the kingdom has been h^ftissed, they (tee) have incoinp^rably ipore aneient mat^rial^ of that kind for their lustery, (to vhiqh even iheái my<^logy is noi ub. serviceable,) than either England, or the Frendi, or any other European nation, with whose ancient manuscripts 1 have any acquaintance.** This digression the kind read» will be good etioiigh to excuse as the topic had diarms not to be resisted. It is wonderful how enamoured some Protestant anti- quarians have become with the monks. They affect this love f(H: the purpose of dissociating this country from Central Aaa, to prop up their own tottering hypotiiesis about the Round Towers.* * Sir Walter Scwtt «ays, " The Round Towers eoold not be bdfries, because there is no i^rtore for snffsring the sound of the bells to be heard." He means, of course, that Ae apertnres in the Rovnd Towers were not adapted to that purpose. Minarets, he adds, they might have been, if we had auAority for belienng that the ChrittiaBS, like the Mahomedans, were summoned to f»«yer by tbe voice of eriefs (not the sound of bells). Doctor Hibert Ware, an aocoi^>li^ed «nd iBamed BngHsh antiquary, says they were used for " fteaeon l^fats" to guide votuies to the place of worship. IMsis a plaunUe theory ; but to be of use they durald be built on emi- nences, not in Ti^eys, as they generally were. MoreoYer, the mission- aries eould not «ommand money to raise such «ostly buildings. When writing on this subject, the searching Doctor Petrie deplores the absence of distinct notices <^ buildings in the lives of the Irish Saints ; he knew well that we coiM not possess a fuH body of Irish hagiography. He should have told his readers that the Engtish vatidals, as wdl Catholic as Protes- tant, did all they could to leave us without the materials of a history. Heresy annihilated, he could inform the public, tiie most valuable Records of Ireland. He sfaoidd have fixed the blame on the persecutors of Irish Catholics. A Dublin Archaeologist places great stress on the word " cloc- ■ m-":' 380 A brazen idol about six inches long was dug Up trom tahdet a tree in Roscommon. He has a covering from the waist below the knees about the size of a Scotch kilt or Philabeg c))eAcb> " which he found in the life of Charlemagne in the Book of Lismore in leAbAfi btteAC (Speckled Book), in the Annals of the ^our Masters, and other works. Herein he fancied he discovered " a mare's nest." For, though in Irish as in Greek e and 5 were nsed, one for the other, as old writers wished, yet when the recognised usage was to write '*cloc," a atone, "«I05," a bell^ the very passages and the word itself teU against the cherished theory of the learned Doctor. Unfortunately for him that he did not know the vernacular sufficiently to guard him against a blundef, which is most fatal to his aim of covertly yielding to England the honor of the improved system of stone erections in Ireland* He laboured luu-d and diligently to effect his end by the numerous passages he linked together from Irish authors. But his assiduity and zeal for an un-Irish purpose outstept his prudence. We wonder his learned compeers did not warn hini of the pitfall. We will not say they led him into it. " Cloe'» might be trans- lated " a 3«//," but it is not vernacularly so taken,wherea8 CI05 has ever been the name applied to a belL When we take into account that in the Four Masters and old Irish manuscripts, many letters are left unaccented, which in the sounding of them are accented, it will be at once seen that *' cloel)- ))eAcb" is the same as " cXocreACi* or clocl}c])eAeb> that is, sionehoute, but as two aspirated letters in that word would produce a disagree- able sound, as well as an awkward appearance, the letter c in cloc was left unaccented. But if the word were even closcljeAcb, which would be a sweeter sound, yet the theory of " Bellhouse" would not stand philological enquiry, much less historical investigation. Because, assuredly» our early writers, so fond of melody and music, it should be admitted, applied the term for that sole purpose. But clocceAC (sounded clukugh) was a most appropriate name to apply to a Round Tower, it being of stone, and such a building was a great rarity, as almost all the houses of Europe at and up to the 16th and 17th century* were of day or timber, though a few public buildings of stone were erected in England, A.D. 674, and the first stone church was built in London, 1087. There were many such edifices raised in Ireland before Christ as well as from the time of St. Patrick up to the English invasion. The great fire in London A.D. I666, which lasted for four days and con* sumed 13,000 houses and 409 streets, made the government see the neces' * Tegg'a Historiui'i Companion, and Burns' Remembrancer. 'VJJ^.fi!fíí!--«TT.v'í'J-Wrv^^ ~ 'r^^'^W ÍJ81 (little coveting), such as the Scythians never used. " There is," says the author of "The Rites and Ceremonies of all Nations," " in the province of Matambo an idol whose priests sity of «tone buildings — as timber ones were so apt to take fire. At that period the rural houses of England had no chimneys such as at present, the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof of the mud or timber house. In a very interesting pamphlet, being a lecture on Beverly by an eminent Irish antiquary resident there> J. J. Sheahan, Esq.. is found the following passage: — " The first church of Beverly, erected by the early Anglo-Saxon converts to Christianity, was, donbtless, a very humble edifice, built etitirelt/ of wood and wattle, and thatched with reeds. Of the style or character of the edifice after it was rebuilt or enlarged by Archbishop John, we are entirely ignorant, but we may suppose it to have resembled the primitive churches of the Saxons, which were usually oblong buildings without the elevation of any one part to a greater altitude than the rest. In the year 1050, Archbishop Kinsius erected a tower at the west end of this church, and placed two great bells in it. Archbishop Aldred, the last Saxon pre- late that filled the See of York, built a new choir from its foundation, and decorated the whole church in 1061. The late Rev. Joseph Coltman, (Protestant) who wrote as you are aware, a Short History of Beverly Minster, supposed that at the time of the Norman conquest this church wai an oblong stone building of two stories, having a low tower at the west end, probably without any transepts, divided into two parts by a nave and choir, each having side aisles supported by massive columns of a mo. derate height, surmounted by circular arches, with thick walls pierced by small circular topped windows, adorned with mil the usual Saxon ornaments." " In 1037 Archbishop John was solemnly canonised at Rome with great pomp and ceremony ; and in the same year his remains were disentombed by Archbishop Alfric, and placed within a splendid and costly shrine erected for their reception in the church." " In II 88 nearly the whole of Beverly,as well as the Collegiate Church, was burnt to the ground. Accidents of this kind were then very frequent, the houses being built of wood and thatched with reeds or straw. A house of stone in the days of Henry II, was rarely seen even in London. A law was passed in 1190 to enforce the construction of stone buildings* which afforded a more certain security against the ravages of fire. About that time stone mansions were built in Beverly, and occupied by families of note and consequence, though, as before intimated, the common people con- tinued to reside in huts of mud and thatch. 27 '*^rí&^7!;ff-- 382 are sorcerers or magicians, and this image stands upright directly over against the temple dedicated to his peculiar service, in a basket made in the form of a beehive." This idol is brought out a-hunting or fishing. Mirambn (the idol) always marches at the head of their armies ; he is served with the first morsel of meat and first glass of wine at the table of the king of Matambo. Major Archer (vol. I., p. 383, 384, London, 18S3, Travels in Upper India) says, " The Brahmin villagers pay no rent, but are obliged to keep the temples in Another extract from the same pamphlet may not be uninteresting to the lover of antiquity, as it affords a specimen of the barbarity of the English language about 200 years ago. Well indeed might Ellis have said— ' There is no parallel for English, but English,' so barbarous does he and every Eng- lish literateur think it." An inscription relating to this event was placed on one of the pews (of B«verly Church), and though much defaced still continues, and runs thus : — '* Aray God have marce of al the aawllys of the men and wymen and ceheldryn whos bodys was slayn at the fauling of thys ccberc whych fown * * * * thys fawl was the XXIX day of Aperel in the yere of owr Lord A MVC. and XIII, and for al the sawls of thaym the whyth haws hyn • • • • • ys • • • . f, r schal be gud benefactors and helppers of the sayd cohere up a gayn and for al crystyan sawllys the whyth God wold have prayed for and for the ■awllys of Ser Recherd Rokkcsbe Knycht and daym Jane his wife whych gave two handreth poundes to the building of thys ccheric and. for the sawllys of Willm Hall, cooper, and his wife." < i: ,':<«. -jrwr.:.' The vile orthography of the quotation, added to the authority of Tegg, will convince the reader how far behind Ireland was Elngland in the acquisition of ctviliaation and refined architecture, and indeed it i« but justice to say that the Dublin Doctor admits the same in many parts o£ his learned and beautifui volume. There are many facts narrated in Ifr. Sheahan's leotnre, as in hk two volume history of Yorkshire, of great vidoe to the antiqnarian. We hare read it with much advantage and {rieaanrck It is unneieessaFy to dwell longer on the word " olioetfaeagh." Thece ianot a peasant, who qpeaks Iriih tiiat wiU not instantly admit, that it meaas " a itone kouae, not 6«i/>AottM," thoagb, as we have already written, round ■'^scí;^™^^?^^^'**^!?»??^''^^ W^ffJ^'^^^^^r'^^f'W^íWr^ S81 repair, to keep the implements in repair, and to take care of the godshipa within them ; these are small brass images toitk nether garments in the shape of petticoats; are carried in procession on certain occasions. Mahadea is the great god of the mountains." How like our Irish words «saííA— good — Dia — God. Maith 2H'a would be the Irish name; what an identity in language I Any unbiassed antiquarian will, at once, admit that the idol, found in Eoscommon, was the same as Mag- hadea in a village near Banpore in the Himalaya range. towers were probably used as belfries, notwithstanding that they were not at a renote period, built for the purpose of hanging up a large bell in them.* In fact large bells were not hung until the tenth century, though Paulinus of Campania used small ones in 400 A.D. Doctor Petrie, at page 434 of his " Round Towers," has these words, " The monastic architecture of Ireland falls short in design and good exeeu' tion of the sister kingdom." We might not answer this slander, as be has already said, that the English Invasion (Conquest he uses) made the arts pine in Ireland. In many passages he ably sustains the high reputation of Ireland for arts and sciences. Henry O'Neil, Esq., the eminent artist, has placed on a pinnacle diat fact — ^indeed so lofty, that no mere amateur can injure it. We repeat a former statement that theorising is a dangerous course, especially when men can be had able and willing to detect error and to expose falsehood. This note will be closed with the remark, that it is Tery significant that, whilst 5 and c are exchangeable letters — are found to be such, and are so used throughout the Masters, yet " clo5-cbeAé" the more melodious word is not once used. The fact explains the Intention of the writers— wMeh was beyond all doubt, to convey to the reader the real meaning of cloccaAC— «Aou«e or round tower. And as to tlie one at Slane being burned so that it no longer remains, that is perfectly possible. For a fire might have so shaken the cement and stones that it yielded to the ravages of time which can consume even steeL But though the edifice of stone wu called a elocitfAÍ it does not thence follow that it was one of the Tuatha. de Danaan's erections — nor do we think it was. It was in aU probability, raised at a lata period — and indeed its fate leads to this con- clusion, as otherwise it would be apt to have outlived the fire. , * Sm Tegg under th« word "B«1U." 384 ' There is another strange figure to be had, whose habit resembles very much the Chasubel or outside vestment of a Catholic priest. This grotesque idol, with joined feet, as if ^ fastened close with a nail, erect hands, crossed and pinioned, peering out through the habit, has been represented by the present living antiquarian " P,"* as " a richly ornamented ecclesioéiic" I The reader is referred to vol. 1, p. 97, of the Dublin Penny Journal for this specimen of a Catholic ecclesiastic 11! The article describing it is signed " P." The reader may guess who is represented by that letter. To offer such an insult to Catholicity in the work on *' Round Towers" would not serve its sale, but it was a convenient way to libel Catholic taste in a penny paper, and under the single letter " P." We would, if space permitted, insert the article in its entirety, as a paradox in its way. It praises Irish art in one part, as in reference to St. Bridget's church at Kildare, whilst in another we have these words — " The arts were debased and corrupted** *' The Irish probably received their first knowledge of Christianity from the Easi^' (Greece), Well done^ Mr. P.; any. place but idolatrous Rome ! ! *' The stone crosses are rich and ela- borate in ornament ; though coarse in design^ they exhibit an acquaintance with classical costumes" ! ! Who ever read such . contradictory language ? But when a man has not truth as his compass he must ever contradict himself. Mr. P. alleges that he had the grotesque figure (the ecclesiastic) from *' most accurate authorities." We deny it. If he had them he would have given them, as he does other authorities, in his "Round Towers." For even an idol (which it is) we have not seen so; . ugly and shapeless a figure — but of course richly ornamented, as at this very day some of the Indian idols are most gorgeously ornamented. The beauty of these ornaments and the magnifi- ' cence of the Pagan temples of India, will lead any sincere * This is the initial in the Penny Journal. ^ 7^::f^7^'^i^''':™!^^'^^^z^ ^'w^wp!?, '385 ' investigator to the clear conclusion that it was the first Scythic settlers in Ireland, more than 1500 years before Christ, that introduced the Fine Arts here. St. Epephanins, bishop of Salamis in the fourth century, says they civilized all nations. Their policy was the standard for all nations." /" ^ • Again, granting that the figure was not that of an idol, yet the Catholic reader knows that it is outside, not inside the chasubel^ the priest crosses the hands, at a certain part of the Mass. Moreover, the Dominican Fathers and Carmelite Friars, if we don't forget, are the only orders who do cross their hands. But neither of these orders was established in Ireland until after the invasion of the Normans, who, forsooth, brought us all enlightenment, and made the barbarous Irish civilized, according to " P." of the Penny Journal — who turns out to be the distinguished and learned antiquary. Doctor Petrie. This knowledge we have from the Irish Literary Gazette of this date — October 18th, 1857. We are thankful for this information, as we now know we are deaUng with a living scholar, and towards whom we would not write an in- tentional offensive word. Had we this knowledge before our former sheet had been pr.tited off we would not have said a few things we did say, as the eminent Doctor is, beyond doubt, a classical scholar. Dr. Buchanan, in his " Asiastic Researches," states " that Samona is a title, bestowed on the priests of Godana (Budha), and is likewise applied to the images of the divinity, when represented, as he commonly is, in the priestly habit." (Vol. 6). This, as well as the former idol, is a bronze one. The genuine Irish scholar can discover the greatest identity in the names of rites. The Jewish High Priests were gorgeously dressed. The Pagan and Jewish dresses were nearly identical. Each priesthood used a nuaiber of small bells in the rites. The original aim of the Pagans differed very little from the, true 386 worship, but time, and the want of the deposit of the records regarding the "Great Unknown/' superinduced a terrible laxity and hideous immorality, not to be named in these pages. Manetho, an Egyptian historian of the fourth century, tells us, that Arabian tribes of shepherds invaded and persecuted Egypt at a remote era, and the Sanscrit records of Hin- dostan tell us that the invaders were the '' Pali," or shepherds, an enterprizing, warlike, Indian nation. It was the cruel oppressive conduct, exercised by them on the Egyptians, that established in the minds of the latter so great a hatred for tbe name of "shepherd; " in the days of Joseph. From Herodotus can be easily learned how like were the customs of the East and of Egypt.* The mode of life ascribed by him to the * The following extract, though not connected with our subjectt to be found in page 150, " Egypt and India," by J. A. St. John, will be a pleasing morceau to the reader. The writer was clearly a Protestant : — " Sometime before arriving at Matarea, we turned into a citron grove on the right hand of the road, to behold that venerable sycamore» in whoce shade the Virgin, with the infant Christ, is said to have reposed during the flight into Egypt. In all respects this grove was an agreeable retreat. The spaces between the trees, roofed by a thick canopy of verdure, completely excluded the rays of the sun, while a cool breeze circulated through them freely. Other kinds of fruit-trees, besides the citront rose here and there in the grove, and presented in their unpruned luxuriance, an aspect of much beauty. Birds of agreeable note, or gay plumage, flitted to and fro, or perched upon the branches ; otherwise, the silence and stillness would have been complete, and might have tempted me to remain there for hoars, delighting my imagination with reminiscences of the Arabian Nights, wbow heroes and heroines are often represented reposing in such places. Here, likewise, is the Ain Shemt, or " Fountain of the Sun," which, though sup- posed by Catholic traditions to have been miraculously produced to quench the thirst of the holy fugitives, existed, no doubt, in all ages ; and was, perhaps, if we may derive any inference from the modem appellation, coB- secrated to the service of a temple of Aroeris. Our brethren of the CboFch of Rome love to interpolate the traditions of antiquity, and to complete a legend, if they imagine, it in any respects, to require rounding off. Accord- ing to them, for example, it was in the fountain at our feet, that the ^rgin l... B^vT''^ - '■« '' , "ifT"-^*^ ^ -^ «s*^*' -.í' *"? 387 priests of Egypt, identifies them at once with those of the Brahmins of India. China as yet celebrates "the Feast of the Lamps," as formerly in vogue in Egypt. It is to these invaders is attribated the erection of the Pyramids, some of the greatest works of man — perhaps the very greatest — and the consideration of which would be highly interesting, if convenient. We must at least observe that their existence with her own hands, washed the garments of the infant Saviour. Nothing is more natural or probable, nor, for a fact of this kind, should we require the testimony of history. I see no harm, therefore, in supposing that it was ao ; and it seems to me to be a very perverse species of ingenuity to get up a formidable array of arguments to demolish harmless traditions like these. The Tree of the Madonna, as it is denominated, even by the Ma- homedans, consists of a vast trunk, the upper part of which having been blown down by storms, or shattered by lightning, young branches have sprung forth from the top, and extending their arms on all sides, still afford a broad and agreeable shade. Its shape is remarkable : flat on both sides like a wall, but with an irregular surface, it leans considerably, forming a kind of natural penthouse. Numerous names, accompanied by the figure of the cross, have been cut by Catholic travellers ; but even the Moslems seem to regard it with veneration ; for those who visited it with us spoke low and reverentially, as if they esteemed the spot where they stood to be holy ground. Protestants, from I know not what motive, sometimes affect to consider the tradition which sanctifies this tree as one of those many childish legends which have diverted Christians from the spirituality and simplicity of faith ; but by what chain of ratiocination they arrive at this conclusion, it appears somewhat difficult to discover. At all events, since the Egyptian sycamore, among various other trees, will live many thou- sand years, there is nothing absurd in the supposition that the Virgin may have sat with the infant Saviour under the shade of this noble trunk, which bears all the appearance of prodigious antiquity. According to a tradition prevalent among the Mahomedans, Elizabeth also fled with the infant John the Baptist into Egypt. Respecting Zachariah. the father of John, they relate a most extravagant story. The Jews having accused him of a great crime, and sought to put him to death, he hid himself in the heart of a tree, and might thus have escaped, had not Satan, the enemy of God, dis- covered his hiding place. The people splitting the tree, in ord«r to SMiir* their victim, accidentally cut him to pieces wih their axes. 388 Í9 an imperishable testimony to the high state of intellectual cultivation at which the persons who designed them must have; arrived. It cannot be said by P. that the Anglo-Normans- constructed them. What a pity he cannot transfer this honour to his cherished Normans — No — no — an off-shoot of the Scythic nation devised and erected these, long anterior to Christianity.: • The Bound Towers and Pyramids were, therefore, built by the natives of /ra«,or Persia, and not by Greek missionaries, or by any missionaries of Christian days, but, decidedly, by ante-christain missionaries, and for various purposes, as before laid down.. The necromantic art was studied and understood to great per-r fection in Egypt, when the Magi coped with God's servant i» the performance of miracles. This science they had from Iran. In another part of this chapter it was stated that if explora- tion were made under and near the Irish Sound Towers, exca- vations would be discovered. Maundrel, (journal p. 21 to 23,)- relates, that, on his road from Aleppo to Jerusalem he met two Bound Towers, which had under them several catacombs, or sepulchral cliambers ; he adds, " that he met with a third, a. very ancient structure, and probably, a place of sepulchre." Archer, also, alludes to a similar temple at Gwalior. It will yet be found that our Bound Towers have the hke subterranean places. Another remarkable feature about our Bound Towers is, that we find them contiguous to water. Devenish Tower is on the Erne, and the one at Killmallock is near the Maig. The same is true of the one in Swords, Glendabgh, Cfon- macnoise, &c. Near the foot of the ruin of El Mujellebah, which he takes to be that of the tower of Babd, tells Captain Mignan, is a well, invisible to mortals,(of course not to all, else he could learu nothing of it.) This fact, too, strengthens our view with respect to the symbolic use of the Bound Towers, and strongly fortifies the undoubted Eastern origin of these grand specimens of primitive artistic skill, ages before Christ, '!í?íf^-r^w-'v-*'f-' y,^^ r-\- -f'-;^'^^^^^^^ 3S9 The story about the temple with a tower, the adjoining letke. and the altar to Astarte, (the Moon J in Hieropolis, (the sacred city,) in Syria/ makes the Irish traveller in that land think himself in " Green Erin." There is there a Priaja, as a Round Tower on which a votary perches himself, by means of stakes, stuck in the building, and a chain, and where so. nested he sometimes prayed and tinkled a bell that these bdow would join him in prayer. Lucian gives an entertaining descriptiotf of the Priap, a temple in honour of the Sun. Here is to be had the pretext for the wilful misrepresentation of the Tower^ as belfries. Any shift to deprive Ireland of her antiquity, of her early civilization. The Eastern custom, referred to above, can be and is logically claimed for this country, when other facts and appearances are identical. The Syrians had a most iuhu- man mode of worshipping their gods. Erom the tops of these pillar temples they shoved down their victims, crowned with garlands, and their children, to inevitable death. All these practices had their origin in a pure source, in. Divine command^ though, plainly, in progress of time, terribly abused. Moses went up alone to God to pray, so did the Pillar votary after hi^ example. He remained on top of the temple seven days. The Hebrews were ordered to pray for several days and to sacrifice to the Lord. The man in serial seat on the Pillar, attended bj the worshippers at foot, did likewise; the clouded tradition the Pagans had of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, unquestionably led them to suppose that human sacrifices were pleasing to their gods. The ringing of the bell, the embroidered vestments (in the 28th chap. 33, 40, of Exodas,) the golden bell, urna- uiented, are ordered by God to be used by the Hebrew priests. All these are prescribed by the Pagan Bitual. The intention at first was the same, but it degenerated, and the ceremonies became corrupted and wicked. The Pagan vestments and ritual, according to authentic records, existed earlier than the rrc'- 390 Jewish ones. '* The Jesuit in India/* by Bev. W. Strickland^ S.J., gives an interesting account of the dopes of the Pagan jnriests, and their notions of their Trinity, and their abominable degenerated system of worship. We most not be surprised, if, on the top of a BonndToitrer» (a solitary one), are to be found something Uke apparatus used in hanging a bell. To a man, igncHsnt of acoustics a Bound Tower would probably seem a very good position for a bell,; but a very short time would suffice to convince an experimenta-^ list of his error, and would prove to him that the transmission of sound to any great distance from such a belfry was out of the question. .. ^ ^ ; - • i i!;i According to Coleman, an antiquarian of the last century, round the umbrella, or tees on the top of the Dagods, at Ceylon, are suspended -a great many small bells; these, being, set in motion by the winds, yield a very pleasing sound. ' The top» of the Burmese Budhist temples, which are of a pyramidical shape, have always gilt umbrellas or tees of iron, hung round with bells. Symes writes. " thai the Ue, or um- brella, (so called ftom its shape), is to be seen on every sacred building that is of a spiral form." He adds '* that the prin- dpal nobility of Ummerapoora came a great distance to be present at tlie ceremony of the elevation of a tee,'' round the lower rim of which were hung a number of bells ; that tiiese, when agitated by the winds, made a jingling nobe. There can be no quralion of the fact, thai bells were used by tíie Budhists, and that the Christians borrowed the use of th«n. It is false logic to say,that,because St. Patrick presented a bell to St. Ciaran, he, therefore, invented them. The bell that Gildaa brought from Armagh to England, in the year 508, was an object of great interest in that country as they had none* Ussher, Protestant Prelate of Armagh, ascribes to the latter M\-.K '.' ■ ' 1 r'\ -i -•" • ~ "iiTiMi^'lii '"1 iMriMifiafil ^ .fl5Sr!:.:«fv"?=' i^Tílf-f '"rí*^5^!^3^^-- ,l"í'?!™»^^ 391 end of the seventh centarj the use of bells iu Chrfstian churches; others s^y that it was in the ninth century laige*^ (»68 ver« ÍQTeated for th9 purpose* of being suspended. The shape of the bells of the Pagan Irish were similar in form to those of the present daj. They were croUd»^ whieh is the same as bell-cymbals. The goddess Astarte was no other thaQ the Jibp», which they adored as a divinity. So Lycian,^ a learned writer, states that, ' the host of heaven — sun, moon and stars-^-constituted the object of the ancient Irish adoration.'' At the great Na- tional Exhibition, held in Dublin in 185«}, was shewn a bell belonging to the house of Moira ; in one of its sides was a hole, not unlike a gibbous or quarterly moon. This aperture, because of its shape, we took to be symbolical of the fact, that it was used in the worship of the moon. Of course no one denies (as it would be arrogance to do so) that the heavenly bodies were the Irish deities before the intro- duction of image or idol worship in the reign of Tighermaa» 1124 before Christ, according to Keating, but 1500 acoordmg to the Annals of Four Masters by O' Donovan. ■ i A narrow inspection of the bell will evidence that it was made with the hole. , v v, vi. . . .,;j As nothing is to be omitted which can be pressed into a chapter on so interesting a theme we will here remark {rom " Archer's Travels in Upper India," that his delineations of a structure with five conical pillars, with green painted t(^^ in a line from ea^t to wett (to woi»bip the sun at its rising a|id setting)^ the two larger ones íq the centre, the pillars with tilea stuck in their sides, resembling steps, makes the reader apply the description to our own Bound Towers, in some of which are yet to be found the jtUting tile» or apertures in the údes * See Tegg'i Historian's Guide and CliroBoIogieal TaUe. t Quere (Lyach). 'í5l(|«!!!WÍÍ.W*^!ti^*Wfl(8i*^.''?»^'^^ -• ^v X. .^•-«-;>!í;k"'.;ct,^ -i.- f' ::?-• 7'. •:{'. »^i:^?.'l!^.?fí-»^ ^2 from whicli the tiles «ere taken. Tliéíe were used to enkbte "Votaries to ascend by means of hoops, -as in the case of thte ■Priaps at Hieropolis. They wwe all Bndhist TenSples; b«t ■as that system of worship was legally set aside, the inhabitants were, after such a- lapse of time, wholly ignorant of their use, and therefore Archer says " we could not learn what was its meaning or its use." ■; i It is not to be wondered that a few of the íiish Bound Towers have not each of the apertures facing the cardinal points, as every human system has failed in perfection in some particular ; besides, persons in the long lapse of ages might have made changes in some of the apertures. Hence an objec- tion on this point is scarcely worthy of any notice. We are not to be surprised that the oppressed, ignorant natives of India, (Pereia included") are unacquainted with the sublime origin of their Pillar Temples. And as to travellers they must get the key before they attempt to throw open the door of the literary treasury of the east. They must learn the Irish language, the language of ancient Persia or Iran, and of Paradise. *■■>■ The structure, mentioned, symbolized the blue vaulted »hf, the two large central pillars, Sun and Moon (or Apollo and iAstaríet or ^a, and MUra), the three smaller ones, Venus, &c. »' In this country two towers are occasionally found inone place, no doubt, designed and constructed to typify the marriage of Sol and Luna who were looked on as the great source of pro- creation and generativeuess, as well of the vegetable as of the 'animal and mineral kingdoms. The writer, after a minute investigation of facts, dates, circumstances, and topographies, ■as contained in various histories of very remote, as well as of very late authors, has not for one moment any hesitation to lay down for certain that the Irish Bound Towers owe their origin to the learning and refined artistic skill of the Tualha de Wf^W/^T^fy^.-^'^yi'iX^ ■ ^T>^??^'5^«?P*^' í'vP'!^'^^ 393- Dauaans — a real people, (as Doctor O* Donovan writes at page It iti Annals Pour Masters). The learned Doctor adds,' "that there are yet to be seen at Tory Island in Donegal, monuments which attest their existence and artistic skill, thoagh" their history is mixed up with much fable." What ancient history is not? But Irish tradition, though there were no written chronicles, is, as regards the origin of Bound Towers, a faithful recorder of the past. r - iw r - .We must not wonder that fable is blended with ancient records, whether written or traditional. Even before our eyes, ia matters of which the readers were ear- witnesses and specta- tors, they will see falsehood paraded as truth, garbled reports of public meetings, just to suit the views of the writers. If any crime, save murder, can be greater than another in the sight of Infinite Truth, it is that of the designing falsifier of facts, which require to be recorded as a guide for posterity, either in a social, political, religious or literary point of view. It is a crime which should be punished with the severest rigor that any legislature could enact. It should, in the first place, be branded as a marked offence to the God of truth, and as an evil most injurious to the best — the dearest interests of the human family. An error of negUgent ignorance is bad enougii, but one of premeditated design is satanic. How eloquently is Achilles represented in line 312 of ninth book of the Iliad of Homer as, denouncing a liar,;[ : ? i^ , ;i rr ; v? "1 hate as the gates of hell . f' ; "' : -'■ !.,,.>, Who think» what he does not tell.»* , • vjM • ; io * Amongst Pagan nations, sac\^ as Greece, Rome, and primitive Ireland, there was no misdeed more signally condemned than a lie. Of that (act we have ample evidence in Xeuophon, Livy, &c 894 ' No language can be fuond strong enough to pourtraj ma condemn a malicious liar. He has no parallel^—'' A Uariia liar.** Now our Brian, as this isle is sometimes called, is identical with Aria/nay by removing the letter a and by sabstituting t. But Heeren expressly calls Persia Iran — ^the etymon of which was given before as " sacred iale" Strabo, in p. 1094, calls the country Ariana, being ignorant of its meaning, as were other Greek writers, whereas their Pelasgic anceétord ap[^ied the term Ifime to this our own island, because they knew the import of the name. For ths Pelasgi were Iranians. - ' ' In another passage Heeren lays down that "the |coantries in its (Iran's) occupartdon were termed the land of Persia." Many attempts hav« been made to disdtver the root of the term " Persia,*'* though it appears to ui very easy. It will be in the reader's recc^lection that Paradise wats shewn to have been situated in Persia. Henee it can, without any appre- hension of a rude laugh, be said that ** Pearsa," person^ is the root,, because it was the land in which was placed the Jirgt man. The derivations we saw could have no foundation in facts. Hence they are not given here. Any casual reader of the brilliant and rich work of Heeren — a writer of the 18th century— -win be able to jixdge that all our Irish Pagan festivals and superstitious teodencies were in perfect harmony with those of the parent Persia or Itan. It will be abo learned that it was the Greeks, both of Europe and Western Asia> that intro- ' duced the system of paying divine honors to idols and dead heroes and hehi^hfes amongst this Irankns,^ amongst whom are to be includeif tht Sbyth^ni on the Itast of the Caspian, as Heeren has written above. He refers to very ancient works of the Persians, such as the Vendidate, &C. These go back * See « History of the World b J Btírré. London, 1614. kiB.'. ■..tJ.fJt. -^ .;£fM,.j;t^'. .\ — ^^k <>^: T^»«RS!>?c>'Wn!f"v??»'!''WíT'r7!^^ 394 No language can be foand strong enough to pottrtraj and condemn a malicious liar, lie has no parallel^—'' Á iiari» a liar.** Now our Brian, as this isle is sometimes called, is identical with Arianay by reiDoving the letter a and by sabstituting é» But Heeren expressly calls Persia Iran — the etymon of which was given before as " taered isle," Strabo, in p. 1094, calls the country Arianay being ^orant of its meaning, as were other Greek writers, whereas their Felasgic ancestors applied the term leme to this our own islaiid, because they knew the import of the name. For the Pelasgi were Iranians. In another passage Heeren lays down that "the | countries in its (Iran's) occupation wefe termed the land of Persia." Many attempts have been made to disiiover tbei root of the term " Persia,"* though it appears to xa very easy. It will be in the reader's recdlection that Paradise was shewn to hav^6 be^ situated in Persia. Hence it can, without any appre- hension of a rude laugh, be said that ** Pearsa," person^ is the root,, because it was the land in which was placed the first man» The decivi^ions we saw could have no foundation in facts. Hence they are not given here. Any casual reader of the brilliant and rich work of Heeren — a writer of the 18tlt century—- wiQ be able to judge that all our Irish Pa^^festivaU and superstitions tendencies were in perfect harmony with those of the parent Persia or Iran. It will be also learned that it: was the Greeks, both of £nrope and Western Asia, that intra-' dnced the system of paying divine honors to idols and dead heroes and heft^ttés amongst this Iraniaiis,. amongst whom are to be includetf the Sbythkni on the !Eiást of the Caspian, as Heeren has written above. He refers to very ancient works of the Persians, such as the Yendidate, ftc. These go back * See ft History of the World by Biirre. Londoa, 1614. JísiT'^í??- .■■•■■ i- .■;tr'3' • Sfi-r;.-' ' ,.T,r., -.^ ■ í- ,. .C-iJi-^-T^A-f -■']'" ' :-'> ■\"-^-TT^J*vi*f!Ívp;g- 396" lílrtip of vesper — the feeblest star— and then myriads of bril-' liants thickly stud the blue vault of heaven. Who could not adore such a sky in the absence of the knowledge of their' Creator ? Our own admiration is all but adoration. They ' ifhposed the name of Beliu, a king, on 5o/;* Bea, a queen, " • The follbwiag passage from the eloquent, learned, and thoroughly na- tional essay on Oghami by Mr. William? of Dnngarvan is of much value to our subject. We know the author only through his writings, and if we could offer an opinion, we do uot know his superior as an Irish scholar — aiid we are not afraid to say that if he persevere in pursuit of his study he will have no equal amongst those who iignre in print — fj ' ( ' - "Follmaay aflower isborB'toblaabunieen." -' ' < > Whilst inside his counter h^ seeks time to co-operate in elucidating the an* .' tiquities of the land and the faith, which he evidently loves more than life and wealth ; these are his words : — " My opinion on the subject is this. The Round Tower was a temple of the Sun ; the Pagans were buried near it, as Christians are near their Sanctuary at the present day, and the Ocham monuments are some of the Pagan grave stones. Just as I write Mr. J. F. Ma^^uire, M.P. presented me with a copy of his important work on the " Industrial Movement in Ireland," and directed my attention to the chapter on Irish Antiquities, written, I believe, by Windele. At p. 357, speaking of the ancient Irish itoc, or brouM trumpet, I find the following passage. Walker, in his paper on " Irish Musical Instruments," says, that " the »toe was used at the summit of the Round Towers to summon the worshippers to the sacrifices." This essay of Mr. Williams has let in a great flood of light on the noble character of the early Irish, who, as he properly states, on the authority of Doctor O'Brien, author of the dictionary, had a very refined system of Pagan religion* We had our chapter on Round Towers written and partly printed before we read the chapter on Oghams, else we would dwell at some length on its importance to the national character. It suggests to us a re- markable fact, which is this — Men, who are purely and disinterestedly in search of truth, thongh they may differ in some trifling matters, will substan- ' tially agree. Walker, as a classical scholar, could not resist the force of truth that rushed on him from the Greek and Roman authors, and eastern writers He, therefore, i^aveone of the principal uses of Round Towers. Since Mr. Williams has called attention to Mr. Walker we have opened his ** Memoirs of the Irish Bards," and in it we read at p. 114, Vol. I. these ^'íí'?fíT^■•~^TT"• ~-':!'v^- "'^^ . ■-' ' •'sFx'~''^^^'^^^ni -«•'•^-•v;; -,■..; i -\Tfx^'^;': 897 was the name they gave the moon, and so on with all the stars and planets, as can be learned from a treatise on mythology How transient is all terrene splendor! — How vapoury all human grandeur I— How perishable all the works of man, and how vain all human scenes, when compared to a gorgeously-lit sky! It was said elsewhere that the primitive Persia or Iran was more extensive than modern Persia. Let us hear what Heeren, a distinguished linguist, writer and antiquarian, says on this subject : — '* We must carefully distinguish between the terms Aria and Ariana, as used by the Greeks. The former was applied to a province, which we shall have occasion to de- scribe in the sequel. The latter is equivalent to IraUf and' appears (o have heen formed from the ancient term in the Zend* language^ Eriene. The whole of Iran composes a sort of ob- [ long, — the Tigris and Indus forming its sides— -to the east and west : the Persian Gulph and Indian Ocean bounding it to the ' south ; and the Caspian, with Mount Taurus and the river Oxus, shutting it in to the north. These were also the limits of the ancient Ariana." In harmonising the Pagan worship of the Irish with that of . the east it may be useful to observe that the Paros or Paraa ' of Holy Writ is the same as Persia. This latter country, though her fame had culminated to the highest point, and her dazzling lamp shed its corruscating halo over all the nations of words — " The ttuic or ttoc was used as a speaking trumpet oa the tops of our Round Towers, to assemble congregations, to proclaim new moons, quarters, and all other festivals." The quotation enforces our opinion, that the uses of these erections were various. Messrs. Windele, Williams, , Walker, and the author of this chapter never met, nevv read each other's . views on the Round Towers, and yet we agree. The reason is, we sincerely investigated tradition, as well oral as written, and collateral evidences, and thus it is that our opinion is identical. We have not thought and written '. for the sake of inventing mere theories. Those, who do, are a great evil . to literature. The learned Charles O'Connor and Bev. Doctor Lanigaa r *gree with us. 28 3^8 antiquity, Í8, herself, now^ well as her first, her greatest, her mQBt renowned pupil, Egypt, shrouded up in a black pall uf night. We could shew that the Seven Hills of the Eternal City were denominated as they were, because of some facts connected with fire worship. We could prove that the radices of the names are pure Irish. The name Sabina or Sibby, so usual in Ireland» is of Persian origin. Sabian worship was precisely the same as some of the early Pagan rites of this country. There is even yet to be heard in parts of Connaught an expression which is purely Pagan, " Bal Be Bhiit^ that is ** The God Baal with you or to you." Others we heard say it thus *^ Bal Be Ort,'* '* the God Baal on you^ But the intention of the person, using the phrase is '' that a good condition from God may befai the person, thus hailed." This was the sense in which the writer understood it, when a mere boy. Another usual phrase "Mallacht De Ort," which we are convinced should be " Mol- loch De Ort." The conventional impnrt of the clause runs thus in English " God's curse on you," but its primitive Pagan value, when rendered into English is, " The God Molloch on you!'' In Irish an aspirated c followed by d sounds as though there were a " and the Clanna Pheniti» who were of Japhet, and who having, subdued the former, dropt into the observance of their wicked idolatries, and some of their merchants having, as history certifies, at a very remote date, traded to Ire- and, brought over the wicked worship. Old records relate that Iran or Persia, was inundated with shepherds from the west of Asia — that is, from Canaan, which was the country of the Hamites, — and that they flooded Egypt also. Hence the identity of the abominable system of their worship at that time. Doctor Parsons,iu his learned work, entitled "The Remains of Japhet," goes so far as to shew that the Milesians worshipped the true God on their first arrival here, but that in time they became apostates. We could not make out his proof for this statement. On the contrary, at the very time that GoUamh or Milesius was travelling by sea and land, and subduing all before him, image worship was general in Asia and Greece. Virgil and Homer supply ample evidence of this fact. The Trojan ladies embraced the images of their Gods ; — the Palladium or image of Minerva was stolen out of the Capitol by Ulysses. She was the Athene of the Irish. One thing is agreed to, that idolatry was not known in Ireland for many years after the reign of Heremon. Certain monuments, found in some parts of this country, and consisting of a large erect stone in the centre with 12 small ones around it, though they assuredly symbolize the sun and thel2signsoftheZodiac, dontproveidolatry. They ■W^^- rs—^-:r. 401 might have been erected out of respect for the visible celestial Gods, just as Christians raise statues to honor saints and even men, who performed some useful works. A beautiful autumn moon at this very day has great charms for the peasantry. The boys and girls of lightsome hearts, after a hard day's labor, will dance a merry jig before the light of the moon. When the lively old national music is struck up, they move on the light fantastic toe as nimbly as though they were not a haymaking the entire day. Oh ! the tyrant landlord that would seek to spread sorrow over such a cheerful peasantry deserves our pity ! Who that has seen the Limerick lads and lasses on the bor- HEKN and the roadside, after having worked at the wheat, *'/ooi (dance) it" on the ''breadth oiaplate" or gracefully going through their quadrilles, whilst the beautiful moon sheds her silvery rays over them, that would not fancy that the dance was in honor of the nightly goddess — as, no doubt, the slow graceful dance originated in the worship of Rea or Luna. These were names which obtained divine honors, in an especial manner, ia certain places — such asLou^k-Rea (Lake sacred to the Moon), Athlone {Atk Zaun) ford sacred to the Moon — and Castle Rea (Castle sacred to the Moon). It is not wortli while to enquire whether '' Castle" be from the Latin or Irish. According to the Scholiast of Hesiod the myth of Hercules going through his twelve labors, had its source in the reality of the sun making his annual career through the Zodiac. The renewal of the year was typified by his marriage with Hebe-^ the goddess of youth. Urcol (Hercules) is the Irish of ^un. Porphyry, a Phoenician, writes "They there gave the name of Hercules to the sun, and the fabie of the 12 labors represents the Sun's annual path in the heavens.''* CROMLEACS. * ' • We had intended a long article on this subject, but we hare already outstepped our limits. We can, therefore, do no more than enumerate some of -■■ 1 ■7_,ÍT»^'', *402 In ths passage is plainly shewn the origin of the Crom eruadh and the 12 small idols, formerly in vogue in Ireland ; and the introduction of the system from Phoenicia cannot be gainsayed. these druidical altars, \(rhich forcibly remind us of those of the Israelites in the desert. The first ve will name is that on the hill of Greenwood, parish of Becan, Mayo. In our youth we were made to believe it was a leAbA tJjAtiitjuii) ; but the Very Rer. Peter Reynolds, the learned and ex- emplary P.P. of Claremorris, rectified our mistake, by telling s it was a " druid's altar." It is a very interesting relic of antiquity, and had, when we saw it, some twenty years ago, a few trees around it. Like others of Its class it rested on pillar-stones. There is a very beautiful one at Knookeen, within five miles of Tramore, County of Waterford. The term " Cromleac" is derived from " Crom,* a God, lkac, flag or altar. There were several Crom», but it would seem that Crom Cruacb, as the name signifies, was the chief. For more on this point see our history of St. Patrick. There is another immense one to the south- west of Dundrum, County of Dublin, on a hill called " The three pins." Under this is a very large cave. When not long since we made a tour of Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, we saw many monuments, called " Crom- leac»,'" all nearly of the same erection. The one at SleAijó i)A cloicel éicé, (not far from Rosbercon) " Valley of the grey stone," commanded our attention for a long time. The next is at Ballyloura in the barony of Knocktopher. This Cromleac seems to have slipt oif some of its support- ers, and is now in a sloping position against three of them. There is an- other in Harristown in the barony of Iverk, which is indeed superior to that near Rosbercon. About a mile from Ballyloura is a Cromleac, pecu- liarly erected, having one end resting on the stony surface of the hill, and the other end on two upright stones ; the people of the locality call it " Cloc i)A Q-sobAtt" {Cloghna nhovoar), "the goat's stone." Contiguous to this place there were other monuments of the same order, but they have disap- peared, and their memory is all but gone* It is fortunate that the Kilkenny Archseological Society exists to preserve such relics, so necessary for future antiquarians. We have seen some other Cromleacs in the Queen's County and Carlow. In " O'Oonnell's Pass," near Ballymote, is, as we are in' formed by the Rev. Constantino Cosgrave P.P. Keash — a learned antiquary — a druid's altar and other monuments of antiquity ; than O'Donnell's Pass there is not, perhaps, in Ireland a more interesting locality. To paint its romantic scenery, would require a volume in itself. To be appreciated its surrounding beauties must be visited. The Caves of Keash hill possess * The Mma u Ball or Sun. fSíf-TTsí',- ''.r^ 7 . ■^V-''-Vjf-^'^''r-':^^^ 403 Let us here remark, en passant, that there was a terrene actual Hereales ; he who slew Cacus, and to whom Evander paid divine honors 200 years before the advent of ^neas to Latium. This Hercules subjugated all places from Scythia (Seanair=Persia) to the Pontic and Terranean Sea — Crete — Cyprus — Laconia — Egypt — Spain. All this he did, according to some mythologists, 1300 years before Christ. All these incidents, almost to the letter, are ascribed by the Irish recordis to an ancestor of the Irish. These matters, it was never insinuated, were gleaned by Irish writers from Grecian or Boman historians. Whence then have we them ? From our own progenitors. The time at which Evander is said, as Livy relates and as Virgil sings, to have honored Hercules,synchromse8 with the era when a certain Scythian, polished prince settled forsometime in Cadiz, N. west of the Pillars of Hercules, or as Bishop (yConnell names them "Pyramides mhic Alcmena" deeply interesting objects for exploration, — it may well be called classic soil. The traveller, if a sportsman, can meet plenty of wild fowl of every kind ; nature imparted to the neighbourhood picturesque and sublime views. A contemplative mind will And in Keath-eoran ample means of being gratified. A visit to it would largely repay the journey. We will close with the re- mark, that we have given but the names of a few Cromleacs and as they float on our memory. We should have observed that Charles O'Connor,* Esq., the distinguished antiquarian of Belanagar, writes that druidical altars were origiBally for the worship of the True God in Spain. In this view he is sustained by the authors of the Universal History ,t wherein can be read a most learned account of druidical worship. It will be found that the dresses and sacrificial system of the druids were nearly the same as of the Jewish High Priests. This great work, alluded to, states, that Gomer and Tubal, sons of Japhett introduced into Europe the laws, customs, and religious rites of their grandfather, Noe. The Universal History printed by Bnrre in London, 1614» asserts the same. In fact, all the learned authors we have read, write the same opinion. This concurrence is very strong presumptive evidence that the first colonists of this island worshipped the True God. .-i;:4 * See page 100 of Dissertations on Irish History. ''' ^ t Universal History, vol. IS, page 3d3. ^'.■■■■' ■'■ . '■■ •■ ' ' '■ ••:-;..'í .-:■■']■',■ -'-.«o;- <''?Vír?»^;s: 404 before he took possession of the north of Spain.* Such con- cordance of time and identity of acts, enunciated by writers of different and far distant lands, having no common motive to deceive, establish the veracity of Irish history. The synchronisms of the author of "The Eemains of Japhet", of Lord Ross and Newton, are extraordinary and intensely interesting. The fabled Hercules was no other than Golamh or Milesius. The Theogony of the Greeks was a most unaccountable invention of their poets and legendary writers. They were of comparatively late existence. They — even Homer and Hesiod,and Herodotus — must have had Pelasgic traditions, whether written or otherwise it makes little difference. These Felasgi were Iranians, and as the Greeks did not relish them as they invaded their country centuries previouslj^ they imposed fictitious names on the great personages of whom they read or heard in Pelasgic or Persian stories. They nuncupated Golamh and others as their own ancestors, and godifíed them. Hence Golamh was Belus on the Euphrates, Ammon in Lybia, Apis in Memphis, Helios in Babylon, Apollo at Delphi, &c., &c. There were many deities of the name Belus in the east, as was before written. The result of this has been that one has been taken for another, just as in Irish history one Saint Ciaran has been often taken for another — one SaintBrennanfor another — one Colman for another; — Ana- chronism is the consequence, and an ignorance of topography exhibited. We have, in history, an account of more than one Hercules, but, unquestionably, the era of him, who slew Cacus and to whom Evander erected an altar in Latium, and whom Newton mentions, nicely synchronizes with him of whom the Irish Bards have records — that is Golamh or Milesius, the Spanish King, whose sons and nephews conquered Ireland — whose posterity ruled it for more than 2,400 years, and whose • See the word " Hercules," in Lempriere. 405 blood maternally circulates in the veins of the preseoi English monarch, according to OTlahertj in his Ogygia. Apropos with the above, a note from C. O'Connor's " Dis- sertations on the history of Ireland," may prove agreeable to the reader. " This Hercules built the city of Cartheia in Spain, and from doing so, was emphatically called Malech Cartha, by the Phoenicians ; what the ancient Grecians con- verted into Melicertus. Malech Cartha, according to Bochart, signified litterally, 'The King of the City/ and in our Gaedhlic, or the Scotic, Mal-Cathrach, is of the same literal import. It was in the time of this Mal-Cathrach that the ancient Spaniards must have made a considerable progress in arts, sdiences, and letters. Their sailing into Ireland, in that or the next age, is as clear a proof, as any written record coeval with the fact itself, had any such existed. They must have learned the art of constructing ships of burden, as well as that of guiding them by the means of celestial observations, before they ventured on so perilous a voyage. And as a curious account, in Dr. Smith's History of the County of Cork, (vol. i., p. 266, 267 note,) seems to furnish a good collateral proof of astronomicalknowledge amongst the ancient inhabitants of this island, to which purpose the Bound Towers were well suited, we shall, for the reader's satisfaction, insert it in this place. " Diodorus Siculus/' says that writer, " has preserved an account out of Hecateus, a very ancient author, of a northern island, little less than Sicily, situated over against the Celtae, and inhabited by those whom the Greeks called Hyperboreans. " It is " — says he — " fruitful, pleasant, and dedicated to Apollo. That God, for the space of nine- teen years, used to come and converse with them, and which is more remarkable, they could, as if they had the use of telescopes, show the moon very near them, and discover therein mountains, &c. They had a large grove* and temple * See Villanueya, p. 142. ! V; .'íT,*- J . :• .' -'■'■;■ ';v'','"'-*'i5-*l^.iiv-"..|w,-í '•■;';• -v-.- ■-;«■.•';■ v -v'V»^:,-' ,-;y "r- / ■ t- ■-■:; f-'-'Vs^p^ 'f^- 406 of a round* form, to which the priests frequently resorted with their great deity. He sajs, they had a language of their own, and, that some Greeks had been in it, and presented valuable gifts to this temple, with Greek inscriptions on them ; and, that one Abaris, who became afterwards a dis6iple of Pytha- goras, went heuce into Greece, and contracted an intimacy with theDelians." Dr. Smith thus judiciously remarics on the foregoing account. ** The situation of this island, opposite to the Celtae, who were the inhabitants of Britain and Gallia ; its being compared with Sicily in size, its being dedicated to Apollo, i.e., the Sun which planet the Irish certainly worshipped ; the description of their temples which were always round ; and the mention of their harps — are all so many concurring circumstances, which seem more than probable, that this could be no other than Ireland ; for the Mona, or Anglesey of Rowland, is too inconsiderable a spot to be meant here. And if the learned of this island, who were then the ancient Druids of it, could, ais with telescopes, show the moon nearer, it may be supposed that they had made a greater progress in those sciences, than is generally imagined. The nineteen years' converse with Apollo, the notion of the moon's opacity, and of its mountains, rocks, &c., argue them to have been no bad astronomers. We have seen schemes by the Ptolemaic system in some Irish MS3, of very great antiquity. It is also very remarkable, that they have a tradition at Lismore, (which was formerly a celebrated school) of several Greeks having studied therein former times/' * It may be objected, that Irish scholars hare taken the oame of these Towers to signify " bell-house," or "belfry." To this we answer, that it does not,and never did, mean either the one or the other : for " túr" or cartha, not " téaeh'" is the Irish for " Tower," as it has been invariably called by the peasantry. Church bells did not come into use ibr many centurieB after St. Declar's time, and certainly he did not build a tower for bells which ^^:rí^W^'^^W>W-^-rv&^i*^^ W^ 407 Let it be held in memory, besides Smith's clear reasoning, that Ibar or Ibaris was a very usual name in this country in former days. All readers of Irish hagiology know — are aware of this fact. We have seen the arguments of other learned men on this pointy but as we cannot afiPord space to insert them we leave the readers to deduce their inference from Snlith. Belns, or Apollo — which is only the Greek name of the former — is the same as h-§Hos and Sol ; — the round tower, tie f,te worthip — ^their eastern origin are thence plainly given. Nq schdlar who knew the vernacular language and native tradition has ever yel denied that the Round Towers were made available for Sun-worship, as the palpable aim, and for observatories And light-homes as a secondary one. They idrere also used as watch-towers along th& tíoást, like our Martellos. The concep- tion of their erection was pure and holy, but man's depravity in having deviated from the moral code of innate principles — pursu- ing which a child of nature^ (provided he had never an opportunity of hearing Christ's holy name,) might have a chance of salvation* — made odious innovations. But these results do no more argue against the simplicity and elevated notion of the prime veneration, than do the many heresies and schisms that now existagainstthe sublimity and imperishable tenets of the Catholic Chufch^— i^Atf same^ yesterday — to-day and to-morrow — -unchangeable and unchanging as its Divine OriginaLf he had not : if these towers were built for ** belfries," it most have been after the introduction of bells. How does it happen, then, that no record of the building of any of them has come down to us ? • That is, if he was in a state of invincible ignorance. t A perusal of " Scenes in India," by the Rev, Hobart Gaunter, B.D., and of " The Jesuit in India," by the Rev. William Strickland, S.J., will be confirmatory of the views sketched in this chapter, *' A Narrative of a Voyage to Alexandria,*' by the Rev. N. Burton, LL.D., will be read with advantage on this subject. But the most conclusive of all, as far as they í!i!SW^!ff?~.^;i?s5?J.Wí^^ ■ 408 Just as we had the previous part iu type,"facts attracted our attention, and though pressed for space we give them. It is said by the poet Moore that Eound Towers were for Fire-worship. Of all men he was the least capable of writing on such a subject, as he knew nothing of the Irish language, and without such a knowledge any enquirer can De misled, and fall into monstrous errors. "Poetry is not history." From the glossary of Cormac, King and Bishop'of Cashel, it will be plainly seen that the aforesaid structures were not for Fire-worship. These extracts were kindly supplied by a~Rev. friend. The following stanza appears in Cormac's profession of faith : — •' 2l6|iAii)* bo tti5 i)A i)-&ú]le, Co bA5 bA^ bfi) At* 1' bAoije, leir 5AC btxeAH), leir 5AC bfije, leir 5AC céAU, leir 5AC CAoitije." regard the s3rmbolicaI aim of our Irish Round Towers is '* Egjpt and Nu- bia," by J. A. St. John. A passage in " Syria and the Holy Land," by Walter Keating Kelly, goes to proTe the identity of our Round Towers with those of Baal ia the East* His work as well as that of St. John are brilliant compositions. What an enchaining study is the tracing of the origin of nations, their forms of religion and their varying dialects. It is such a spell -possessing field as the contemplative mind loves to roam in, — the enjoyment of a lux- uriant retrospection of the illimitability of the Great Source, which, whilst it has given birth to all, yet remains undiminished and never to be dimin- ished. How eloquent is Pope when he thus sings, ** Warms in the nm, refreshes in the hreese. Glow» in the stars, and blossoms In the trees ; Lirea through all life, extends through all extent, Spreads ondirlded, operates unspent, ^ ' ■ Breathes in our souls, informs our mortal part, As full, as perfect, in Tile man. that mourns, As the rapt seraph that adores and boms ; .. . To him, no high, no low, no great, no small, He fills, he bonnds, connects, and equals all." • tix>A]\\, ''Jíre," hence AotiAiij, worship, as the Tuatha were fire-wor- thippert, (that is, they worshipped %DÍtk lire,) as well of the sun, moon, as V'l^^'^í?- »■■-•■* ,-i^^;'"r;'?^ 409 . ., " Adoration to tke king of the elements, (the globe) .To the EzALTBD FiRK, Pbotkctor of mankind, To Him Cbelongs) each tribe, each people, ' To Him all prescience, to Him all science." ' ' In these lines there is no allasion to " Towers" in connection vritli the fire of which he speaks. And that it may be clearly understood that he referred to the religious fire of the Pagans, he adds by way of explanation — " t5A+ ce]i}e xo}r)n)éc bo 5]i)qr VA biHAojte coi) qi)cec-UiB ii)0]tATb Fo|iA]5, T 60 bettftir »)■* ceAtjiA eAZA^\ubA\i ceAnjAijftAjb ca£a bl]A6i)A." earthly /ire. One would be inclined to infer, that at this remote period we unfairly accuse the Tuatha of worshipping fire. In the East fires were lighted to drive away snakes, as they dread light. If a person is out at night in India a light is carried before him from which the snake flies. This custom prevailed in Italy in the time of Virgil, as may be gleaned from the following passage in the third Georgic : — " Disce et odoratam stabilif accendcre cedram, Galbaneoque, i^itare graves nidore chelybros." " Learn likewise to burn fragrant cedar in the stalls. And with the galbanum to hunt a wajr the rank water snakes." Persons not understanding the cause of these fires looked on such a thing as Fire-worship. Whereas it was for the cause assigned, and as a preventative egainst the disease of cattle, as will be seen in the same work. t)A5 or bA]^,fire or " good," but it meant the former in the passage cited as was already shewn, bivttt " top,'' or " Aiffhe$t ; hence bA5 hsxxx — that on top of the ToMer being symbolic of the Eternal Fire or God, ac- cording to Connan's belief, and, we would be inclined to say, according to the Tuatha faith CéAÍ^ toUdom, foreknowledge , CAotijA, skill, knowledge &c. It is strange that Doctor O'Donovan translated &A5 " distinguished'* at the passage about the burning of Slane Bellhouse ; whereas the context proves that " Holy" is the proper word. It is true Holy men are " dittiw guiahed,'' but all distinguished men are not hoig, — on the contrary, they are, most of them, too often unholy, t The modern Irish for the other passage is this :— " Oa ceiie toiijibeAc bo sijf&ir V'a b^Aojce Cuib Fó^tte b' FASAjl Ai)-A5Ai& cji)-ceA&Al; tsó beittibfr i)A ceActtA caccaiiao sac bl|A6Aiq Cuil) CAOn)At)A IJA bllAÓAIJA bo cotS-" ';5-p^íí^ 410 "We ask how could cattle be driven to fires on icp qfRoUud Tower». St. Bridget, at her own request, was allowed to continue her use of the fire, as a figure of the divine fire of love, as well as for the sake of the poor.* She lighted it, not in a tower, but in a cell like a vault.f The Hindoos do the same to this day, as a respectable clergyman who was many years in the East, has told us. Even around the fires which they use for cooking when on a journey they make a clay erection, lest the very shadow of a European would deQle their food. In our days the remains of this vault is called, by the natives, " Fire house." We readily admit that, at this very " Tbe druids used to make two Mcred Area, In order to get protection ag«last slelcneM-amisiRg spells, They used to AHve the cettle l>etweei) (tbpni) eaieh yimr. In order to alleviate (keep off) the «lokness of the year." If Round Towers and Fillar^crosses wore of Christian origin» the names of the Jkingg, ehirfs, or prelates, who got them erected, would be handed down to ns in the Four Masters, the Annals of the famoni monasteries which contain accounts of len importance ; their silence is quite conducive, that these monuments are pagan in their origin. The books in which are recorded the names of the founders, their pistic principles, their rites and ceremonies, were destroyed by St Patrick. But we are as iirflBtlibly led to the period of the erection of the Irish Round Towers — to the purposes for which they were erected — and to the Tuatha de Danaans as the architects — by analogical reasoning, deduced from the exact conso- nance of our oral and written tradition with the accounts of the Eastern Pagan temples, rites, ceremonies, and worship, to be found in the books of travels and of the world, by learned travellers and cosmographers, as if we had precise records of them. This concordance, which renders our opinion dogmatical, ought to deter any writer from ever broaching an an- tiquarian heresy. This invention, as well as the one regarding St. Patrick's birth-place, has an aim, — It is this -to bring into disrepute Catholic tra- ditions. Fortunately, such things are too clear, and too deeply rooted in the minds of our people, to suffer aught from adverse or suspected sources. * See R. C. P. Meehan's splendid version of the Dominican Fathers. In that work can be seen the answer to the writer of the Grecian theory. t See Rev. Doctor Milner's " Tour through Ireland," on this subject. ' Srí?«>- •"■-*■?,.• f--! ■ ' ■ ■-.■^^^^/"spiS'- \ ^^^■pR;?»3?';np??'«^ ?~ TK*T^ 411 á&y, there are remains of fire vaalts such as these in Kerry, at KiUaloe, Down, Ardmore, and Kells, Sec., &c., but these have no resemblance to Bound Towers. Xt is with much Gon^dence asserted that the Tower of KeUs WfMa erected by St. Cojljamkille because he resided there for sope time ; but this is a mis^e, as can be seen on comparing it with the churches in the islands of Scotland which he b^ilt ; these bear not the slightest resemblance to our Eoucd Towers. In the next place, when the druids addressed Laoghire (Leary) in regard to St. Patrick's presumption in having lighted up a fire before the one in the Eoyal Palace was kindled, there is no mention of a Bound Tower, but only of a palace. Such would not have been the case if the usage were to light them in Hound Towers. Miss fieaufórt herself in a manner admits this when she writes, that low fabrics (such as are in use in the East) " are built near towers, and are for the preservation of the sacred Jire." It is urged that these low structures were erected by the Roman missioners, and that the towers were the erections of Grecian monks. The aim of this objection is obvious. But the classical scholar will laugh at such a shift for a theory, as he is aware, that long before our Redemption, Rome had stupendous stone buildings which have never since been surpassed, if equalled. It is the opinion of the most critical scholars that Rome was a great and flourishing city, long before Romulus was born, and that he is named as its founder, simply because he united the several peoples into one great community — that of these peoples, the Etrurians were deeply learned in arts, sciences, and trades, before his time. Numa was elevated to the throne on account of his learning, and kept the fire of " Betus" constantly burning, as can be gleaned from Livy, 16, 20, and other authors. This was clearly of Eastern origin, as was the other Ron^an custom of patron and clients, which resembled the Irish chieftain and his clansmen. The Romans and Sjpanisli clergy were distinguished for their knowledge of the fine arts, especially architecture, and firom the earliest period, with only a few intervals in time of war — was Borne foremost in the perfection of every department of these sciences that hav« been the admiration of the world. Hence she can smile at the endeavours of a man who has strained every point to rob^ her of her merit. Opinion of the distinguiihed Bev. Dr. LatUjfan* on " Round Towers.''* ' .' , It was only when onir chapter on this subject had been iu: type that we thought of seeing if Lanigan had anything, about it : We fin d he has a very learned article on Bound Towers, .._ we extract a short passage from his worke " It has been said, that the Bound Towers, which are almost peculiar to. Ireland, were intended as belfries. It seems certain that . some of these have been, although very unfit for that pur^ pose, applied to that use, after their original destination had been forgotten, but it is self-evident they were not erected with that intention, their construction was not adopted to it ; and, as far as can be discovered, the buildings intended for belfries in Ireland were square ; of this kind is that of Cormac's chapel on the rock of Cashel, not far from it (the belfry) is a Bound Tower, which, we may be sure, was there when the church was built, and which could not have been considered as, a belfry, else what necessity would there be to build a square one near the chapel." The learned writer ably refutes all these opinions which we have, it is to be hoped, satisfactorily sub- verted. He coincides with us in some uses which have been ascribed to them, such as being astronomical observatories and> for Sun-worshippers. But he does not agree that under any cir» cumstances thev could be looked on as Watch towers. As « * Lanigao's Ecclesiastical ffistory, 4th vol. p. 394 to 414. ^;rapB9rj^.:Wi'55i>-'£í.-í''ra^ywr!3»'5^^ .- ■ ,v- •jv'^js; i'^:;- 413 far as they concern Ireland we could easily give in to him» but as to the very earlier uses we hold, that the Tuatha de Danaans used them along our coasts (the only parts at first inhabited) as did Pharaoh of Egypt, as JBeacotu or Lighthouses for mariners, watch towers, like oar Mariello ones— as astro- nomical observatofieSf and for the purposes of «««-worship (rather God-worship), and, that from the top of them, a man, (the same as our bellringer), was wont with the stuic to summon the votaries to worship. Lanigan scouts with indignation the belfry theory, and in doing so very properly asks — '* What aiclútect would be so silly as to construct such a belfry as that the bell-ringer should use a ladder to effect an entrance to pei^orm his duty;" but he errs as to the version of clocceAcb»* which we explíúned at page 880. He says that the belfry of Slane must have been a timber one, else it could not have been burned to the ground.t In Doctor Mac Dermott's learned annotations, annexed to * We had nigh omitted to remark, that, in parts of Manster, the Towers are called eu]lc-ceAeb, from the word cufle, a reed, and ceACi a houne They gave them this name because of their ttgfering form. This name could not be a corruption of cloc>ceAc. But if the Southerns belieTed them to be belfries they would have never called them any other name thali; cIoc-ceAC. The reader will, then, henseforward bear in mind, that thdr early uses were — light-houtei, to guide mariners — to make astronomical observations ; and, in after times, they were also used for nM-worthip, — to summon to worship, — and to preserve the id(ds. t It is strange that Doctor O'Donovan translated the phrase '* beA5 bAOOAib,** " dietit^fuithed ptraont:" persons might be distinguished but not holy — nobles are such, and it is to be deplored, that as a class few of them are h sic Iberui eteandem superstiti- onem amplexati suntab Ibero-Phoeoidisj et horumBimulacromm cultum, qui apud eos obtinnefat. Ncc minim in delubrornm parietinis, quae in Ibernia servarit temporum injuria^ hujusmodi sinulacra non reperiri. Nam ea prorsus evertere, et exscindere^ vel, JosioB exemplo) comburere curasse Sanctum Patriciium et ceteros Erangelii nuntios, mihi eerto certius est/' The author then gives the annexed note. ^' S. Eleranus sapiens in vita S. Patricii> n. LIII. narrat beatum hune episcopum inveni&se idolum Slechty auro et argento ornatum: «t 12 simulacra (Brea hinc et inde erga idolum posita. ' Bex autem addit, et omnis populus hoc idolum adorabant, in quo dssmou pessimus latitabat.'" " The Ibemi of old, says Diodorus, worshipped the same idols as the Hyperborei (Northmen). The greatest veneration, 416 he adds, is paid to Apollo,* whom they daily, and in perpetual songs of lands adore. To him is there a magnificent grove and an august temple of a round shape." Now (says Yillanueva) D" Alton states, that the island (mentioned by Siculus) is • The following quotation having appeared interesting we insert it from " Scenes in India," by Uetv. Mr. Caunter. The speaker of our own Ian- guage will find in it a few words almost identical with what he himself would vernacularly apply to a worthless man : — " From Gyah we proceeded a few miles out of our direct route to Bode Gyah, where there is one of the most celebrated Buddhist temples to be found in Hindostan ; it is still an imposing structure, though the ravages of time are visible in several parts of it. The body of the building is a massy square, in the neighbourhood of which are alto-reliefs finely chisel- led ; they are master^pieces of ancient oriental art." It is remarkable how like the name " Bode Gyah*' is to the Irish " Bud Ge,'* *' Bttdabhothair(mhxir), a phrase of contempt— the former means a " Molfy of a man," the latter is a " worthlet»felhw," We are strongly impressed with the notion that " Bud a bhothair" had its origin in the fact that, at onetime, whilst the Pagan Irish worshipped Buda in the Temple or Round Tower, a small idol of him was worshipped on the road-side, just as is now the case in India, where the poor benighted creatures are seen with their small idol gods, paying them divine honors, and bestowing on them that honor which belong to the True God, Clemency would be the only means of bringing these wretched infidels to the light of the Gospel. Cruelty will tend only to wed them to their cherished idolatry. Had a Ca- tholic power sway over it as long as England, there can be no doubt but that it would now be Christian. We have no hesitation in saying that the above was the origin of '* Bud a bhothair,'* as used in Connaught. Tra- dition is a great teacher and a grand guide to the antiquarian. " The tower of this temple rises from the body of the structure, covering the entire square, and gradually diminishing in its elevation until it termi- nates in a tall columnar top with a round projecting base. On the walls are rich masses of bas-relief, carved with consummate taste and skill. The entrance is through a dilapidated portico, to which you ascend by a broken flight of steps. On either side is an unseemly mound of earth which has been suffered to accumulate, somewhat diminishing to the eye the beautiful proportions of the building. The architectural features of this temple are so unlike any thing else in the country round it, that an appearance of great antiquity is thus imparted to it, and the conjecture fairly justified, that all the other edifices in the neighbourhood are of a much more modern date. ÍT 417 Iberiiia, or Ireland. But I would be more than satisfied with the authority of St. Patrick, who sharply reproved the Sun- worshippers, whom he found in the island, deeply pained that up to his days ** the Irish always adored idoli^ (the words of bis confessions). Nor am I surprised (continues Villanueva) that there are not to be found images of these idols in the ruins of their shrines. Because I am thoroughly convinced that St. Patrick and the other early Apostles took care to overthrow and destroy them, or, like Josias, to burn them." St. Eleran, The Wise, in his Life of St. Patrick, tells us that this holy bishop (Patrick) found the idol Slecht (in Leitrim) which was ornamented with gold and silver, and that around him were placed 12 brazen images. The king adds — " Even all the people adore this idol, in which lies constantly concealed a most malicious devil." In the above extract is ample evidence of all we have written relative to the use of Round Towers and Sun-worsAip. mlthongh the pagoda at Muddenpoor, near Gyab, has the reputation of being extremely ancient." " With regard, however, to his (Colonel Todd) hypothesis, it is to our mind sufficiently negatived by the fact, that fine sculpture is now seen on temples to which the highest authorities ascribe an existence long anterior to the tenth century." "The temple of Bode Gyah is entirely deserted; years have rolled away since the knee of the worshipper has bent before its altars. The priest is no longer there to receive and console the pilgrim ; no devotees throng its aisles — no offerings are made at its shrines. There are few inhabitants in the neighbourhood of this magnificent structure, which, in spite of neg* lect, desertion, and the dilapidations of ages, seems formed, like the pyra- mids, to endure until it shall be finally toppled down amid *' The wreck of matter and the crush of worids." About a mile from Bode Gyah there is an immense pile of building which forms one solid mass of cemented brick, but for what purpose it was erected no one can now surmise. Asa contrast to the ancient Hindoo architecture exhibited in this temple, the reader is referred to a grand mosque in the Coimbatoor district, built by Hyder Ally, and perhaps the finest specimei^ of modern Mahomedan architecture in India." 418 Diodorns names the Sun-templcy its round shape, its augtisi architecture, its many idols — Apollo (or Baal) being the chief one — the magnificent grove, like that in which was the Draidical college at the head of the peninsula of Innishowen in Donegal, and which college was, in after days, converted by St. Columba into a Catholic college. The learned priest, the Bev. J, Villanueva, gives us the reason why we have no record of the Tuatha de Danaaus, as artificers of our Bound Towers. He says that St. Patrick consigned, to the flames, their idols, rituals, and the records of their heathenish abominations. We have in the extract from St, Eleran, the " crom cruach" fSamh, Belus or Bel, or Sun), the 12 ■* dii minores" the inferior gods — being the signs of the Zodiac. Herein is a sufficient answer to every antiquarian heresiarch. Such passages as the above should silence for ever all innovators and the modern Vandal of the records which place everlastingly, on an imperishable pinnacle, the fact of Irish civilisation more than 1500 years before England was other than a waste, as Camden testifies. The Bev. M. Kelly, in his '' Cambrensis Eversus," says, ''that wherever the Irish Friars established missions and built churches in Germany, or other places on the continent, they built Bound Towers, similar to those in Ireland, for the pur- pose of preserving the Holy of Holies in a safe tabernacle." To this an answer is given that, though such were a fact, it does not thence follow, that the Irish Bound Towers were built for the same purpose, though, in after times, the Irish Apos- tles, after the Catholic faith had been embraced by the chief- tains, might have appropriated the Towers to that purpose, as the Popes dedicated the Pantheon and other Pagan temples to the Catholic worship. If the Pontiffs, having found the Pagan style of architecture the best, would have adopted it, and built accordingly, it could not be logically said, that the Pantheon and Pagan temples were originally raised for Christian uses. It is moreover absurd to say, that, wherever a solid stone edi- 419 íice existed for offeriiig up tlie Holy of Hplie?, such was not the proper place to preserve it; and it would be a great and unnecessary waste of money to erect a costly tower for securing a thing, for which there was already a sufficiently strong de- pository. If Eouud Towers were found in Germany, that only shews that a tribe of Scythians, having settled there, built them,r aud that the ]!ri$h Friars, pursuing the course adopted at home, converted them to their own purposes, as in all pro- bability their churches were of clay or wood. Spiral shape of the Bound Tower». On a iseeond consideration of the shape of these edifices, we have come to the conclusion, that the Tuatha de Danaans architects, being eminent in their knowledge of building, gave the Towers a spiral shape, for the purpose of guarding against the possibility of the weight of the superstructure causing the lower part to give way in the lapse of time, and that the in- fluence of the elements — rain, siiow, and storms, might have no effect on them, and furthermore that they capped them, as the more convenient form to beat off the rain, &c. However, we would not positively ignore a different opinion given by the an- cients — peculiar to the East, — who seldom did any thing with- out a symbolical aim. It may be asked,why ascribe the Round Towers to the Danaans, rather than to the Firbolgs, or other first colonists. To this our answer is — that the early erections, which antiquarians ascribe to Firbolgs, are erections of rude stones piled on top of each other without any mortar or other cement, and the Milesian colonists, generally speaking, were opposed to any but wood or clay houses. They were rigorous sticklers for the usages of their ancestors, as they despised stone houses, for their protection, so they despised to incase their bodies in armour of brass or steel. The term " Carthea" is apt to leave the impression, tbj|t it was the ancient name of "Tower'' and that "T4r" is of Latin origin ! cA|t|i, rook, ccac, house j hence cAjtcbeA aad 420 earthage (Fort) '< Bock houses " the first of them being simply a Fort, as that of GUtraltai ox í\m ** Pidgeon koute" in ihs bay of Dublin. Our explanation will be freely admitted by the classical scholar, when he recollects a passae^e in the first book of Virgil's JSneid. Just M our Essay had been printed, we thought of examining " The Ulster Journal of Archaeology" — a work of much learning and great na> tional interest — on the question of Round Towers. We have to legnu this, as we could give additional force to our opinion from facts, set forth in that work. The reader is referred to page 180, No. 16, 1856 ; there he will find that the author states that, as there is a square belfry near the church on Devinish on the Erne, also a Round Tower, the latter Qonld never have been built as belfry. " The Journal," whilst it does not posi- tively refute the " Belfry theory," yet it can be plainly seen that it is op- posed to it, and inclines to the opinion that one of the uses of the Towers was for sepulture. We trust that nothing was said, whilst discussing tliis ques- tion, that an impartial investigation of truth did not justify. If so we regret it, and beg to assure the reader, that the dis- covery of truth, not offence, was aimed at in the disquisition. As all the points bearing on the subject could not, within such a compass, be treated of, it is to be apprehended that some of the most salient arguments have been overlooked. However, the few facts, introduced will lead the antiquarian to deeper and wider research. ANCIENT CROSSES. Lest we might hereafter forget a fact, it may be here stated that in ** The Cities of the Dead," by St. John, is given a drawing of a tomb at Lycopolis, which is a perfect cross. Pillar crosses, at all times, were to be seen in the East, ages and ages before the Redemption, The sculptured devices on the Irish pre-christian crosses are plainly Pagan conceptions and partly Israelitish ; the wolf dog, &c., belong to the former, and the serpent to the latter. Such was the fraternity between the offspring of Heber, who was of Shem, and of the line of Japbet, ^.^^^-~ 421 that the Japhetians, having heard of the curative power of the Brazen Serpent in the desert, and not knowing that Moses des- troyed it lest his people would adore it, paid it marked respect, and, therefore, had it engraven ou crossed stones.*r. , ; In a distinguished antiquarian are to be found these words, " How it came to pass, that the Egyptians, Arabians, and In- dians before Christ came amongst us, and the inhabitants of * Tt Ú confidently stated in the " Dnblin Penny Journal" of November. 1833, that the Crosus with the ttrange device» were sent to Ireland as pre- sents by the Pope. To this we have to say, that no crosses of that character {reeognued a» Chrittian one») have been ever seen at Rome. Again, if sneh a noble present had been made to Ireland, there would be a record of such in the Vatican, as there is with respect to the io^ax pall», which were given to the Archbishops of Ireland in the time of Cardinal Paparo; moreover, if His Holiness were so anxious to adorn our valleys with such noble spe- cimens of art, some of which are composed of a single stone eighteen feet high, chiselled into devices with most elaborate workmanship, it is strange that none of them are to be found in the neighbourhood of the Holy See ; and it is still more strange that on the crosses, in the Eternal City, there are not engraven centaur»/ tnake» ! »erpent»l dog»! and other animal»/ as there are on the one at Kells and in Kilcullen. Whenever St. Patrick appropriated any of the Irish Budhist symbols to Christian uses, he oblite- rated the Pagan devices. At this day traces of defiicement can be discerned on some of our ancient crosses. The same zeal that actuated the Irish Apostle to destroy the mythology of the Magi influenced him, no doubt, to remove the Pagan emblems on the crosses, that they might not be a scan- dal to his converts. A few possibly escaped his vigilance. Hence the one at Kells remains with its devices, as if to bear full testimony to the transcendent skill of the Tuatha de Danaans. who were, unquestionably, the artificers of such crosses both in Asia and in Ireland. A work, pub- lished by Berthoul, 65, R^ent's Quadrant, Piccadilly, London, tells us — " There is to be seen a representation of a Greek cross which is considered as the leading symbol of Pagan worship." It adds, that " the augural wand of the Romans was like a cross." The staff of Osiris resembles a bishop's crosier, but ended at the top with a cross. Finally, to úlence these iover» of Catholic piety, we have authority to state tiiat tlte Pope issued orders, prohibiting, under excommunication, the use of the crosses, which had on them the monstrou» my»terie». A Catholic writer will unravel the motive both of the erection of the pillar-crosses and their symbols. It was this : the Tuatha de Dananns got them raised in honor of Buda, their God, and as to the animals which are represented on 422 ' the extreme northern parts of the world, ere they had so much as heard of him, paid a remai^able veneration to tho 9Íg» of the cross, is to me unknown, bat the £aot is known. In some places this sign was given to men, accused of a crime» but acquitted : and in Egypt it stood for the siguiQeatioo of eternal life." "Appeal tp Common Sense," page 45, Thftauthor of the above was a Protestant curate in Monaghan. Schedius says, the Druids search for an oak tree with two arms in form of a cross beside the upright stem. If the horizontal arms be not sufficiently adapted to the figure they fasten a cross beam to it. In consecrating this cross with its natural i^jDf 2^^^ round iowerjthey cut, in the bark, certain names of their deity, " De moribus Germanorum" 2>-h* * Doctor Maoculloch, who died 1835, a man of great talents, states that in Lewis — the chief isle of the Hebrides — is a great temple, the form of which is a cross. He adds, that it is similar to a Boman cross, and is at Loch Benera, He further ' observes, that its circular fona proves its pre-Christian origin and antiquity. Speculating antiquarians heap obscurity on the records of antiquity. It seems unquestionabde, that the figure of the Cross was known to the Gothic nations, and was , used by them before they were converted to Christianity. "Western Islands," vol. I., p. 184, and " Highland," vol. them every genuine Irish scholar, who has investigated Pagan mytho- logy, knows that such animals were venerated by the Pagans. To our own knowledge there coined in many parts of Ireland a superstition, to a late period, ynth respect to the raven, or Fiachdubh. The only de- vices on a Catholic cross are, generally, f I. N. R. I. The Redeemer with » croum of thorm, having a small covering down below his waist, a ladder, a hammer, a cock, the Blessed Virgin and St. John. Bat all these are not on all our Catholic crosses. Therefore, the ascription of the Pillar-croaseb previously described, to Catholic taste is an error, apd a libel on the talent, skill, and pious conceptive capacity of St. Patrick and the other early Apostles of Ireland. Catholicity stood not in need of such grotesque hut- ments as the foundation of her fame, in having given birth to sublimely gorgeous edifices, chastely chiselled, and piously designed specimens of the noblest efforts of artistic skill and genius. ■ifci'iViiiii^««i1-i ...,u 423 ' III., p. 236. Such evidences as these place beyond dispote the existence of the cross before Christianity ; it remains ta intestigate the cause of which it was commemuratire. Tom Martm, who wrote at the dose of the 18th ocnttiry, tells as that, haTÍng asked the inhabitants what tradition they had of these stones^ he was told ** that they were places for worship in the days of heathenism — that the chief Dmid, having stood near the big stone in the centre, preached to the people." The Dmids had no monuments that did not typify some divinity or something sacred — and these stones were positively, symbolical of something which they sublimely and occultly venerated. . Their order was» at their institution, very pare, and their rites very chaste, though, in tiaoe,, some of their followers fell away. The description, given by learned writers who were previously cited, attests the great parity Mid sub- limity of pistic principles and ceremonies in the first Buddhists. They were clearly schismatics, one degree removed from true believers. Buda, according to eastern traveUers, was born of a pure virgin and was crucified.* The Creator said in Paradise that the seed of woman would crush the serpent's head. Hence the origin of the Buddhist and Drnidic serpent. These crosses symbolized Taut or Thoth, the Egyptian deity. The Scandinavian Sculde* is represented by a cross, and there is no doubt bat that Titatf an Irish divinity, had for its emblem a cross. Buadh or Budh and Tuat^ as well as Taut, are one and the same name. To their worship were erected, in this island, as well as in Egypt and the East, crosses. And the reader, on having carefully examined the book by the Rev. William Strickland, S. J., on his travels in India, will discover that the vestments and some of the rites of the Pagan priests of Hiur dostan are netily, if not entirely, similar to these of Catholic priests — a strange fact. .. . . , " Seika," of the Hindoos, largely written of by Mr. Caunker, teems to be the same as " Buda." / . . ■;. ■'=■-?■< - > 'íp 424 There is in Russ-shire iu Scotland, a grand obelisk with en- circling cut stones at the base, which are like steps. It has on one side a beautiful cross, with a figure on each hand, un- derneath which are uncouth animals and flowerings. On the reverse side is a great variety of animals, birds of various kinds, and other figues. Some antiquarians, jealous of the renown of the Greek mietionere, who first introduced Chririianit^ and civilization into this eavage land 1 would strive to make us think, that Catholic artists were so fond of the grotesque and pantomimic arts, that they should exercise their talents in that way, and place on the emblem of Redemption un- couth animals, snakes, vultures, hawks, ravens, &c ! !* Won- derful piety ! which, rather than allow antiquity the honor of the production, of their imaginative and sparkling genius, has 80ught,*^though it is to be hoped unintentionally — to bring con. tempt on the first propagation of the Gospel in these islands. Let such a profane theory be scouted ! All the configurations on the cross, alluded to, will be identified as eastern, by any one who has read the antiquities of Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Hindostan. The flowerings are the leaves of the BosE-tree (whose wood with that of sandal, as exhaling a sweet odor and having a white smoke like that of incense, was kept burn- ing iu the Buddhist temples), whose fruit was a favourite of Bubal according to . the Persian poets ; the Boar is that of Yishna ; the elk, the dancers, the lamb (emblematical of the pure offspring) and the fox, are all perfectly identical with the Indians, Egyptians, and Cape of Good Hope symbols of the diierent shapes, under which each nation worships its respec- tive deity. Yenus, Jupiter, Osiris and a Ptolemaic medal are represented with across.f Surely these deities were worshipped * The right of the ancitttt erotttt and the devices of Abbey Knockmoy, at the Dublia Exhibition, surprised us very much ; and to a clergyman, who was with us on the occasion, we so remarked. We promised to investi- gate the subject, and the result is onr opinion, given in these pages. f Captain Basil Hall's description of this curious constellation. " Of all the antarctic constellations, the celebrated Souihern Crou is by far the :- for one moment, to look on the figure as the emblem of our Eedfimp* tion, much less to erect it for the purpose. The Bev» Mr. Mauiice,'*^ a distinguished antiquarian of the 18th century, a Protestant clergyman states, that the cross was one of the hieroglyphics of Egypt and India, equally honored in the Grentile and Christiaa world ; its form is stampt on the most majratic of the shrines of thc«r deities. '' Indian Antiquities, V. 1 , p. 88." From the deepest and most Ibcid works of ha* giolists of all centuries and times, it will be seen that Bud- hism existed many centuries antecedentiy io*iii one place, says "they were h^metical retreats — in another, they were monuments to record the defeats of the Danes-'^aud in a third» they were in honor of the £rst chief- tains who became Christiana»" Well done J ! 1 Father Ledwich ; your poor Greek monks must have had oceans of money to erect such mostly pillars to %educe chieftains from error to truth. Ah, Doctor, chieftains, and Eeverends too, can be seduced from truth to error by shining pillars of ^overaiffns, and nice snug livii^ like that of sunny A^ado. • ;.:; ^ f ; s -: . c ABBEY KNOCKMOY. ..; , This abbey is near Tuam in the County ©f Gal way. Ireland has scarcely a more noble relic of aiatiquity than this old edifice, which it is deeply to be regretted, was partially allowed to suffer from decay. The local gentry and clei^y should deem it their highest boast to preserve it as an imperishable monumetit, not only of Christian, but of pre-Christian art. We flatter ourselves that when the attention of the highminded men of G^lway is called to the state of the structure it will be protected. The royal face of the 0*Connorá, whose ancestor was the founder of the Christian portion of the building, ought to think it a pride to keep it in a state of preservation, as an • object possessing so many atttactions for tourists. ,, > > And here we find it our imperative duty to reject the theory of ascribing the Pagan Budhist fresco ornamentation to the time of Roderick O'Connor, monarch of Ireland in the 12th * There are no Rouad Towers exactly similar to the Irish ones in Den- mark or Greece ; that would not be so if Da^es and Greeks were the rchitccts of those in Ireland. £&l; :,.>.,■..;,;;; ■.-:■■- • •*-';■,,*'•.•'.• ■■■• ", . ■■.••■*'■ ..';:-7:; '■■'"•~^--,'''-.^*'--l-^-~'?T^'-:^^ r^ 428 • century. Tlie reader will keep in mind that the Irish crown is round, as can be seen in Keating's Ireland and other old works. The crowns on the figures of the kings on the fresco of Abbey Knockmoy are, in a manner, radiated, and with a cross. 'Riey are precisely exact specimens of eastern crowns, and very properly, for the figures are Tuatha db Daitaan. The boy (MacMurrough's son) — bless the mark ! — iaSaiia, who believed himself a itremanation as was already stated, and thought that after a certain time he should die for his people. The image of the boy, who is being pierced with the arrows, in the Abbey of Knockmoy is no other than Saika, the deliverer of the Hindoos. The act of murdering the innocent boy for the crimes of the father was bad enough, but to dare to offer an additional outrage to the humanity of the nation by erecting a monument to so odious an act of cruelty, and that monument to be set up in a CaUiolic place of worship, sur- passes all imagination of the most relentless villany ! ! The nation would not have tolerated such an outrage on humanity, not to speak of religion. No ecclesiastic would, even at the peril of his life, allow such an abominable symbol of barbarity to be set up in a .Catholic place of worship. No, no I all these devices, so improperly set forth as done by Catholics, are truly Budhist, and are the remains of a Budhist temple up against which, as a firm support, the abbey was built by King O'Connor, in thanksgiving to God for the victory he gained on that spot, thenceforward called " cx)oc i)a xty-htx^Jo*' or " The Hill of Victories.'* Besides there is no record of such ornamentation being made by King O'Connor — such would not have been the case if he got them done. The family archives are most minute in the details of important matters. Therefore, as they dont possess an account of these figures, the thing is a pure fabrication — though certainly we do not insinuate that the writer intended them as such. 429 ST. PATRICK'S BIRTH-PLACE. "jPATftICK WAS BOEN AT HOLY TOWEE.'* — St. Fiéch. SAiwt Patrick was born at Holy Tower, a Roman fort in the Morini, in Belgic Gaul. We find in the first book of "Caesar's Gallic War," that the Belgae inhabited all the northern parts of Gaul, Britanny included, as far as the mouth of the Seine, which formed a part of the boundary between the Celtae and Belgae. The reader will bear in mind that the ancient Belgium was more extensive than the modem one. It comprised all the maritime parts of France, and a part of the modern Germany. This can be easily seen by glancing over the maps of ancient and modem Gaul, or, still better, a map of the Roman Empire in the time of the Caesars or Constantino. Though Cellarius is good, we prefer Atlcis Universel Geographies Sfc^ par A, H, Brue, a Paris, 1822. As we are simply commenting on a poem, in which St. Patrick's name turns up, it is not to be expected that we will gp at length into all disputed points. We are not in- clined for controversy, farther than an absolute necessity of placing an important national fact in as clear a view as pos- sible, and in as few words as the nature of the subject may demand. Now, let say us that there never was a more obvious translation of any two words from one language into another, than "Holy Castle," or Tower, is of ijeATb cu|t; and we are not disposed to place a false interpretation on the text, for the purpose of pleasing the wishes or preju- dices of persons. St. Fiech, to give weight to his statement of Patrick's place of nativity, adds, " as is read in stories,*** meaning history. The gospel is translated into Irish — fAOjbbifceul (sivishkayul), happy story y that is, the history of * See notes on Fieeh't hymn, at itanza 1. a V \ \; I 430 Christ. We saw it stated that if Fiech had intended the ex- pression to convey more than " Nempthur," one term, he would have written 'Cnft ijeAtij, because in Irish, the ad- jective comes after its noun. It is true, the rule of having the adnoun after the noun is general in the Celtic, as in other languages. Bat all tongues afford many examples of excep- tions from tíie above rule. MeAiij, or ve]ity, is always before the substantive; so much so, that in the Irish Lexicon it is pi»fíxed and joined to its noun. The General Confession, in Irish, is a sufficient illustration. But tjeAnjcA* {blessed)^ which is a participle, comes after the noun. Thus we say Y^eA,n} Pacc|1]C, Saint Patrick^ and Pacc|1|c MeATÍjÉA, blessed Patrick. There is a vast difference between the two phrases. A man may be blessed^ that is, a blessing may be given him, and yet he may not be a saints according to the «ense of the Church, which confines the latter name to a person who was canonized. We are at a loss to understand how any man, having any knowledge of the Irish, could have translated " Tor," or '* Tur," Tours. More especially as Tours was about two hundred and fifty miles north of the Loire, south by west from the Department of Artois — com- prising the ancient Morini — in which was Castellum, aliter Gessoriacum, the present Boulogne-sur-mer. We would be more uKimn^d to write that the town of Castle is Calais, the Iccius Pectus of the Romans, were it not that Ainswon^ Lempriére, Cellarius, and others are quite clear on the point These authors give four towns called "Castelluni," or Castle, something like our own *' Duns," or forts, as Dun-Garvan, Dun-Saney, Dun-Manaway. AJl towns and cities grew up about DuQs^ Forts, or Castles. — See Goldsmith's "Origin of Towns in the Keign of Henry VII." Each prince, baron, or chieftain made a fort or fortress for his soldiers. Towards this the victualler, grocer, tradesman, and others, congre- gated to supply its inhabitants. In course of time their * Pronounced ubeefa. 43i childrioo interiuarried, and, as th^y multapliedf the state or monarch extended to thetn the priyiiege of making bye>law« for their mutual protection and advantage. Hence though the place wherein St. Patrick was bom had been in the be- ginning only a mere fort {or Taberna), yet in process of tim* a town grew up, and it was called Qutle. London itself was thus created. Its derivation is this — Lyn» a river. Dun, Castle, or Fort. Again, the translation of Túr into Tffurs is a painful evidence of the disagreeable results of persons attempting to write of facts which cannot be ascertained unless through the natural medium — the language in which they have foeeii recorded. Writers who rest on the translations of othera, often dr*w on fancy — nay, they sometimes presume to im- prove on the borrowed words, and they thus commit repre- hensible errors. It is well known, that not only the change or substitution of a word, but even a letter, or the omission of a dot, would completely alter the original ; thus, cd|]t, just, CO||t, crime. Even the same Irish word has a different meaning, De^tti-i^iO nothing^ t)e]rt)H)í6, a hQly thing ^ i)e]tt)-i)í6, idleness, ie^m, foolish, \^\a), a leap» Even in the boasted, copious, nervous English language) a, word has di^rent meanings, without the help of even a n^ark to aid the stu- dent to sound it. Thus pair signifies ** two,** " a couple ;'* invalid, " not binding," invalid, " a sick person ;" swallow, "a bird," swallow, "the throat." Examples innumerable are at hand, but these are sufficient to convince the reader that, 80 far from the Irish being a difficult language to acquire, it is the easiest of all. Its grammatical rules are quite simple, and its principles almost as unalterable as those of the sacred volume. We have a grammar now prepared for the press which will contain only about thirty two pages. Octavo. In it will be seen the truth of the observations here made. Though an Irish terra may apparently represent many different ideas, still upon close inspection it will be found that every word was intended for, and has its own idea. i^!^i?^fm^r^^^^^?S^. 432 But as to " tjett) cú|t" in Fiech's poem, it can be rendered ioftt/ toweVy celestial towers as, Holy Castle. St. Fiech called it " Hofyi* as having given birth to his illustrious master, St. Patrick. It is idle to object, that it would be ridiculous to call a man's birth-place " Holy Castle," or Tower. It is just as good sense to use that expression as any other, as Holy WelU in Wales, Holy Cross* in Tippe- rary. How many places in Spain and other parts of the world have the praenomen, *' Holy ;" — Santé Fé, in South America. So that we need not (if we do not wish) say, that Patrick's birth-place was termed Holyy because of the accident of his birth ; much less are we driven to the neces- sity of doing violence to the words ijeri) or ijeATt) ctt|i, and make them one-Gaulic word, nevtria, nephtria^ or neustria. For though the territory in which St. Patrick was captured, did bear that name, still it is more likely that the Franks, under their converted monarch, Clovis, called the district Morinif Nevtria, from ijeAti) cú]i, just as we have New Castile in Spain. In all countries districts have been deno- minated after their chief towns ; thus the County of Roscom- mon, after the town which was so called from St. Coeman (son of Faolchan, and disciple of St. Finan^ at Clonard), who in the year 540, founded an abbey of Canons Regular in that locality. In this very fact we have an instance of a * Holy Cross, in the County Tipperary, province of Munster, above 69 miles from Dublin. Seven miles from Casbrl, on the river Suir, are the ruins of the famous abbey of Holy Cross. Murtough, monarch of Ireland, and grandson of Brien Borhoime, bavin; received from Pope Pascal 11., in 1110, a gift of a piece of the cross of Calvary, covered with gold, and orna- mented with precious stones, determined to found a monastery, and dedicate it to the Holy Cross, which be began, but did not live to finish, bonald O'Brien completed the church tad abbey in 1169: he was king of north Munster, and his monument is still to be seen near the high altar, of which Mr O'Halloran has given a view, as also a shrine in the south aisle, wherein some pieces of the cross were supposed to be deposited, both of which are more highly embellished than any other Gothic remains to be seen in the kingdom. 'WWÍ^W^MWfW'ix?^ ■•^J^.-Tf?i.i^.^^>*-. 433 town springing out of the erection of a monastery. The house took the name of its founder, as did the town and county. It is more reasonable to allege that the Franks, who must clearly have heard of the fame of St. Patrick, de- nominated their newly acquired territory in the north» Neutria or Netutria^ after the capital, Holy Tower^ the Gaulic and Irish appellation of which being nearly identical. As to the term, Neustria, it was not at all used during the temporal rule of Rome in the north of France. Let us hear what Lempriere has written relative to the Morini. These are his words: " Morini — a people of Belgic Gaul, on the shores of the British ocean. Their name is derived from the Celtic — * Mor,' which signifies the sea, denoting a maritime people. They were called extremi hominum by the Romans, because situated on the extremities of Gaul. Their city, called Morinorum Castellum, is now Mount Casself in Artois (Boulogne), and Morinorum civitas is Terouenne (Tarvenna) on the Sis," Pliny, book iv., Virgil, book viii. of the w^ueid, Caesar, book iv. c. 21. allude to that place. What says Cellarius, whose geography and maps agree with the classics in the times of Rome, from the earliest period up to the Caesars and after? His words in the Index are these : " Morini, now Bologn," that is, the county of Boulogne. Now, as to the town, the Index is this : — " Gessoriacum oppidum (Boulogne);" and in the geography, when enumerating the towns of Gaul, he writes : " In Morinis ad fretura Britannicum, Portus Iccius (a Tacito nominatum) ex quo Caesar in Britaniam trajecit, qui (scilicet-portus) idemne sit ac Gessoriacum, quod pariter in Morinis laudatur, an diversus ab illo, disputamus alibi.'' Though we may be thought pedantic for giving translations of such passages as the above, still, a desire to please many of our readers has induced us to do so. ** In the country of the Morini, on the British Channel, lies the Iccian port, whence Caesar passed over into Britain, which port, whether ^itTirktMTi lii'r ^^im^'^r'fi^SfftfStjS^-f if •Y^.,^'í^'»^vvsvr^^^^-í'^' ÍT^ 434 it was the same as Oessoriaeum, which is likewise men- láozied as in Morini« or a different one from it^ we shall else- where discuss." ^ Now it is manifest from these quotations that Gessori' acum was the name« in thd days of old Rome, of the capital of the Moiini^ aild that it was the present Boulognesur-fMr in the county, to so write, of Boulogne. Cellarius gives ua a town Bomia, west of the Rhine, in Belgic Gaul. Bonn a is an appropriate name, synonymous with the Irish word BotjijAbbojij (pro. Bunowen), that is, tnouth of the river^ and we find in Terouanna, alias Ter- Tanna (Tarbenna), tributaries flowing east by north, und disembogueing themselves into the Rhine near its mouth at the German Ocean. Dr. Alexander Adam, in the Index to his Geography, mentions ** Gessoriacum Bononia — Boulogne in Picardy ;" in other passages his words are exactly the same as those of Cellarius and Ainsworth, before cited; and he adds, that ** other places were óalled Bononia," page 623» index of Geography. When we consider that Adam writes of only cities and places which were remarkable, we must infer, that Ge^oriacum was a celebrated place, and he annexes the word " Bononia" by way of pre-eminehce ; he states in the title-page, he treats of " places, that were distinguished by memorable events.** We are fully aware, that there are different opinicns upob the subject of our remarks, but We feel convinced that our best course is to keep not minding what this or that writer may have stated, and to place before our readers pertinent passages from the best authors. It is much more conducive to the object we have in view, not to be raising many un- necessary objections, as we have found others to have done. Thus did Lanigan, in some manner, render obscure what he laboured to clear Up— ' . " Nil «git exemplum litem quod lite reiolvit." 435 It is to be vegretted^that men of recognized talents, witb massive inteUeet» colossal mind, towering genius, vast grasp of comprehension^ penetrating genius, and solid learning, have, bj plajing on words and mere trifles, created doubts on questions, which thej proposed to tltemseives to eluci^^ date ; so much so that their readers said to us that, instead of being enlightened^ they .T^ere rather confirmed in their doubts, as regards some facts. ^ " - Before the Romaic, Ainsworth says, that all the west and north of Gaul was designated " Armorica," and he refers t5J^?*í=7--'í7 i>^Sf- 438 named after the city ; and it is to be noted, that the diocese of Dublin extends over part» of several counties. The same can be said of most of the episcopal territories of Ireland* Therefore, the substitution of one letter for another, or the transposition of a letter is not to be considered aa having weight, when discussing any question. In Greek, nothing is more common than metathesis or transposition, thus KpabCa for Kapbia, ** the heart," and KpabCrj for Kapbia, in Homer's Iliad, book i., line 225, in which author, as in other Greek writers, we find one case for another — and that even in prose authors. Herodotus and Xenophon abound in such. It ia unnecessary to remind the Celtic scholar, that the same is of frequent occurrence in that language. As to the remark that vico TabernitB, in St. Patrick's *• Confessions," must imply that Taberuia was a country not a town, we must say the deduction is illogicah Because, in •* Cataline's Conspiracy," cap. 30, we read " urbem Roma" the obvious translation of which is "the City Rome" or *' the City of Rome." No scholar would translate it other- wise. Where now is the laugh of the writer, learned though he was, who says, that if Tabernia meant a town — the non- sensical interpretation of victt Tabernics should be ^^ in the town of (the town) Tabernia?" iJiat is, a town in a tmon. In fact the "City of Rome," the "City of Athens," the " City of Dublin," is the ordinary expression. Indeed, in the ancient classics both forms are to be had A writer on this subject asserted, that no such word as *^ Tabema* occurs, as connected with Belgic Gaul, in the days of the Romans, and thence he infers, that Bononia was in Italy, because the cognon>en " Tabernia" was used by St. Patrick in his "Confessions:" and it is further alleged, that the term was not applicable to any part of Gaul in which the Romans ruled, inasmuch as Tabema was a tent.. There never was greater noneense urged to sustain a false position than this. For what are camps or castra, but Taber^iae or tents. iSurely, as no one in his senses will state, that 439 ^^ CastrcC' were houses, it miist follow they were TabernaB ; ftnd, 9» a consequence, though that exact wcHrd may not have been used by any Roman writer when treating of the Roman expeditions in Belgic Gaul, ther« is no reason why a town, which sprung up where the Roman encampment was, would not be called Tabemia or Taberna. Moreover it is not requisite, to prove our position, to have recoarae to a weak shift, and say that the Belgic Taberna Was so called after Tarvana, a Roman officer. What writes Lempriere ? We introduce him here, not to prove the existence of Terouanna alone, but to exhibit the folly of those who say that Taberniae was a name peculiar to Italy. These are Lempriére's words: "Tabemae Rhenanae, a town of Ger- many on the Rhine, now Rhin Zabern. Tabernae Riguae, now Bern Castle, on the Moselle. Tabernae Triboccorum, a town of Alsace, now Saverne." In this passage we have an $ and z substituted for t. It is pitiable that men with eyes to read, will not consult authorities before they hazard opinions. If the persons who assumed to prove that St. Patrick was an Italian, looked over their classics, they would not have made themselves so ridiculous in endeavouring to maintain a false position and upon false data. We are quite aware that there is a Bononia in Cisalpine Gaul, which is a part of the modern Italy, but facts and circumstances are in the way of its being the birth-place of our Patron Saint. Now, as to the statement, that the word " Taherna" does not appear in Roman writers when speaking of Nothem Gaul, we have made out the following passage in tlie ** Annals of Tacitus," book ii. cap. 14, *'adit castrorum vias, adsistit tabernaculis," — he approaches the avenues of the * camp, he remains beside the tents. We quote these words simply to show the temerity of hazarding an opinion without consulting authors. If it be objected, that the quotation has not reference to the encampment in the Morini, our answer ■ is, that the system of encamping must be the same on the west of the Rhine as on the east in Belgic Gaul, and that a .;^:. Tt ■ .- -l^. V- í!'>i?^?^«^vT^f^sSr^''-^' 440 part of Germany was included in the former country in Caesar's time. We have also to observe, that Tabema and Tabemaculum, having reference to Castra, are of the same signification, though Tabemaculum, in strict philology, means a small tent. The Jewish tents, which must have been very large, were called Tabernacula, Tabernacles, but the word is the diminutive of " Tabemia" Hence we thus argue. When a question is raised as to the identity of a certain town, reason suggests that when facts, circumstances, and a generally accepted opinion are in favor of a given one, we are bound to arrive at the logical conclusion, that such a town is that meant ; but in the present case, the three things are plainly for Bononia {Celtice, Bonaven) Tabemiae, in the Morini : therefore, it must have been the birth-place of St. Patrick. The river or rivers are there ; the Tabern^e, or Castra, were there ; the ruins of Terrouanne, according to Lempriére and Le Brue, are there ; and a general, nay an almost universal opinion on the point, exists. But, before we proceed to the argument, deducible from St. Patrick's " Confessions" as to his birth-place, let us say, that Tours could not by any means be where he was taken captive. For it lay to the west, and when the Irish were pursuing the Romans to the Alps, their route lay rather to the east. We find the original of the following words in the Leab- har Breac (Lhowar Brack), Speckled Book, at Seachnall*s hymn, " Patrick's Captivity." " They (Irish invaders) happened to come on a party of the Britons of Eroluade (b-6|tcluAbe). A party of the Britons met them (the pirates) at that time in Armorica Letha (litoralis). They killed Potitus's son, Calpurn, Patrick's father, and they cap- ' tured Patrick and his two sisters." Nothing can be clearer than that the Britons and the Ercluade, alluded to in the above quotation, belonged to Gaul. The conjecture, that they belonged to Scotland, is most ridiculous. W hat would • have brought a Scotch family to so distant a land ? More- t~jr -. •^^..;.^:iiJ..i ,t \ ; . v: ■' ' : ^ ^.-.j.^,..,. . ...^ ^.' -■'- ■ •■ -■" ~ ^ ■ -■•:.-...■--■ .'■^^■'L...^- Lj.,.^:*im^ rn^i rtimamitt 441 * over the Irish, at that time, were aiding the Scotch Britons to repel the Romans, and in doing so they captured Patrick in his native land, as the Speckled Book shows. It is better to give the original passage, as resting on its authority. The Rev. Doctor Todd, a most accomplished scholar, and an excellent Irishman, of most amiable and conciliating manners, would fain have it that St. Patrick was a Scotch- man. I have already shown that tjj^e best writers are agreed, and amongst them, Venerable Bede, that the Britanny of Armorica in Gaul gave name to the Britons of England. — But before our disquisition closes it will have been more clearly shown that Great Britain was so called from Little Britanny. Before we quote from the Speckled Book, it is as well to remark that h-ercliiaide was a most appropriate name for Holy Tower, or Boulogne-sur-mer. The deriva- tion of the word is this — " h-er" or " «r*' in, at, or upon ; " cluaide," an angle or corner. Such was exactly the posi- tion of the Roman fort in Armorica. But though the quota- tion which is just about being given had positively said, that Scotland was Patrick's birth-place, we will prove from the Saint's own words that the assertion cannot be upheld. "Pac|ia]C uii70]t|io, bo b]teci)A]b b-e|icluA]&e a buij^bAf, CAlpu]ti)b A^ijnj A ACA]t .... pocuijb, unjojifio cuiÓeccA PAC]tAlC }r) 6l|t]1)1), ]f ATljlAjb 1*0 f0|lC0et1)ACA]]t •]• feACC Tijec Seccti7A]&e ]t]5 bjiecAi? bACA|t yo\i loiJSAf, co|tttf o|icucA|i 2l]ftrt)0|t]cc LfecA, i)o ecoTUi)ACA]|t bjienjit) bo bpec- i)A]b b-e]tclttAbe b0|b ■\v cat) f]r) ] i>A]tn)0]|tc lecA. 0|icA b-iftt|bii) Colpujii) n)AC "pocAjb, ACA]t Pac|ia|C, *i |to 5AbAb lA|tAtt) Pac|ia]C T a b] fiA^n AVb^r)." — Liber Hymnorum, p. 27. " Now Patrick, in his origin, was of the Britons of Erclude. Calpurn was the name of his father .... The cause of Patrick's coming to Erin. This is the way it happened : viz., The seven sons of Sechtmaidhe, King of Britain, that were in banishment, ravaged Armoric Letha. They happened to come \ipon a party of the Britons of Ercluade, on that 442 occasion, in Armoric Letha. Calpurn, son of Potaid, Patrick's lather, W£i8 killed there, and Patrick and hb two sisters were taken captive thefe." In order to connect the answer to Doctor Todd's false deduction from the above lines, we will begin with the words of St. Patrick himself in his " Confessions"— a work cecognised by Usher, Protestant Archbishop of Armagh. ** £t ibi, scilicet, quadam nocte, in somnis audivi vocera, dicentem mihi : *' Bene jejunas, cito iturus in patriam tuani. Et iterum post paullulum tempus responsum audivi, dicens mihi I Ecce navis tua parata est. Et non erat prope, sed forte aberat ducenta millia passus, et ubi nunquara fuerara.*' *' And now one night in my slumber, I heard a voice telling me. You fast to advantage ; you will soon go to your own country. And again shortly after I heard the response, saying : Lo, your ship is ready; and it (the ship) was not nigh ; it was distant perhaps 200 miles from me, and where I had never been." *' In somno," in my tlumberj reminds us, as regards gram- matical structure, of the annexed passage of Virgil, wherein he introduces ^neas telling his vision : " Effigies sacrse divum Phrygiiqae peoales Quos mecum a Troja, mediisque ex ignibus urbis, Extnleram, visi ante oculos astare jacentis In sooinis multo raamfesti lutaine. qua se Pleaa j^er insertas fuBdebat Ivn» fenef traa." From the quotation given, it is evident that the Trojiin chief when " in somnis," saw, as the legend runs, not w^jyely as in a dream, the household gods, but '* coram agnoscer^ yuJU tus" — that he recognised their benevolent oountenanoes by the ■aid of the moonlight glancing through the windows ; " nee sopor illud erat,'' nor was his a sleep ; he was half awake» as we say. U such were not the case, the poet would not have used '* multo manifesti lamine," they became quite vmble by a fiitod of u.onn-btams ; now we, depending upon the struc- 443 ture of language, hold that St, Patrick was slumhering, but not ia a Iveavy sleep, that is, '* he was half awake," or a» people say '* between asleep and awake." Ia fact, that it was so (in every work the text of that work is the best key) appears from the text in the " Confessions;" " ^liortly after I heard the response «aying: The ship is ready»" Do not these words clearly mean that Patrick answered " the voice," thus, " How can I go to my country, I have no ship?" whereupon " the response" from *'the voice" replied, "the «hip is ready." Patrick must have a second time asked, •' where is the ship ready?" for how could he know where it was, unless " the voice" informed him ? " The voice" did so, as Patrick tells us ; the ship was in a harbour 200 miles away ; plainly not at the Boyne in Drogheda, as has been sillily stated by some writers, its distance from Antrim being, at most, not 60 miles ; even the lowest part of Antrim is not 100 miles from Drogheda; not Binn Eaduir, only 90 miles; but the vessel was in Bantry Bay in Cork (formerly in Kerry), about 200 miles from Patrick's place of servitude. Hence it follows that the scholiast of Sl Fiech and the Bollandists must have been wrong, when they interpreted the word, " Benum" or Bonum, the " Boyne." " Benum" is equivalent to the Irish " Berw" promontory. Our reason for making Bantry the part where Patrick took shipping is, that history tells us it was a place much frequented in olden times by French vcesels, and is bo to this day. That is not said of the port of Drogheda. Lt is geographically impossible that the latter could be the port. The Hoinan miles veie nearly as long as our modern milea, and the ^* Confessions" uses the language applied to Roman tneasurement. Ben Eaduir (Howth) could not, for the pre- vious reason, be the port whence our Saint «ailed ; it is about lOOltniles from Aatrim; neither could Wexford or Galwajfc tíiey not being *'dacenta millia passuum" {200 miles) from ihe south-western part of Antrim and Down. Hence the •^hore mith the Ben {Binn traigh^ Bantry Bay), natures ^. ■"^i^^frrm^^^fWf ';;'/tJ-'!ii'4íf',': 444 gigantic cloud-capt break-water, the Supreme Engineer's rampart to beat back the tyrant enemy, the bellowing ocean, is the only harbor, precisely corresponding with St. Patrick's own words. But to return to the angelic apparition. Now when we look on the simple text of the " Confessions," we own we are at a loss how to understand it in any other light than that an angel conversed with the young slave, telling him that his fasting, mortification, and prayer, had found favor with God, and as a reward, that he would return to his own country ; that the ship was ready in a port which he told him of. " The voice" must have come from an angel, though he may not have seen him. Patrick must have been not quite asleep, else he could not keep up a discourse. He does not say he dreamed he heard a voice; he says, in language alF plain and as intelligible as was ever penned, "I heard a voice." In another part of his "Confessions," he says, ^*quod a Christo didisceram" — "what I learned from Christ." Here he mentions Christ as his teacher. Surely this was infinitely a higher honor than would have been a conversation with the whole celestial choir. The last words we quoted, and the passage in Fiech's hymn, are as easy of translation as any we have ever read. Fifth stanza: — "He departed over all the mountains." We are not pleased with Father Colgan's Latin translation of the word BaI^a. He interpreted so as to impress his readers with the notion, that the poet meant the Alps in Italy. Now the term, though sometimes written differently, was very common with the primitive Irish, and denoted any lofty eminence. To this day we find in the County of Limerick, that the people call a stick " Clalpeeriy* cle]C ^lflpít?, that is, "Alpin's wattle." Thus evidencing that ^AÍpA and 2l]lpíi7 are natives, not exotics. A large, flinty man was, by a figure of rhetoric, called " a mountain of rocks." 2l|l, rock ; b^oijij, promontory. We ourselves say, **a mountain of a man, a mountain of a woman." The i' ■:- v',T *,>■.. 445 Irish poets called an Irish giant, Alp, thus : ** Alp wandered alone, &c." Hence " G>AlpA u^le" was an appropriate term for Fiech to use in mentioning "all the mountains" over which Patrick climbed in making his escape from slavery — viz., the mountains of Antrim, Benna Boirche, the Moume range, and Sliabh (Shleev) Mis in Down, the Ard na h-Ei- rean, or "heights of Ireland," in Queen's County. The indented chain in Tipperary bears a resemblance to the con- tinental Alps. These latter were, in the time of our Apostle, inhabited by Celtic tribes ; and are we then to wonder'that the Celts of both countries applied a common name to desig- nate mountains? In these times, when cultivation has made such changes, we can form no idea of the number of large mountains^that were in Ireland in former days. Besides these named there were their kindred moimtains, " the Galtees," in Tipperary (the stronghold of the brave Gael in the times of bitter per- secution, and the hiding place of the incomparable and pro- founply erudite Dr. Keating, the Herodotus of Ireland), and the many other romantic eminences of the bizarre and picturesque country through which he had to go before he arrived in Cork. His travels throughout such an extent of wild country without interruption, was in itself next to a miracle. Patrick tells us *' I was never in the place, nor did I know any person in it," that is, where the ship was ready. By looking to the map of Europe it will be quite plain that Bantry is exactly opposite Brest, the north-west point of France. If Patrick were a Scotch lad, he would, every day, have met a ship or boat in Strangford Bay, Carlingford Bay, Carrick-fergus, or any near bay in Down, or Louth, or Antrim, whence the passage is only some seventeen miles to Scotland. In some copies of the " Confessions'* we read " Bonum."' However that name is as far away from Ptolemy's Buvinda (Boyne), or Calpa, as the word in the text of Father Vill- -anueva, from whom we copy. " Bonum," appears to us not to h ^^ '^WW^W^', W'W;^'^Wyf^>?'/rf^W^ 446 be the word used by Patrick, but " BenunrK" " Ad bo- num,"^or a good object ^ would be a useless phrase — that he was making his escape for a good object was clear to every reader of hie " Confessions," without being told so in express terms. In all we cannot see that any other place squares exactly with Patrick's mentioning " 200 miles," except Ben- try or Ban try Bay (the. shore of the Ben), in the south-west of Munster, a place resorted to by continental traders in the earliest days of Ireland.* 2nd line — 5th stanza of Fiech, says: "Over seas proape- was his flight." Patrick had a favorable voyage to France, and studied under St. German of Auxerre, south-*ast, but north of Ligeris — the Loire — in Celtic Gaul, about four years after, his arrival — Anb '^\X At)b h\ycyy\ix, Lcaca — " afterwards in a remote skirt of Letavia." One thing is clear — the above language cannot refer to any part of Italy, as Dr. Colgan has translated it, more especially when the reader will have remembered that much of the present Italy was in Cisalpine Gaul in olden times. Besides, St. German lived far into Transalpine Gaul, which the Celts inhabited, and, therefore, not in any part of Latium or Italy. Auxerre was far away west of any part of it. Letavia and Laetavi were names, amongst the first Latin writers, applied to Armorica and its inhabitants. Fiech 's scholiast writes: "They (the pirates)- plundered in Letha, a district of Armorica." «Carhden understood by Letha, Britanny, as did some writers of the middle ages. The scholiast says, that Patrick was made captive in some part of Armorica. Now that some part was where Patrick * It was thither the Milesians steered ; it was from one of its ports, Eire, a native queen, demanded of the Milesian chiefs the cause of their coming ; and it was on the southern Sliabh Mis (Sleev Mish>, in Desmond, that they met, and fought, and defeated the Tuatha De Dannans. In this place, at this day, is pointed out where Scota, the wife of Milesius, was interred. It is called Glen Scothian. 447 and his merchant countrymen landed. This appears from Fiech and his scholiast at strophe V.^ He had a prosperous voyage according to Fiech, and Patrick, in his " Confessions," part 8, says : *' Et post triduum terram cepimus, et vigenti et septera dies per desertum iter fecimus." — "And at the end of three days we made land, and and travelled twenty seven days through a desert." Now, we ask, if Scotland or England were our Saint's natale so- lum, to which the angel promised him a return for his having fasted profitably, how is it consistent with our notion of a prosperous voyage, that he could be three days at sea. A good rowing boat with a few good men would cross St. George's Channel in half the time, or less, and to the Clyde in Scotland in as many hours. Again, supposing that they landed in any part of Scotland, how could they have taken twenty-seven days to go to Dnnbritain pt Alcluid, which is about twelve miles up the river. If they made harbour in England, who that knows anything of Glastonbury, Corn- wall, or any part of that island, could hold so ridiculous an hypothesis as that Patrick could have taken twenty-seven days to go to his friends and relatives. Besides, St. Patrick tells us " he long wished to visit his relations, but the distance prevented him." That could not be so if they were in England or Scotland. Moreover, history does not inform us of so vast a desert in that district, as that a man in health would spend so long a time in going through it. If we allow only twenty miles a-day, that, when multiplied by twenty-seven, will give, in round numbers, 540. Hence, it is beyond all doubt that he returned to Leatha or Armo- rica, his own country, and did so in three days. Nor did he sail up the Loire to Tours — some hundreds of miles — as certain writers falsely assert. The river, though a ma- jestic sheet of water, is not navigable as far as Tours. Because, as we have, satisfactorily, proven already, that was not his native soil — and the angel said : " cito iturus ad patriam tuara" — Yoji will soon go to your own country. 448 Neither can it be said that his arrival in Celtic Gaul would be a fufilfnent of what " the voice" foretold, for Armorica and Gallia were, even according to Caesar, dif- ferent countries. Therefore, that "the voice" would be truthful, that St. Fiech befaccurate in his statement, that his scholiast be veritable, and that the words of the "Confessions" be intelligible, we must conclude that Patrick landed in some part of Armorica, the west part of which, from the north to the south, was rendered (one vast desert by the Franks and other pirates, as any person acquainted with ancient history can easily ascertain. St. Patrick tells us in his *' Confes- sions" that "himself and many thousands" were taken into captivity. This passage aids us in our explanation of the 3rd stanza of St. Fiech's hymn, where we interpret *' Four tribes" as tribes of captivity^ not Irish ones. From this we can infer how infested his native land was with pirates. Besides the Franks, there were others. It was at this time ** Niall of the nine hostages" carried on war in the north of France. Therefore, Patrick being acquainted with this cir- cumstance, naturally had a sharp look-out after he landed, lest he should be captured. He, consequently, journeyed through the most secret, intricate, and wildest parts of the desert, from the " mare Lugdunense" in the west, until he came to Boulogne. Leatha was the Gaelic appellation given to Letavia by Fiech. We have read some efforts to explain this word by the help of the British language, and we have also seen an ingenious attempt, through the term " Butavia," a name by which a region on the banks of the Rhine was once called. This word is certainly of a Celtic root — b3i]ce, drowned or inundated^ because the Netherlands (Belgium and Holland) are apt to be flooded, both by high tides and the floods of the Rhine. Caesar's army had nigh been overwhelmed by the flood ; and to prevent Napoleon from subduing them, the natives let go the sluices of the dykes, 80 that the whole country was a sheet of water. From this circumstance it might be reasoned that some interpolator. 449 printer, or transcriber, insei-ted L for B, as the top half circle of B might have been effaced, and to carry out the introduction of L, they inserted eA for ac. This is not at all improbable, as, except in the upper arc of the B, it is exactly like the capital L in Irish, and we find not only broad vowels substituted for each other, but a broad for a slender, and the same practice was in use amongst the old Latin authors ; thus, mexume, optume^ for optime, maxime ; olli for iUii in Virgil ; domo for domu : the Greeks had the same cus- tom, using the long for short, and vice versa, as can be seen even in the Greek Testament, not to mention Lucian, He- rodotus, or the poets — Aprja for Apea, line 352, 4th book of the Iliad of Homer ; and in the same book, line, 353 — oi|rea( for oxjn] ; in the former the broad is put in place of the slender, and in the latter the slender for the broad, and ai is added. In the 4th book, 45th cap. of Herodotus, we have Aa-irj for Atria, Ai^vrj for Ai/3ua, ^o-pirf for ^opai, ór« for ÓT01, and the latter for another form. We meet fiaa-ikqos for /3a Lanigan quotes from Keating, who says : " I have read in an ancient Irish manuscript, whose authority I cannot dispute, that St. Patrick and his two sisters were brought captive into Ireland from Armorica or Britanny, in the kingdom of France." O' Flaherty admits the same ; but, like old Anchises, he was " deceptus novo hcorum errore," though he, from his knowledge of language, might, had he examined a little more closely, have guarded against the mistake, and could find the name Aldcluid equally as appli- cable to the Morini cliflfs as to those of the Scotch Highlands, as was previously remarked. The erudite 0*Sullivan — and he an Irish scholar too — agrees with our doctrine. Probus is most clear on the subject. " When he (St. Patrick) was yet in his oton country with his father Calpumius, and his mother Concessa, also his brother Rutchi, and sister, by name, Mila, in a town of Armorica, a great commotion arose in these places." The reader will have seen by the last words, that it is a very common practice with authors to use plural nouns where a single one would do. The town alluded to was not places, but a place, though it must be confessed the disturbances pervaded all Belgic Graul, which was at that time invaded by foreign powers, and amongst them, by the Irish. So satisfied was the Venerable Bede, that there were Britons in Armorica earlier than in Great Britain, he says, that the continental Britons gave name to iR^i,-*TOt;r^Vi*.''.;'-: -y- ■vi^-^tu?<'j\'^^yy ■ >■ ■■■■% -.^j;;.. ^«v' v«J.^a»í3("'?^f|??^;£3J|??^W^f^ 466 the former. — See "Ecclesiastical History," book i. capu 1. Nenniue and Proc(^us are of opinion, ''* that Britons Uvea to the north of Gaul at an early period." ... ; .. Left we should forget a fact worthy of notice, we naaji as veil refer to it here. The head-land or prcHDontocy at Boulogne, when the tide is very full, reeemhles an idet^ being nearly, if not entirely, encircled by the sea. We Ukewise add» that if the heights are not now the same a» in the days of St. Patrick, the like change, according to Chambers, has been effected at the Scotch Clyde-^ " Tantum aevi longinqua valet mutare vetustsis." Jf cities and empires disappear from maps^ may not moun- tains ajjd hills be wiped away or reduced. If we be told, that our saint uses the word Britanniae, the pjiural uumber, and that this word qannot in strict philology be a{>p)lied to one Britain or to Britanny, we answer, that no clas^ic^l scholar would urge such an objection, for the old authors abound in similar expressions. St. Patrick, in the same place, u^s the word " Gallias," Gauls, though we all 9re aware there was but one Gaul. Caesar did the same in vajqiou» passages. St. Maclovias uses similar language as Sigebert relates of him — " Maledictis Britannis in Gallias abut," On referring to the author, it will be seen that Britanny was here meant, and hence may be inferred^ that the maritime parts, as being extremi kominum,, " the eijd of the world," was looked on by the Romans as not at all in Gaul, Here a, most convincing proof, if such were wanted» present» itself to our mind. In Virgil's iEneid, book viii,, is to be fpund this passage elsewhere q^uoted by us, " Extre- mique hondnttm Morini, Rhenusque bicornis." The learned Jesuit, Bunus, commenting on this cUuse, says, that th^ii; capital wa» Tarvaiwa,, now in ruins, and that they werje called by the Romans " extremi honanum^" the most remote people on the west. In fact, Virgil took them to be Sf>, else he would have introduced another appellation for the 'WiTr^^?^^^mfv?fx:i^P^ '■?'^?fi? 467 Morini, when he vefe^red to them on the w^est a» be did' to the Dahsi on the banka o£ the Damalbe on the east^ We have BO doubt that St. Patrick's knowledge of th^ Laftitt cksaics reminded him of the above* aentenoe^ whei^ in^ has " Gonfesáons," he made use of ^^UUimis terrm*" Siuieljr had his relatives been at the Clycie iii Scotland^ hey who was a scholair, could not havi& said they wene in *^ Ulttnm terrcB," In other words> he wouM not have saidy they werd in the most remote knd^ when they w*oiJild be, actually, within a few hours sail of him if he where a Scot. Besides» as fr& must brieve himself, that they were of liiat class of persons who could very easily have gone to see him^ and wouldy unquestionably, han^ done so, were they in Scotland. Buty in truth, St. Patrick meant that his friends were in the> Morini — Virgil's *^ Extremi hominttm,** called by hiitf " Ultimis terra," And to araert, that " Ultimis terrei' meant distent parts of Ireland would be she^ nonsense, as may be learned from the context in the ** Confessions/' Another proof against our Saint being a native of Scotland is to be^ found in his epistle to CoroticU8^ *^Ingenuus fui secundunr camem ; Decurione patre nascor. Vemiidi enim^ nobilitaeto." — "I was noble by birth ; my father was a De- curio ; I sold my nobility." There were two classes of Decurione». The one olass' was military. Each command ten' equates. These lattitr wese something like English knights at their first instkutidn.. They were what we weuid denonanatke the first grade' o^ nolnlity. They wore gold rings as the mavk of their ran^v They were men of estates. In order to be elected aDecario' a man should be possessed of 100,000 sestJerstii, or j£781 dv: of our money (a large amount at that eaarly age). These' resembled our cavahy officers. The second class of IDe- curiones were radier. civil officers,' as our d^nty lieutetiattta^ of countied — hence the name "de curiai;"-^awd wéíe m&tíi*» bersJ of provincial senates^ or legiáative asBemblies!.— See Lempriére and Kennell's " Roman A-ntaq-Tiities." .,;3wcr,'?s^-w;:_^^l^,t^5^5W?'3?n*T?'^^ T^'.^T^.'i^lW^^W^t'v 468 When it is bome in mind that the equites, who were commanded — ten each, or the third of a troop — by one of the first class of Decuriones, were themselves all men of rank, as may be ascertained by the census of Servius TuUiua in Livy, and that the second presided in the provinces, the reader can infer what influence St. Patrick's family possessed. Why he stated that he sold his nohility was this : Constan- tine, to prevent any order discharging more offices than one, lest that office would not be ful611ed to the advantage of the state, decreed, that any laic becoming a clergyman forfeited his inheritance . However, the very fact of Patrick saying that he sold it, proves that an exception was made in favor of his father, who was a deacon, and a Decurio at the same time. Even here is an instance of the influence of his family, an exception having been made in favor of Calpur- nius, and of Potitus, the grandfather. Here again is a most probable reason for the family being in Belgic Gaul — viz., their civil as well as spiritual influence. Now we would ask the advocates for making Killpatrick our Saint's birth-place, who ever heard of the title Decurio as a Scotch or English one. What writer on Scotch or English topography has ever used the name Tabernia, which St. Patrick applied to the town of his birth ; whereas, we meet Castra or Caster, attached to many places. The very absence of Tabemia from the works of their old topo- graphers is an indirect evidence that Scotland has no claim to the honor of being St. Patrick's native soil, though we would love him equally as well if he even were. But facts are against the hypothesis ; history is opposed to it, tradition contradicts it, and the concurrent testimonies of the best writers disprove it. There is one other passage in the " Confessions" which might seem to require an explanation. He said that he wished after paying a visit to his friends in Britain (Britanny) to visit the Gauls. Here it may be objected, that if Britanny was in France how can this saying of the Apostle r-ti iiifiTf'iiiTifLHnííiiteilÍ ,^lf t^^' 469 be reconciled ? Very easily. But that the reader may the more clearly understand the phrase, we shall give a quotation from Caesar : " The river Garonne is the boundary between the Aquitani and the Gauls. The Marne and the Seine between the Gaufs and the Belgians." Here the Beige and Gauls are set down by Caesar in his first book as different peoples, though sometimes for brevity he applies the name Galii (which himself says was the Roman appellation for the Celtae) to all Gaul: ipsorum lingua Celta, nostra Galli appellantur. In their own tongue their name is Celts, in our^g (Roman) Gauls. Hence it is quite plain why St. Pa- trick used the phrase " and thence to the Gauls." For he was aware that his countrymen considered the Celts, or the south and south-eastern people, called " Galli" — the Roman term — entirely as distinct from the Armoric Britons. In reality, up to the time of Caesar there was nothing known of the Britanni and Belgae (whom we have already shown to be colonists from Ireland and Scotland) in Rome. This is in- ferrible from Caesar's words, talking of their bravery and power of endurance, which he attributes to their temperance habits and active life : " Of all these the Belgae are the bravest, because they are very far removed from the refine- ment and civilization of the province (Gaul), and merchants trade to them seldom, and do not import those things, that are apt to impair the spirits." Here again an unmistakeable difference is drawn between the Belgae and the Gauls, The former are declared the bravest, because far removed from the vices of RomCf and because they are temperate. What a grand character has been forced from a haughty enemy, and to the credit of terrible foes, to subdue whom, cost the Romans more time, money, and men, than the conquest of any other nation. So much so, that Virgil mentions by name the Morini (Belgae) and the DahcB, as the climax of Octavius' triumph. Indeed, so it was a proud triumph ; because the Dahae, who were Scythians, cut to pieces the troops of Darius, and are mentioned as the bravest 'W^^-''^-'~.,'^'-*('^^f'"^ 470 of WAmorBi and designated by Virgil himself as iruoincible. Cenmr reoofds tlie rame of tlie Morim, who -were also, be before stated, in all probability from Ireland, and Cdm^e-^ quently of Scythic origin. To close the argument about the birth-place of our great Apostle, we shall introduce some lines from Probus, who, beyond all doubt, makes Armoric Gaul his native land. These are his words ; " Which town of Bononia we un- doubtedly find to be of Neustria, where rumour has placed the giants of old." In another part we showed clearly that Neustria was in Merini or Armoric Gaul, therefore Bononia was in Morini. NoTS.— We would her* (not having space in the proper place) remind our readers that as «tops in, printing and writing were introduced only in the sixteenth century, it was a very difficult task to arrive at the sense of old works; Some letter or letters of a word would be placed closer to a word to vbich ito did not belong than to its own, that) is precisely the ease in Hech's iijah poem, and hence the difference of «pinion about thfl reading and inter- pretation of some passages in it. The Rev. Doctor Todd and Doctor Sidgrave afforded us every facility to collate the original in Trinity College library. We regrot that having seen several printed copies with fbnr lines in tacb ■tUBa^ we weie induced to imitate them. Each stanza «f the original ia'thtf " Liber Hymnorum" has but two lines of fourteen syllables^ and in rhyne. I' ■ 4n ■' ": ;--.'-. -:- ST. PATRiCK'S EXISTIiNCE. .. As annotators, it is not our pcovincQ Qor oiar iatention to I enter fully iuto the ridiculous objection of a few diseased mioids against the fact, that St. Patrick wa$ the Apostle of Ireland. We are only surprised that. Dr. Lanigan — tha Irish Muratori, whose learned volumes are a text-book to the ecclesiastical student — could have brought himself to spend so much time in refuting the abominable ravings of the lying L.edwicb, who sought out every base means> of reviling the land of his birth, and put into requisition so- phistry to endeavour to uproot the belief in the existence of the epctraordinary Apostle,, who came to Ireland holding in his hand the brilliant lamp of iaith, to lead the inhabitants out of the ways of darkness in which they were gropingi If St, Patrick did not exist in this country, who, we ask, effected the stupendous miracle of the almo^ simultaneous conversion of the Irish from diaiblery, druidism, aad sorcery? In what monarch's reign, and by what monk, and in what dark age — as was audaciously asserted — was the gigantic lying fact of the blessed Patrick's existence fabricated ? If there was a Sadleirite forger to delude the Irish, what was his name ? The reign, the lying monk, and the dark age, should have been given by the unchristian Christian minie- ter^ Ledwich^ in order to gain any degree of credibility for his infómous theory. Did he suppose that his ipse dixit would be taken for truth, even by his own party ? Did he^ for a moment, imagine that any respectable Pcotestant would, on his sole authority, withhold belief in the existence of a man to whom they owe» under God^ the blessings of the Chiistian dispensaticm. Silly drivellej ! Base reviler ! • His conduct in this matter resembles that of the beetle, which avoids the most delicious viands, and feeds upon the most putrid carrion, the filthiest substances. We shall not. TjW^^i^'^íl^Wé^^'Tr'^*, ^T^ 472 therefore, stoop to follow him in his scandalous and maniac lucubrations. The fact of our Saint's existence and his gIo> rious apostleship in Ireland is as clearly deducible from the premises, laid down in showing his birth-place, as any fact that has ever been established by human reasoning. The very discussion about where he was born presupposes his existence. Why argue about where a man might have been bom if no such man existed ? Consequently, the writings of all the eminent men who treated of St. Patrick's native town, must be admitted, according to the rules of logic, as an irrefragable proof that he did exist, and converted Ireland. What man, unless a madman, or a man of Ledwich's effron- tery, could have dared to contradict a fact, established by the concurrent testimony of the most profound historians, Catholic, Protestant, and Presbyterian, of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland? What motive could have effected so wonderful a union of men of different nations, different interests, diffe- rent views, different political, civil, moral, and religious opi- nions? What common bond could possibly have so linked such jarring", elements to fabricate so egregious a falsehood ? Above all, what could have induced Irishmen, who are so tenacious of national fame, to attribute to a nonentity their conversion from idolatry ? They had St. Albe, St. Ciaran, St. Ivar, and St. Deighlan, bishops. Irishmen, contemporaries of St. Patrick. Would not our ancestors have handed down to posterity any, or all of these as having converted the Irish people ? Most unquestionably they would. Their not having done so, a;nd St. Fiech, on the contrary, an Irishman, and bishop in the fifth century, having held our thesis, is ah argument, quite conclusive, that the glory of spreading the light of the .Gospel amongst oui forefathers iá due ~to St. Patrick. St. Benignus of Armagh, St. Maccaille, or Mac Hale of Roscommon, St. Seanagh of Mayo, St. EnA {Enda) of Arran, in Galway Bay, were all native Irish bishops of the same century, in whichj^history says St. Patrick preached li 473 in Ireland. Is it likely that Irish writers would have passed over all these eminent saints for a foreign fancied saint ? The supposition is so absurd, that, whilst we write, we laugh at it. Would not the British isles have claimed the honor attributed to St. Patrick, for some of their own ecclesiastics? Would not Scotland have claimed it for St. Palladius (Roman though he was), inasmuch as he became their apostle, and died amongst them. But after all, they, too, owe indirectly to St. Patrick their conversion, it having been not completely brought about until St. Columba, or Columbkille, went amongst them, and he was one of the heavenly results of Patrick's mission amongst the ** Irish Scots," if we can so write. It is a wonder Ledwich did not create an English, Scotch, Welsh, or Manx Protestant Thaumaturgus as the converter of the Irish idolaters. Having had'a stomach, able to digest anything, we are astonished, that he hesitated at such a trifle, especially, as such a pious forgery was necessary to give a something of plausibility to his cherished hypothesis — " there was no St. Patrick." Unfortunately for himself he did not Doctor, if you were sincere, whence did you get your' mission ofAghadoe? Who gave you the Bible? Who consecrated the bishop that gave you formal ordination ? To whom will you trace the source whence you got the power to preach and teach ? Was it from an invisible bishop you derived your j urisdiction ? But, this you cannot, consistently with even your own doctrine, admit. The extraordinary mission ceased with the immediate apostles of Christ, and de- , cended not to their successors. Come then. Doctor, if St. Patrick did not exist as the Apostle of Ireland, even granting that your faith was orthodox, tell us what right have you to confer what are called sacraments in your church? You cannot trace your episcopacy to any visible source, if your position be true. If your mission be ordinary, it can be traced up to Christ, from whom through some earthly being you have obtained it. When you deny St. Patrick, you do not 'W^:'7!^^ymf^'i^^(^m!^^^^ 474 KUwfaotorily give a substiinte. Having &iléi in this point, you did «n unintentioned wroag to yourself. You will not allow, that you had an extraordimoy misáon ; aeoordlng to oonclusions from your own premiaet you have iiot an ordinary one. Hence you leave us no alternative but to say, that you enjoy a rich benefice' to which you have no just claim-~that, as you have no posáble rightft»l patent to preach, you are an impostor and a cheat — as ave hHj^ who believe with you. .. • x. Would there not be a general reclamation of clerics and laics against the imposture, if such were practised ? Would not prelates and priests have denounced the fraud of setting up for veneration the absence of even the shadow of a saint 1 If there were a general reclamaticm, hist(»ry does not give it, and it could not exist without being recorded. It did not occur in the fifth century, when Irish saints and learned men of the nation were placed on the circle, of our hori- son, numerous and shining as twinkling stars on the blue ethereal vault of heaven on a frosty night, when the be- spangled ether, whose colors, laid on by the plastic hand and brush of the Supreme Painter, dissolving, as it were, into one, presents to the vision of the contemplative mind such a rich feast for thought. '': Ciaran, the learned and intrepid bishop of Saigar, would not have yielded to the humbug of an imported ** Nemo." This Ciaran, having met Patrick (or Ledwich's ó^i^ of the Cyclops) on his way to the Eternal City, where he taught theology for twenty years, would he, on his return home) have submitted to a pious, unnecessary fraud? St. Ailbe, Bishop of Emly, and afterwards of Cashel, met Patrick on the Continent. This Ailbe exercised metropolitan powers over Monster, or Leagh Mogha, as Bishop of Cashel, in the time of King ^ngus, but was not, certainly, papally and canonically appointed archbishop. He would have de- nounced the pious fraud. We find in history, that Ivar or Ibarus, of Begerin, on the coast of Wexford, resisted the ''W^^f^--'ír!^l^'^^- kille, the holy Colmans, Columbaiuis, Adamnan, and Probus, some in the time of St. Patrick, others following in ^ntumi order— these would, assuredly, have not consented to a mon/» strous cheat which strips their country of its merit. Were there any colleges in Ireland in the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries ? If there were, their learned pro^ feasors and students would not stand a splendid humbug of «n wTis apostle. There was St. Ailbe's college, in Easi Munster; St. Fiech's in Sietty, in the Queen's County. From the number of disciples, said to be of Benignus, we are to infer that he had a college. He, for a time, it is said, even before his eleyation to the primatial chair, presided over the school of Annagh ; St. Mel, of Ardagh, had a school ; Mactheus, of Louth, is represented as a man of grea^ learning ; St. Ivar, or Ibar, of Beg-erin, had a renowned school. — See his life, in "Ushef." There was a scho:7~^lf^^^ •í^pfCii^T^f'^í m"^-^ >^ 479 would have been of large advantage to the philologist and antiquarian. St. Cummian, of the seventh century, refers in these words to Patrick: " St. Patridc, otir Pope, brought with him, &c." This passage is to be seen in his letter to Segeneus, Abbot of Hye. Kienan, of Connaught, pupil of Nathy, of Achrony, wrote a life of St. Patrick in the seventh century. We need not here insert from the " Antiphona/- rium Benchorei|oe" (Down, in the north of Ireland), which Muritori has so justly lauded, and which* we used elsewhere, when speaking of St. Patrick's birth-place ; neither need we allude to the testimony of Mabillon, who refers to " Litanies for the use of the Angelican Church." The document was executed in the old Anglo- Saxon characters. In this were contained — along with the names of St. Gregory the Great, &c. — those of SS. Patrick, Brendan (Brennan), Colum- cille, Bridget, Carnach, Munna, &c. Not one of the famous English saints was named in this document. Neither Lau- rence, Wilfrid, Mellitus, nor any other. In this very omis- sion of the names of the latter we have an incontestible evidence that the document must have been written before the existence of the above-named saints, and therefore before the eighth century. The Venerable Bede tells us himself, that he wrote a martyrology, and in this work is recorded the name of our patron Saint. — See book v. c. 24, or Recapitulation. The Saxon Chronicle and Addo's have it. We regret space does not allow us to insert passages, but the reader can have recourse to the works. Nor can it be urged that Bede, in his "Ecclesiastical History of England," did not speak of Patrick. What had Patrick to do with England, that was not converted until the time of St. Austin, long after Patrick's days ? It is true, Patrick was in England, but only in a very subordinate way under St. German, when he was crushing the Pelagian heresy ; and if the venei-able historian alluded to Palladius, the reader will observe that the allusion was incidental, otherwise there would not have been a word about him. Nor would that have been a reason to excite surprise, as Palladius was not a part of Bede's theme, which was to record the ecclesiastical aflfairs of England, li^::^:. V ,?^-.!;- ■'••■^^■í"'*"''^"3^ 480 and of no other country. He mentioned some Irish saints, simply because they aided in the conversion of England. He omitted the names of eminent English saints, such as David, Kentigem, and others. Who would thence infer that they never had existence ? Nennius, the most learned Briton of the eighth, but, as is strongly argued by some, of the seventh century, speaks at large of St. Patrick. In A.D. 850, wefhave Eric, of Auxerre, writing of St. German. He declares that — "he considers it as the highest honor of that prelate to have been the instructor of St. Patrick, as the glory of a father shines in the government of his children." Eric adds, he would mention one of his pupils, " by far the most famous, as the series of his actions shew, Patrick, the particular Apostle of Ireland, who was under his holy discipline for eighteen years ; he recommended him to Celestine, then Pope, by his presbyter, Segetius; approved by his judgment, sup- ported by his authority, confirmed by his blessing, he set out for Ireland, and instructed them by his doctrine and miracles." In these passages is an evidence of the supre- macy of Rome over the Church of Ireland in the fifth cen- tury, as it has ever since continued, and will continue to the end of time, despite all the malignant efforts of heresy. The martyrology of Roban, pupil of Alcuin, and Arch- bishop of Mentz, in 856, the martyrology of Nother Le Begne, of the monastery of St. Gal, in Switzerland, up to 871, mention Patrick's name. ^I^^l^*' CAOiubsb]^ (Kevin), who died 1072, an eminent poet and historian, some of whose works are in the Royal Irish Academy, made men- tion of St. Patrick; Sigebert of Gembloirs, in Flanders, who died 1112; William of Malmesbury, bom early in the elventh, and died in the middle of the twelfth century; St. Bernard,* the light of the twelfth century (we shall not name the infamous Barry) ; Jocelyn, whose work was based upon, as himself says, four biographies from the pen of * " The Apostle who convered the whole Irish nation to the Futh of Christ."— F»/a Mai. ■ í|S5S!?!í^5?!f?^«?g!F:?;i^'^^ 481 ancient authors, contemporaries of our Apostle; Vicentius of Beavais, in 1244 ; James de Voraigne, 1350; St. Anto- nini, 1459; Petrua de Natalibus, 1470; Texier, Heinsche- nius, Papebrock, all recognized Patrick as the Apostle of Eire. Nicholson, the venerable Protestant bishop of Derry, who said, he regretted that " he came only in time enough to pay his dying respects" to the Irish language. Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph, Stillingfleet, Bayle, Usher, Swift, the translator and annotator of Jocelyn — all Pro- testants — acknowledged and maintained the existence and apostleship of Patrick. Harris, such an enemy to Catho- hcity, and the impartial Ware, as Protestant testimo- nies in behalf of St. Patrick, should not be omitted. To give a list of foreign writers would take up an entire book. Hence, we conclude, that the Testimonium hominum was never more universal for the sustainment of any moral cer- tainty than in the present argument; that so general is it, that nothing but mathematical'demonstration can surpass it. The variations about dates and place of birth cannot weaken it. For, about the date of Christ's Passion, the most remark- able and important fact to Christians, there have been varia- tions — yet who would dare deny the fact ? About Homer's birth-place there has been a difference of opinion ; still who would deny his existence as the prince of poets Finally, these differences of opinion do but contribute to establish facts more firmly, because they create new writers, who would otherwise have never appeared, and each of whom supplies his rivulet to the great river of knowledge, on whose crystal surface the disputed point has floated down to posterity with more force, having acquired freshening impetus from the strength imparted to the current by the several tributary streams. This essay on our Saint's existence we cannot close more * Mr. Gilbert, in his interesting " History of Dublin," says that Brown, the apostate archbishop of Dublin, iti the reign of Henry VIII., burned the crozier. ?í.>*' :";•■•-;•- •'^•':-, •,- '^■' -■ •. ;í í^';ic^'7■^T '.' y- ■ <^i''<''-i.v^\fJ-f3^íi^^ . 482 felicitously than by a reference to the *' Staff of Jesus,"* given him by Justus, a monk of the island of Lerins, who told him " he had received it from the Redeemer himself, to be delivered to a pilgrim, named Patrick, which command given, he ascended into heaven/* The Apostle, having got this crosier with which he was to work, and did work greater miracles in Ireland than Moses did in Kgypt, pro- ceeded on his journey. There was this diflPerence between the "crozier" of Patrick, and the "rod." The latter brought death on the Egyptians, the former was health and life to the Irish. History records the wonderful efficacy of the " Staff of Jesus." Gerald of Wales calls it " Virtuosis- simum baculum,'' and adds, " that noble treasure was trans- lated from Ardmagh to Dublin." David Roth, Bishop of Ossory, answers the objections made against the ** Staff of Jesus." He says, " If there be exceptions against our Saviour's appearing on earth after his Ascension, he remits them to St. Ambrose, who relates that long after that period Jesus appeared to Peter at the gate of Rome." Roth desires them "to consider the rod of Moses and its wonder- working power — the brazen serpent in the desert — the brazen statue of our Saviour at Caesarea Philippi — the woman cured by touching the garment of Jesus — the * poor staff and torn cloak' of the Egyptian hermit, Senuphius, which was the means of a signal victory over Maximius, the tyrant." If space permitted, several instances from the Old and New Testament could be adduced how the sick were healed, and the dead reanimated by physical applications — the application of clay to the eyes of a blind man, mentioned in the Gospel, restored his sight. The halt, the withered, and the lame, who bathed in the pond Bethsaida, which was moved by the angel, recovered their health. ST. PATRICK SUBJECT TO THE SUPREMACY OF THE ROMAN PONTIFF. St. Prosper of Aquitain, a cotemporary of St. Patrick, when commending the zeal of Pope Celestine, thus writes : " Moreover, the same holy Pope, having ordained a bishop for the Scots, whilst he studied to keep the Roman island (Britain) Catholic, made even a barbarous island Christian." Now, in the first place, from the above quotation, to be 483 found in Prosper, lib. cont. Colla., c. 41, it is clear a bishop was ordained for the Scots by the Pope, but Ush^r, Wate, Camden, maintain, that the " Scots" alluded to were the Irish, as in the days of Prosper the natives of Albania (now Scotland) were not called " Scots," and they also admit that Patrick was the bishop in question. It is, therefore, pl^in that our Apostle got his mission from Rome, and it is confessed, by the same authority, that he came to Ireland in the time of Pope Sixtus, who suc- ceeded Celestine. Wherefore, it would be absurd to sup- pose that our Apostle ever ceased to be subject to the Roman power. His name is on the Roman martyrology; that would not be so if he had ceased to pay obedience to the Holy See. Let us hear St. Patrick himself on this point: "If any questions arise in this island they are to be referred to the Apostolic See" — Canons S. Patricii apud Wilkins. The learned Protestant authors recognise the canons and councils of St. Patrick as genuine : these documents are given at length by Rev. J. Villanueva, a Jesuit ; in fact, no Protestant writer of character has ever denied them. Consequently, from the above quotation it is evident, that St. Patrick acknowledged the Pope's power over Ireland at that time. In reference to the words of Prosper, the zealous and learned Rev. Dr. Milner says : " It proves that Ireland was a pagan island before the time of Pope Celestine and St. Patrick ; it proves that this island was converted by a bishop sent thither for that purpose by the said Pope, and it proves that this bishop must have been no other than St. Patrick, because St. Palladius, whom Prosper mentions as having been sent thither, a little'before, by Pope Celestine on the same errand, dijl not succeed in the attempt, and therefore crossed over the sea to the Scots in Britain." As the Irish Apostle came from Rome he preached precisely the faith of Rome, and every argument, used to prove his existence, by a sequence, proves also the continuous connexion of the Irish Church with Rome. Every Catholic author whom we adduced, paid obedience to Rome, and the respectable Protestant writers admit that, at first, they were in communion with the Holy See. Then, until it can be shown when our ancestors fell away from their allegiance to the Holy Father, the link between Ire- land and Rome, in religion, stands unbroken. ' ^y^J^'^r^":W^?f^^^ 484 r^)W^ páií)K2ij3. 2ipst:ojt ejKeaMM, éA.t)]i^o3i)A,* bjfciobul A3Uf ^||t, cAti)A]tuf(7ie be pi^c- 'Cu]3eA6 A1J le]5cd]|t 3U|i rtjé pé]t) bo cu^ji AfceAC i)a f ocA|l \x ijA fAllA]b : 0||i r)] b-f]l]b Awf At) jijijnju^t^ ^A|t A f3|i^obA6 Ia Piac A|t zay, 1 . ^«t'^n*® P^c|tu|cc, i' Neri) "CbttTt* 2lr re^S^A b' ^éc b-1* SceU^b, 9t)ACAi) fé tb-bl^AÓAi) be^cc, 2lij CA1) boJ (b) b|iec fo bbeltA^b."* 2. SttccAC* A A^ijiT) b-1 cttbiittb:" c^bb A ACA]|t bA firn» 2t)AC CAlptt]|ti) tb]C Oc^b '\)-6 t)eocbA]i) Objff]. [Let the reader understand that the letters in parenthesis, and most of the aspirations are inserted by the annotator, and that thev were not in the hymn as written by Fiech.] ' f}A&t^A]5 or PActtAi5. — ^The initial consonant of the genitive case of masculine nouns is aspirated, but not of feminines ; and the same case in the plural suffers the mortification or eclating of the same consonant, as n* 5.ceAttc (ftd gart), of the right». Nouns whose final letter is c (or in old Irish cc^5) as pAbftfc, drop that letter and take 5 with an a for the genitÍTe singular, bo cutqao, toa» eomposed. •> GArbuis or GAfbAis is the genitive of CAfboc, it is in apposition to ^]ecé the gen. of t^iAC. This is termed by grammarians the fourth concord. * Slefbce, gen. plural of rM^b, a mountain, pro. ttUhayvte. ' bAqttfo$i)A, com. of beAn, %ooman, and TtfoÍAq, royaL * 5ei)Ani, birth, as can be seen in last stanza of this poem. ' ], m, There are Ihany forms to express in ; we shall not mention them now, as we treated of them already ; we shall only add, that in the preposi- tions ffiri AQori lonr» *11 of which we have met in the best authors, the r i* merely euphonie not radical. :Wmm^^ 485 A HYMN OF (CONCERNING) PATRICK, APOSTLE OF EIRE.* C!omposed by liech, Bishop of Sletty, in the Queen's County, disciple, and s man cotemporary of Patrick himself. N. B. This hymn is admitted by all learaed Protestants to be the only authentic life of St. Patrick. 1. The birth of Patrick in Holy Tower" Is the meaning (substance) of what is recorded in stories, A youth of sixteen years At the time {to him) of his being carried into captivity. ^. Succat was his name at the well {baptism). (Of) who his father was, this {is) the knowledge, He was son of Calpurn, son of Otidus, Who was son to the deacon (off) Odissus. c netb, Aodie i^eAib ; of these words we have written at some length else- where, see page 430. There is a difference between qeAib tú^ and cajt i}eAn)tA ; the English of the former is as we have given it in the translation, but the translation of the latter is Blested Tower, NeAti) VAtsfix^c, St. Patrick, 1)At>T^]c TIeAibtA, Blested Patrick. A vowel before an aspirated letter requires not to be accented as it is, by position, long, thus e, i, o, a, A=ay, ee, b, oo, aw ; but in the like place diphthongs, unaccented, are gene- rally=:«e. ^ ittr re6 e A, or 're a, that i» what, b'^éz, bo ^éz, it told, how like "/atui," told; hence /a/e. The initial aspirated consonant, is occasionally, omitted in old Irish. Thus in Stanza 14th, St. Fiech omits t from foAcljc ; he gives UAcbc. 5eA6, or reb't tente, or tubstance. This old Irish f some scholars say is=eA. Dr. O'Donovan states that it is=e. ' b-Ti tn, the b is only an aspirate — rcéul or rs^ul, ttricte loguendo is oral news, as is fc^Ttt, but at present, the terms are used to imply oral or written tradition. The word " Gospel" is translated into Irish " foirséul," happy ttory, or newt. The reason of the above term is this : In the primitive days of man all knowledge was imparted orally, there being no books. St. Inseneas, who died A.D. 203, says, that for many years the Christians wor- shipped God without pen, paper, or ink ; and, consequently, oral instruction was, then, the chief system practised. Where was then the BiUe ? How w^?mm^'' 486 » 3. B^] fé bl]Abl)t)A b-1 PSOAtt), B|rA|i** ^l é co cb|»A]5e CeACA|i (6'ív) c|iebe b\ a |:05ija6. could people read yrhat they had not ? and yet we are informed, that the Church of God abounded in saints. Granting there were no toritten accounts of St. Patrick's acts, yet, St. Fiech, the Apostle's disciple, could have got (as he did get) his information from SS. Sachnall, Auxilius, and Isserninus, his cotemporaries and fellow missionaries, and the companions of our Saint. They, we are reasonably to infer, told Fiech St. Patrick's miraculous acts on the continent, and previously in England against the Pelagians whither he had attended St. German. Moreover, the apostle, having had such a love for, and confidence in Fiech, related to him the leading facts of bis life. In this manner he learned how Patrick was captured, his coming as a slave to Ireland, where he was instructed in the Irish language, the knowledge of which qualified him for the future office of Irish Apostle. For no man can be an efficient preacher of the Gospel to a people unless he know the lan- guage of the people ; the ignorance of it was the main cause of Palladius' failure. How wise and affectionate are the ways of the Lord. One man, Patrick, was permitted to suffer, that, having been taught the native tongue, and humbled, he would be fitted for the salvation of many. i "Oo |i8 always short, except o in bo " two" where the o is long, as o ia note. In all other Irish monosyllables final vowels are long. '' In the edition of " Cambrensus Eversus," by Rev. M. Kelly, is to l^e seen at p. 500, the subjoined note in reference to the mission of St. Patrick. We would have expected, that the reverend gentleman would have told his readers, that the Irish chiefs were, most of ~them, murdered or robbed, and such as survived the bloody persecutions of Elizabeth and her sire could exercise no control, such was the immorality superinduced by the example of the reformed clergy; as can be seen in Cruikshank's (Protestant) <* Bacchus." They lived in morasses and forests, because they were hunted into them by English bloodhounds. " In the 16th century, some of the native Irish, acknowledging no subjection either to native chiefs or English rulers (we know that such as came under Saxon protection, as at Mullagh- mast, were murdered), lived in their morasses and forests (because they were driven from their houses). It is evident that Dr. Lynch, as well as other historians, were utterly ignorant of that glorious Christian Church, which, according to Sir William Betfaam, preceded St. Patrick in Ireland, and was torrupted and destroyed by him." As the author of the above words is a clergyman we will make no comment on it. ' SuccAc. Fiech's scholiast, or commentator, thus writes : " Succaz was the first name given to him (Patrick) in baptism by his parents ; the ap- pelation, Co z\))\«i]^QjfCaghreeay) was applied to fawu when a slave in Ireland ; 48T 3. He was six years in {slavery) servitude : The food of men he ate not. There were besides him {Patrick) miserable. Four of his family (tribe) in his slavery. Magonius, that is, doing more than the other monks — was given to him whilst learning under German ; he was called " Patricius" at his ordination, and it was Celestine — the successor of St. Peter — who so called him. Though " Patricius" in the first days of Rome was the name of the son of a " Pater " or senator, it was a special title of the nobility in the time of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, A. D. 274 ; it was equivalent to the Monsignor of our own days. The Tripartite records the same. Probus calls him, " Sochat," book i. cap. i. Stanihurst has *' Suchar." If this were true, we could easily derive the term from the Irish word xoca\\, " easy," " mild," because of his meekness. If " Succat" be the name, it must be from an obsolete Latin term, " Succa," a linen garment which bishops used to wear in public. By the language of Brian's daughter we learn this. How- ever, St. Patrick never called himself any other name than Patricius. M'hy he was called " Succat," remains a mystery, inasmuch as Fiech tells us he was so called when young. It may be that he wore white clothes in his in- fancy, as was the custom in Ireland a few years ago. Hence " succat," from tttcca. Succat was his name; the auxiliary "to be" is frequently understood in Irish as in Latin. " h bAFif f e = 1 t^jr reo» tlús is the knowledge or account where bA is used in the present tense. Another example may be found in " Reirdris Lamentation for the Children of Uisonach." Trans. Garl Los, Dublin, 1808, vol. i. p. 118, " In At)-b]AT^ t)] Ia beónjjre," "After them not alive am I." t>eocA]n Obirri- Could this possibly mean the name of a place of which he had been a deacon ? Some writers have called in question the account of Patrick's ancestors published by Father Colgan, that is to say of a man called 0&]rri. Cub|VAb, " a well." 1 cubttAb, " in the well." That is at his baptism, which was then " by immersion." This is plainly the interpretation of the words in the original. In our former work (depending on previous writers) we gave cnub|VAb. , " Con^leAé, he ate. Observe how like the Greek rofiri, cutting or eating ; hence " tome," a volume. This must be the passage that enabled Jocelyn to write, that Patrick lived on the husks of the swine which he tended on the mountains for bis master. He was not allowed the same food as olen. He ate herbs, not husks, nor was it swine only but cattle in general he herded. " bAcATi. — Dr. Todd in his "^eachnall's Hymn," &c., brought out by the Celtic Society, translates the distich ' bAcA^t )l é coctiAjes CeACATt cnejbe b^A i:o5t)Ab " Each was a Cothraige Who served four families." 488 4. (|io) ar"^ be|ic U]cco|i ^|i| stj^Abb , 2QilcoD, céfeAÓ fO]t coijijA, ^AjtAC Ae|* 1J]' b|t01JT)A. This interpretation is clearly nbt tenable, as there i; no connexion in it be- tween the parts of the stanza, and in order that a sentence be common sense all its parts must be grammatically chained. The sentence (if such it can be called) before bACA|i closes too abruptly, and a new sentence, having not the least connexion with it, would follow. Fiech was something of a better grammarian than to do that. Since we began this note, it has occurred to ns than CO cbttA]5e as written by Fiech is, the same as co ctto^A, " miserable." If this be admitted, the whole stanza will make perfect sense and will be good language : He was six years in alavery Human food he ate not. There were with him, miierable Four tribes, in his slavery. In this translation we render ]l é, " with him," the letters ]l being the preposition, and can bear to be interpreted, " with," " besides." c and 5 are used in old works, one for the other. This being so co is the same as 50. Therefore, co or 50 cbttuj^e, cbttAioe, or c1)|to^e is to be translated "in sorrow," " in grief," or " in misery." Thus 30 luA]cb, " in haste," or " hastily;*' cocbnu]oe, is also an adverb, " miserably;" 30 cApu]b, "quickly." The like use of the preposition with an adjective, a substantive, a pronoun, exists in every language. Thus in Latin, cum tpe, "hopefully," qvam ab rem, " wherefore ;" tan» eeremonie, " unceremoniously ;" wop ^ixtpew, " daily ;" CO cbTtU]^e can be translated, "very miserable." We are disposed to believe that our headers will incline to this explanation. Patrick was so persecuted, Jocelyn relates, that he was forced to feed on the husks of the swine which the ended ; hence Fiech has it that the food of man he ate not. But we believe that our Saint would not use the food of the gentiles and that he lived on herbs, &c. His condition must have been truly miserable. Now as Patrick tells us that many of his countrymen were captured and sold into slavery, it is only reasonable to infer, that St. Fiech alluded here to such of them as were Patrick's especial friends. The translation of the Rev. Dr. Colgan we must also reject. The notion that a poor miserable boy, aged 16 years, could support four families is, to say the least, repugnant to common sense. Patrick — the meekest and humblest of men^thus says of himself when he was a slave : " I was ignorant of the true God. And whUst there (in Ireland) the Lord opened the sense of my incredulity that, even though late, I might remember my faults, and be converted with my entire heart to the Lord, my God, who beheld my lowliness, and had compassion on my youth and igno- rance, and who watched over me before I even knew him." — Conf., pp. 1, 2* And page 5, " This I am most certainly convinced of, that before I was 489 t - • ■ 4. Victor made a covenant with the servant Of Milcho, to go over the waves : He {Victor) placed his foot on the stone ; There remain after him the impression. humbled, I was indeed like a stone buried deep in the mud, and He, who waa able, came, and, in his clemency, lifted me up." In another passajge we find his humility manifested in the expression of his intense compunction ; he considers his captivity as a chastisement : " Because we have fallen away from God, and His commandments we have not kept, and we have been dis- obedient to our parents, who warned us with regard to our salvation." Here is an ejaculation, in which shines forth his humility, in which Daniel (c. iz. V. 4) at the captivity of Babylon, cried out, " I have prayed to my Lord, I have confessed and sai^, we have sinned, we have committed unrighteousness ; we have acted impiously ; we have fallen away ; we have turned aside from thy mandates and thy decrees ; we have not obeyed thy prophets, who spoke to us in thy name." As Daniel placed himself amongst the bad Jews, who brought down on themselves the anger of God, so as to their dispersion and captivity, thus the humble Patrick, though only a lad when captured, ranks himself amongst those whose disobedience to God's ministers and their preachings was the cause, as he states in his "Confessions," why they were taken away in thousands as captives " to the end of the world ;" Ire- land being the most western part of it. What a lesson of humility is herein taught us. All Catholic writers admit the interpretation of Patrick's lan- guage means, that he was not as ardent in the observance of Christian prac- tices as he ought to be. For he could not have been ignorant of God as far as regarded timple faith, because his father being a deacon and his grand- father a priest, they taught him the principles of religion and got him bap- tized. Herein we have a proof from St. Patrick's own lips " that faith with- out good works is dead ;" that faith alone cannot save a person. Protestant writers do not deny that he was a Christian when a slave, but himself says, he was not pleasing to God until he began to do penitential works, which his ** Confessions" place beyond all doubt he incessantly did. Let us hear himself: " Sed postquam Hiberionem (the name he gave Ireland) deveneram, quotidié pecora pascebam et frequeas in die orabam ; magis ac magis accedebat amor Dei et timor ipsius, et fides augebatur et spiritus augebatur, ut in die una usque ad centum orationes, et in nocte prope similiter; ut etiam'in silvis et monte manebáne, et ante lucem excitabar ad orationem per nivem, per gelu, per pluviam, et nihil mali sentiebam, neque ulla pigritia erat in me ; quia tunc in me spiritus fervebat." — Con/*, p. 6. " But after my arrival in Ireland ^ I daily fed cattle,* and was frequent in «my prayers ; the love of God and hi* * Pecora is a general term for any sort of cattle. Thus, in the first chapter of SaUttst, " pecora," in " veluti pecora," denotes all the brute creation. But the 490 21 ob Aéf" Ai) (i)-)be^fcu^|ic tecA.^ fear became stronger in me, and faith increased, so that in one day I said a hundred prayers, and almost as many more at night ; even in the woods and mountains (Sleev-Mish) I remained, and I got up before daylight in snow, frost, anÍAftcA^ce ; Be6 (i) a) fii|* ci]t "CetbitAC cua. 11. 21 > As in Latin faeinu», is " a good or bad act," so is cloeq or clAoq, " good or bad verse." ' In the second C|cbcA we find the slender | followed by the broad a which shows that the rule, alluded to by as elsewhere, " slender to slender," does not always hold good. We say now as we did already, that a close ad> hesion to that rule would often interfere with the integrity of words. In fact, our experience, since we began to comment on the poems before os, leads as to the opinion that caoI ^ caoI, &c., if a rule admits, and mast admit of many exceptions. We are bound to say that in every language, generally, " broad to broad," if not a rule is a system. The philosophy of language required that. On this point, we have ^ven a clear explanation in our grammar, a z]i)CA\t\iA6 might be " turning them." This appears the simplest translation. J ^^ti^ve, from A]t, " the tongue," and rionA*. " a warning," &c. A|i- ni7e = A]tf\oi)Aé, " a verbal warning," which, as it regarded future evtnt», was " a prophecy." ^ leits " pious," TAb, " strong or powerful." bebA, " died." ' SAb or XAV), " happy," or " fortunate." 498 14. Ml coif 5ebéb* uAcc f|r>e, 43o f-eir A]bcbe b-^l l^Wjb;* T^oji i5|rt7 cotjréíjA Allege P|t]ccAi|* ^ji] be ^T) b^tjbAib. 15. \)-i Sl'^Vl^ (a6) cua]c Bei)i)A-BAiTicbe,* Mif 3eb é&-cA]tc ; i) a I^a*^ Cai)a6 céb pfAÍrt) cecb tj-A^bce e n)0U6 t)é ]n ahao. — Mr. Richard Plunkett, of Meath, who wrote, A.D. 1784, translated the above line thus — t)o n)olA6 t>e ni |XAt>u^6 — the En^sh of which is what we have given in our translation. Colgan interprets it in the same way. We reject other versions. AnAé=:frAnAé, " he stopped." - ' T41 C01;, or coo, " stop." — The words being in Italics is to show that the Irish of such id understood. 1 • 5ebe6, for SAjb or siijb, " the venom or severity of the cold of unusually severe weather." This word is not inserted in our dictionaries, but it is con- tinually heard from the mouths of Irish speakers. It may, however, be traced in 5e]n)-tte (winter) t. e. the cold or severe time or season. Hfri) for netjii) or neAii), "bright, clear, or heavenly;" n^ii) coofetjA, "a clean or heavenly conscience." uAcl)C=pii*cc. o] con, " did not stop." * Y)-]l lit)0]b. These were one word in the copy, but it is unprecedented 499 * 1 4. The sharpness {bitterness) of the cold of the weather did not stop him ; He stood by night in the waters ( pools) For a watchful, heavenly, or clean conscience to keep ; He preached by day on the hills.* 15. In converting {the people of) the country of Benna Boirche He did not take {feel) lukewarmness ; amidst its rocks The singing of a hundred psalms each night To the King of angels he performed. * QtuBre, " about God to the peoples." We prefer this Tersion. to find, in any language, the governed noun incorporated with the prepori- tion. We said noun and preposition, because we admit that prepoutions and pronouns are incorporated in all languages, as are nouns and adverbs, &c. The Latin ilka;, " not Uw," is not a compound of in, a preposition, but of the neg. par. in, " not," and lex, '* law." As therefbre, there is a manifest sympathy between the structure of the learned languages, which could not be found preserved in I)fU|i)t)|b, we separate in it into b-ll linoib. Here, again, is to bft observed the analogy of languages^ For as in Latin in becomes il before an / so also in Irish. We may here note, that when there is a word com- pounded of two words, the one ending and the other beginning with the same consonant, one of the letters may be omitted, and sometimes a syllable. But better not do so. » In 5Ui7 (well), north of Benna- Boirche. This is the English of Colgan's Latin. The translator would imply, that Patrick chanted (caijao) a hundred psaLus each night at this well or in it. We have read in the foregoing stanza, that he remained whole nights in the waters; but we do not agree that rUn in this place is a well, but part of a verb. * Benna-Boircha — Ben» or Promonloriet in Down to the north of Msume. They were so-called after a man named " Baiorcha," the shepherd of King Ros. From the tops of these, which extend towards Carlingford, (according to Giraldus Cambrensis), the country for a great extent all around could be seen. The present barony *of Mourne comprises the territory, called of o}d " Boirche." — See thejAnnals of Tighernagh, A.D. 744, also the Dinnsean- chus. Near the foot of the upper mountain there is, we understand, at this day a place called tijocA beAijijA \}o]-\\ce. There was a territory called Hy Bairche, in Leinster. The chieftain of this district was Ere, whose son Fiech was. — See Lanigan, vol. i. p. 274. It may be as well to mention here, that St. Fiech ^ras a widower, and had one son, Fiachre, when St. Patrick met him on his visit to Hy-Kuisellagh, which consisted of — ^according to Lanigaii, supra — parts of the counties of ■^S^i^^^ir7!f3í^iW^WW^^f~^^^'!u^^^^^^^ 500 16. pO)6 jroji le^c lu]n) ^AitAtt) ^ . Occur cu]lcbe flu]cb \n}n)e; N] le]C (c) A co|ip ] c]ii)ti)e. Wexford, Carlow, Queen's County, and all Kilkenny. We suppose, that Hy-Barrche, the patrimony of Fiech's family being next to that of Enna Kinsellagh, made the latter jealous of the influence of the son of the former, and hence, until St. Patrick's visit, this latter chieftancy continued un- converted. The '• Tripartite," b. iii. c. 23, places St. Fiech's monastery on the east of the Barrow in the County of Carlow, and his See was at Sleibhte (Sletty), OD the west of the Barrow, in Queen's County. There is some difference of opinion as regards the sites of the monastery and the See. Archdall makes them one and the same. O'Heerin places both on the west of the Barrow and, consequently, in Queen's County. — See Dr. O'Donovan's note, page 212, leAbAtt i;a s-ceAttc, " Book of Rights." In another note, page 208, tt^>ra, Dr. O'Donovan states, that Domhnagh Mor is in the present County of Carlow. Dr. Lanigan inclines to the first opinion. — See vol. i. p. 278. In matters of such remote antiquity (especially when we consider the confusion arising from several causes, that took place not only in that quarter, but all over Ireland), we are not to wonder that there may be a variation as to dates and sites. Nor does that take from the truthfulness of the important facts. All men of common sense will admit that, his church was about a mile and a quarter west of the Barrow. The Scholiast says of him — " tandem archie- piscopus Lagenise institutus ;" he says, that St. Patrick had previously con- secrated him bishop. This was, of course, after he was properly instucted in all things necessary for that state. Widowers were then as well as now eligible for the priesthood. The church, however, being more in want of candidates at that early period than in these days, was obliged to ordain such pious converts, who were willing to make the vow of perpetual celibacy. There must have been many Christians in that quarter, even before Patrick travelled there. The very question put by our Saint to Dubhtagh (O'Dufly), whether be could present any one for ordination, pre-supposes the existence not only of Chrittianity but of Christian education. Patrick would not have asked an idle question ; but to inquire if any one were prepared for the ministry, would be an idle incfuiry, if there was no Chriitian teaching before his time. Dr. Colgan translated this stanza thus : " In Slcm, a well to the north, near Benna Boirche (which well never fails). He chanted a hundred psalms each night. Serving the King of Angels. Such is a verbatim translation of Colgan's Latin. Mr. Lynch translated it in this wav : — • 501 IC. He went on (over) a bare stone afterwards, And a wet coverlit about him. It was his sins to banish He did not allow his body get into heat {or warmth) . "In saying the people of Bennibarka, He experienced neither drought, or hunger ; He gang a hundred psalms each night. The King of Angels to serve." Mr. Richard Plankett, alluded to already, gives his Irish interpretation thus : — " U c-cobA]Ti 5lA|ne o tuAjc U]ri) y\é benoA bojttce, (CobAti I) AC 50AC bol A c-cTiA]5e) , * t)o cAnA6 céut) rA]lti) 5AC o]6ce tio H]5 DA i).A]tj5eAl bo F05nAjL The English of which runs thus — " In the well of Slan on the north side by Benna Boirche (A well that is not wont to go to low water)." ' * Wfir (»'• *•» iJjftor) ^eb eb-cATic i)o\]o. Some writers have detached the word éb, from the compound word éb-cAftc, and joined it to ^eb, where it has no business in the world, and thus completely destroyed the sense or meaning of the entire verse. Go, signifies " zeal," cAfic is derived from cAti or can, " bare, dry," &c. ; TAttc, " thirst, dryness," &c. in its general sense, that is to say, the want or absence of moisture in the body, but does not signify the desire or appetite for drink which naturally follows, and is the effect of cAftc. The compound word éb-cAttt, therefore, signifies " a want or absence of zeal," t.e., luke- warmness. l|A," a stone" or " rock." It is used here for the plural, rocks or stones. The two following verses would appear to have been intended as a proof of ihe fact stated in first, viz. CAi)Ab ceb pfAln) cec t)-A|6ce] bo R]o Ai^selp fo 50 5i)]A, may be translated " with diligence," or " diligently," taken adver- bially, to qualify cAt^Aé, " he sang diligently." 5o, not accented, denotes *' to, till, with," &c., accented, it means "■ 9. lie." In that sense, c!M)Ab is the 3rd person singular, imperfect tense which is the same in form, as the present participle. If the former, c is not to be aspirated; if the latter, it is — cívqAé, " singing," ci\t)A6, " he did sing," or *♦ he sang." It is to be observed that some copies have tio stjja, and others, 50 5i)]A. Now no oDlc would make perfect sense, as it is stated in the above translation. Mr. W. Williams, of Dungarvan, has given this explanation of a disputed passage, and it is so simple and reasonable that we, without the slightest hesitation, adopt it, and beg to express sincere thanks to our friend for having given it. » !tt ttiCAbAfic for A ttuA15*einc, " To banish," " put to flight," &c. W^í^Sf!^ •" ^^^^lSí^^^vP' 602 17. (t)-i) |>|t]ccA6 SofcéU bo cAcb» * bA® C-A1)]C ]r) C-ApfCAÍ 4)o pA]C, 5]Ó 5Aece bétje p|t]CcbA]f c|ií fjcbce bl]A8t)A, C|tlocb Cjiífc bo cuACA]b "peije 21. 'po]t cuAjC b-B|ieT)t) bo] ceibel T^UACA a6o|ica ^óIa, M] cbtiA^cfeb ]r) ^Cbl^i^^cc JW A V}\]VO]ce fí]te. 22. ji) 2l|tbiDAcbA fil |i]3i, jf c]Ai) bo |ie|iAcbc 6TbA]t), jl* Cell n)0|i í)uT)-lec-3liMrr®> hÍ]Ti) b^l C]6 b^-é|iub "CetbA^ii.' 23. PAcitA^c b]A (a) t1^bo] ]l lob^tA 21& cob|tA (a|i a) bol bo ^Ace í)o tuib 2liT)3el A|i A ceAT)í) fo}i (at)) ]*eb A ít^eAÓAT) lA]ce. T Tradition says he raised nambers to life in Ireland, as well as in Letavia. — See note on 59th verse of Dr. O'Connell's poem. The word njori, " more," is nsed comparatively with Ireland, as is the same term in the second line of eighteenth stanza. The meaning is, that onr Apostle performed more miracles, and suffered more, in Letavia than in Ireland. If this comparison was not 503 17. In preaching the gospel to every one (all) He wrought more miracles in Letavia : He healed the blind with fasting, The dead he raised to life. 18. Patrick, during his preaching to the Scots (Irish) ^ Suffered greater hardships compared to Letavia, That they might come to judgment In [a state of) holiness worthy of (eternal) life. 19. The sons of Heber and the sons of Heremon All followed the devil ; Yet the host of the Devil rolled (toallowed) In the great {battles) road of (to) hell. 20. Until the Apostle arrived He proceeded, though the winds were severe : He preached three score of years The cross of Christ to the people of Fenias. 2 1 . Over the peoples of Eire was darkness ; Peoples adoring idols : They believed not in the true divinity — In the true Trinity. 22. In Armagh is sovereignty. And a head (in chief) for the government of Emania, And the great church (Kilmore) of Dundalethglass.* It is not pleasant that tribeless be Teamar. 23. Patrick, after he was in sickness (had got sick). For comfort, was going to Armagh ; But there sat an angel on his head On the way, in the middle of the day. • " Down." intended by St. Fiech, it would be inelegant and irregular to have introduted Letavia in this place ; he would have said all he had to say about it at the ninth verse. ' T)o ceAr, " did suffer." This word does not appear in our dictionaries-in this sense in which it is used here ; neither does the word cix6 in the last ■^H^j?9?s^^^!5pr^5f!f?^'^^»i'j^^ 504 24. í)o fA]t y^ 6eA]* b' U|CCA|t, i i ' 2lf Ai) ce]t) A b' 3aU|xa|i. 25. 21 1* bejtc 0|tbAt) bo ?t)Acbe, 430 C|t]fc AcUisce bui^e Q lAfcAnj.in " Liber Hymnorum." 505 24. He went southward to Victor, He was the guardian of his safe keeping. Blaze did about him {the place) where he was, And out of {from) the blaze he spoke : 25. "There is given rule to Armagh, To Christ, {for this) give thanks. For to [in order) the great heaven to reach, Happy for you was your petition." 26. ** A hymn which you sang Will be a protecting coat of mail to all : In the day of judgment with {about) thee Will go the men of Eire to be judged," 27. Tasach remained after him When {the time) he gave communion to him. And said, Patrick would not come back. The words of Tasach were not false. 28. Brighten did the end with {of) the night, On the being spent of the lights ( Tapers) with them : To the end of a year there were lights — It {the year) was the happy, long days. ' lujtteclj — Latin, " lorica." Itpnyuc, " with thee." St. Patrick's hymn, composed by him as he was going to Tara on Easter Saturday, A.D. 433, to be found in the Rev. Ulick Bourke's Irish Grammar. i Tassagh, it is said, was at first a gold and silver smith ; that he ornamented St. Patrick's crozier, called the " Staff of Jesus" (see page 97), and that he was, afterwards, a priest and bishop. Ar)A.x-=ifAr)Ax. " remained." ^" " Sívii) 'r 5oi éA reij AU]ti) to' D ij-snfAu : }x looDAi) fAitbtoCAr r ro?lri5eAr ; ciAUitet» tAinjloeAf T aij 'á,\c fee, && BfiiJ ril» 0»^ BeAttc id JniAt) rolAf UAc^, fA cti]c ijA IhA]6ce * Ati ijA (belt) cAce ler oca.'" " Samh and Sol (were) two old names of the sun : " Saimhigheas" and " soilsigheas" mean the same- thing. Saimhigeas, therefore, in this place, signi- fies that the end of the night brightened (or ' the sun did yield light from it at the end of the night') ' on being spent the lights (tapers) with them (bishops and priests)." ** t)o ttoe5u ]z \)]\x, is the same as a bubAftc cu, "which you repeated;" 'ead it, therefore, noo 5U1 cljii {rayee hao). ••^-í??!^/? CíT^ffiHl^^g!^^ 606 29. 2lo CAC ^eccA ] nhBeACjtOD -' .<' 2lf feó A c ^ec l]cc|ie b' íút». 30. lj-iiAi|i AffU]c Ia b-jefue jo 3T»l^t> m bA^r r t>A (c) cloéi), C^Af^" c|ieb|tech be (|c) b-u^ffe So^llf] fji] becfecc^At) i)oeb, 31. Clé|t]cb 6]ieT)& llocA|t SoijP |i) ceAcu^l fof ]ioIa]c Ck)1)CU]l* CAcb UAbblb' fO|l A céf 32. 2ln]Tt> Pac|ia]c (c) fH] a co|tp jf, ^A|l (a) |*AeCA]b, |tO fCA]tA6. 2lr)5el 4)é ] cec Ajbbce 2l|iib fec]i* cex) AijAbb, ' 33. jt) CAt) C01J buAlA) PaC|IA]C, 21 b ellA*|t) PAC|tA^c Tj-A^le J]* TtjAlle C01JUCC A^bfec =cei) fTAijAb, " without stopping." « eiU, " a swoon, ittb elU=*io elU, •' did swoon," tA H die." ftf^rec, " a sprite, apparition." It is used here in a good sense, to s^pnfy the souls or spirits of the two Patricks. The Patrick, alluded to, w«8 supposed to be the nephew of our Apostle. ' " \)\t, V. " lived." " 5ellrii)e, " submission to," or, " in friendship with."^ &0. ■fíi,^. <;«xr^ .r;í.?3^!S.?5.^^^ 508 HYMNUS ALPHABETICUS. S. SECUNDINO EPISCOPO,' ADSCRIFTUS IN LAUDBM 3. PATRICII, TUM VIVBMTI9. 1 . Audite omnes amautes Deum sancta merita Viri in Christo Beati, Patricii Episcopi : Quomodo bonum ob actum similatur angelis, Perfectamque propter vitam ajquatur apostolis. The foregoing hymn was composed by Seachnall, properly Seanchall, or Secnndinus {Seanchal, pro. Shayunchull, is the Irish for Secundinus, Secun- du$, and Felix, " happy"), in honor of St. Patrick. This Seanchall, with two other eminent saints, came to Ireland from the Continent, A.D. 439. His father's name was Restitatus ; however, being a Latin name, it needs not be concluded that he was a Roman, though he might be. For, if Secundinus was himself called, in Irish, Seachnall, it would not imply that he was an Irishman. The ecclesiastics of all countries, in early times, and other per- sonages, in connexion with Rome, either took or got Roman names. Any person accustomed to history, especially Roman history, admits this. Dr. Lanigan has shown, that Darerca was not his mother, nor Patrick's sister. His reasoning on this head is very clear and cogent. Restitutus was a Longobard. The exact territory of the Longobardi has been disputed. We cannot enter on that question, as space will not allow us to do so. Tacitus, in his, " Annals," book ii. chap. 4, talks of them as a German tribe. Cella-. rius, in his " Ancient Geography," places them east of the Elbe and north of the Spree, in Germany. Lempriere makes them the tsame as the Lombards, who settled in Italy, at the close of the sixth century. Dr. Alexander Adam, in his " Summary of Ancient Geography," denies this. But we find, on good authority, that the " Lingones," who lived south of the Marne, towards Langres, joined a nation of the southern Germans, the Barda;i, crossed the Alps, and made a settlement in Italy. Hence it happened that Roman names and customs were not strange to persons living east of the Alps. Seachnall was born A.D. 374, and died A.D. 449, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, being only nine years on the mission in Ireland. He was a bishop of eminent piety, prudence, and learning. According to the learned Dr. Lanigan's com- putation, which, after due consideration, we have adopted, he was born thirteen years before St. Patrick, whose birth the accomplished Doctor has fixed at A.D. 387, and death, at A.D. 465 : thus making him seventy-eight years old when he departed this life. It is a very rare thing to find a nephew thirteen ^?i»'55»»^'^ ■«? ■" ' T^gaPífHTír?»^' ^^ íí't'r 509 THE ALPHABETIC HYMN OF ST. SECUNDINUS, TO THI PRAISB or ST. PATRICK, WHILST HB TKT LIVED. 1. All you who love God, hear the holy merits Of a man in Christ blessed, Bishop Patrick, How for his good deeds he is compared with angels, And for his perfect life he is equalled to the apostles, years older than an nncle, yet Seanchall is represented as being a nephew of St. Patrick. But, from the clear and convincing arguments, laid down by Lanigan, we are satisfied, that the Irish Apostle had no relatives in Ireland, and that he called holy women and nuns titter», just as is the custom in our own days. For, if he had so many near relatives, what sense can be found in certain passages in his " Confessions," expressive of his ardent desire to pay a visit to his friends in Britanny ? Moreover, we are confirmed in our opinion by a passage in his letter to Coroticus. In it he says, " He was constrained by the Spirit to be separated from his kindred." Besides, in giving an account of his painful captivity, it is manifest that a man of his piety would have exhibited some anxiety about his sisters, and would have mentioned them. His omission in that respect is an aipimeat that he had no sisters in Ireland. Again, the number of bishops set down as the children of his sisters, renders the story diflicult of belief and very improbable. Whoever would read more on this subject is referred to the first volume of Lanigan, who rejects also the account, handed down b^ some writers, alleging a dis- pute between St. Patrick and Secundinus. We shall not, therefore, give it. The real motive that induced St. Seanchall to compose the hymn was a divine impulse. It was an inspiration that such an act would be pleasing to God, who rejoices in the praises of men that have been sanctified by their good works, which were operated through Jesus Christ. Seanchall, who was Bishop of Dunshaughlin, in Meath, and who, for some time, discharged vicariate duties for St. Patrick, whilst he visited distant parts of Ireland — not Rome, as some assert — asked our Apostle's permission to write a hymn in honor of a bishop who was yet alive. St. Patrick answered,^if he had made up his mind to perform such a duty, that he had need to make his will, as his dissolution was nigh, and that he, of all the bishops ikhen in Ireland, would die first. Wherefore he, without delay, wrote the hymn, and, according to Patrick's prediction, his pure soul, having left the body, mounted up to heaven to possess the unfading crown of glory, ^t£ÉÍDÍidÉi£diakfteUlÍtSB*r-i.^t^:a^!^^.v. .^us^— ^«.s^sLa^aíi^. IfffiZ K('W^^^' ■■ % '^"^ -.■■■%■ 510 2. Beati Christi custodit mandata in omnibus ; Cujus opera refulgent clara inter homines, Sanctumquc, cujus sequuntur exemplum mirificum ; Unde et in coelis Patrein magnificant Deum. for which he so zealously fought the good fight. His remains were interred in the church of Dunshaughlin, and the many miracles wrought at his tomb are an evidence that heaven had anticipated Rome in numbering him, amongst the saints. When the reader refers to the time of St. Seanchall's death, which was given above, he can easily learn the time the hymn was composed. An insinuation was thrown out by the Rev. Yillanueva, a Spanish writer of 1835, that it was the first hymn composed in Ireland. Had the reverend historian stated that it was the " first Christian Latin hymn," we might understand him. His not having so qualified his language was paying too had a compliment to an island that surpassed every other country on the globe for the number of its poets, the beauty of their diction, their Attic brevity, their Smymian sublimity, and their Roman grace. We have a list of the bardic galaxy that adorned the Irish horizon up to and after St. Patrick's days. But this is not the place to enter upon such a question. At the same time, we feel bound to reject, with just indignation, the imputation — that we were an illiterate nation of savages before Christianity. We could demon- strate, as plainly as any proposition in Euclid, that our ancestors, the descent dants of the great Milesius, retained the deposit of learning that was brought, to them from the University of Scythia. It is likely that Latin literature was on the decline, as it was even in Rome in the fourth century. But the Irish language, in all its graces and beauty, flourished in its native garden. In it our pagan bards wrote and sang the glorious deeds of the noble Milesians. Through its medium was Astronomy, and the other sciences, taught before Christianity. Dubhtagh, and his pupil, Fiech, were distinguished poets when Patrick came to Ireland. We are not aware of any positive proof that Latin was not taught here before Patrick. It is true he introduced the Roman characters. — See preface to both onr volumes. The hymn having been finished, the author asked St. Patrick's leave to read it for him. Our Saint replied, " that he would willingly hear the Lord praised in the works of His servants, or what He has wrought through them." Secundinus, apprehending that he might incur the displeasure of Patrick, who disliked human praise, omitted the first stanza in which our Saint's name occurred, and he began at the second. Having proceeded on until he came to the words — " Maximus in regno coetorum," St. Patrick interrupted him by saying, " how can it be said of a man, that he is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven ?" Seachnall replied — " the superlative degree is used for the positive." The classical scholar is well aware that such a practice is very usual with Latin writers. When the reading of the hymn had ended, Secundinus hinted, that it was í-ívx ^-yt.', ^í; -■'" 511 2. Blessed Christ's commands in all things he keeps ; His works shine bright amongst men, And the Saint, whose wonderful example they follow. Whereby in heaven also, God, the Father, they magnify. indited in honor of St. Patrick himself, from whom he expected a fixed reward. Patrick, though despising hnman applause, yet not wishing to censure the devout zeal of his disciple, answered : " that Seancball might expect from the clemency of his Saviour the revrard — that whoever morning and evening would devoutly recite the hymn, would obtain a happy death and the reward of glory." St. Evin adds, that Patrick announced : " that the person reciting the hymn would obtain a happy death, i/ he were penitent and contrite."— See " Tripartite Life of St. Patrick," b. iii. cap. 91. St. Evin and others have written largely on the wonderful efficacy of the hymn. — See Probus L., iii. cap. 33 ; also the authors of the Lives of Saints Kevin, cap. 23, 48 ; of Colman, cap. 25 ; of Cannoc, cap. 43. Jocelyn says, that the Irish were in the habit of reciting it, and that they experienced its extra- ordinary efficacy, that many reciting this hymn passed unobserved through the enemy's ranks, though thirsting for their blood. Colgan, in his " Life of St. Aidan," bishop of Ferns, treats of it at much length. Lanigan writes in high terms of it, and alludes to an addition to it, which he saw in Colgan and which we have given. The hymn was written in Latin, but in the Irish character. We have copied it from the work of Rev. Joachim Villanueva, who, with permission, dedicated his book ou Irish matters, to the late sainted Archbishop Murray. It was contained in the " Antiphonarium Benchorense." This most valuable work belonged to the monastery of Bangor, in the county of Down, Ireland. It is now in the Ambrosian library of Milan, whither it was removed from the monastery of Bobio in the Appenines. It may be found in " Muratori's Anecdota Ambrosiana," torn. iv. Patavii 1713. He thought the manuscript a thousand years old. Dr. Lanigan says, that it was much older ; he does so, resting on evidences, founded on certain facts. In the list of books, pre- sented to the monastery of Bobio, by Dungal, in the ninth century, the Antiphonarium is not mentioned. St. Columbanus, the founder of the Italian monastery, was a monk of Bangor. Hence Lanigan inferred, from a letter of his, and from other circumstances, that the document was in Bobio, in the end of the seventh century. A copy of it with scholia and a gloss, is in the "Speckled Book," Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. We regret we cannot insert the scholia, though we fear some of them are not genuine. The hymn, taken from the manuscript, was published by Colgan, A.D. 1647 ; also by Ware, 1656, who calls it " Alphabetical,'' for this reason, that the stanzas begin with the letters of the alphabet in regular order. A, B, C, &c. This order is plain in Ware's edition, which, at the tenth stanza, has " Kastam," though " Castara" is given by Colgan. There are some variations ■wwsB.í*''fT^f5-'?^>;^'«^j!';'^wHf^> 512 3. Constana in Dei tiraore et fide immobilis, Super quem aedificatur ut Petram Ecclesia; Cuj usque apostolatum á Deo sortitus est, In cujus portae adversum Inferni non praevalent. in these editions. We may say they are of no consequence, being only literal not verbal — and not at all affecting the sense. These vary a little from Muratori's edition, but not materially. The latter has the addition of Colgan. Lanigan, who is rather hypercritical, but thoroughly sound, seems well pleased with the integrity, authenticity, and veracity of the hymn. It is to he kept in mind, that it was simply an imitation of "Laudate Dominum Omnes gentes," being drawn up to praise God, in praising his faithful servant, Patrick, through whom millions of pagans were gained to Christ. This, and this alone, was its object, though it affords a grand model for a holy life, and gives a clear idea of perfect Christian discipline. We have read much of Church history and of missionary labors and their results, and we have arrived at the conclusion, that no missioner or apostle made so complete, rapid, and vast a conversion as St. Patrick — at once an evidence of the fraits of his perfect life, and, at the same time, of the generous nature of the Irish, whose refined literature tended to help the conversion. Allusion to this hymn is made in the fifty-eighth stanza of Dr. O'Connell's poem. He adds, that the recital of the three last ttamat, in case of necessity, at the hour of death, would preserve the soul from purgatory. Always, of course, pre-supposing contrition for sins. Upon what authority he made this statement we have not seen. But we take for granted, that the bishop must have met it to that effect in some of the lives of St. Patrick, or in the life of some other saint. The author of " Ireland's Dirge" says, that St. Patrick consecrated 260 bishops without wives. He uses " witliuut wives," because Protestants, who pretend that our saint was a Protestant, assert that bishops ought to havcwives. The humblest capacity can plainly see, that the peni- tential and mortified life which our Saint led (as clearly stated in Seanchall's hymn, that of Fiech, and Patrick's own " Confessions") is repugnant to the principles of Protestantism, which hold all penitential works to be damnable, and derogating, as they say, from the merits of Christ. Could they tell what was the name of Patrick's wife, of whom not a word in his own writings ; ungrateful man, not to say one word of his wife (!) The dishonest antiquary Ledwich, having followed in the footsteps of Dr. Usher, teaches that the priests and monks of ancient Ireland married. He praised their zeal and piety. He tells us amongst other things, that in the monastery of Bangor in Down, were 3000 learned, sedulous monks. Well, Doctor, you are a curious genius ; so fond are you of telling lies, that you do not strive to make your lies plausible. The reader can well imagine how little of austerity, retirement, and other ascetic practices, which Ledwich accords to the Culdees (as he terms the monks), could be observed in a ■:^^f^!mm:mwmFwW^'- ^ y-w^'^w^^ 513 3. Constant in God's fear, and in faith fixed, Upon him is built, as on Peter, the Church, And his apostolate from God he received. To whose detriment the gates of Hell do not prevail. house having in it 3000 men, \rith 3000 wives, and their children ! Usher inferred, that because Patrick's father vras in holy orders (which he says, he gathered from Jocelyn), therefore, priests in olden times married. He did not read all Jocelyn, else he would have found in the same author, that St. Patrick was born previously to Calpumitu' ordination. But we will not be satisfied with the authority of Jocelyn, we will go back before the days of St. Patrick, to establish the discipline of the Catholic Church in regard to the celibacy of the clergy. " In conformity with what had been established in former councils, it is our order, that sub-deacons, deacons, priests, and bishops, shall abstain from their wives, and be as if they had none ; and, if they act otherwise, they shall be removed from their office." — Integer Codex Canonum Ecc. AM. can. 25, con. Labbe, torn. ii. p. 1061. The quotation made is suf- ficient to establish the celibacy of the clergy against Ledwich, as it is from the very Council he quoted ; but the 28th canon of which he distorted — as be did everything — to suit his vile purpose. The 25th canon says : " in confor- mity with what had been established in former councils." Hence, the reader sees that celibacy was not then, for the first time, introduced, it was only enforced, having been the previous practice. The Councils of Nice, Axles, and other councils forbade all persons in holy orders to have any woman at all in their houses, unless a mother, a sister, or some very close relative. St. Augustine, Aurelius, St. Alypius, &c., who formed the African code, appeal to the discipline of the Apostles in sustaiument of celibacy. Talking of chastity, their words are " they (ordained persons) must be continent in all things." What the Apostles taught, and authority itself has preserved let us guard. Can. 3, Labbe, t. ii. p. 1052. St. Cyprian in the third century, and other Fathers, wrote whole books on celibacy. Origen states, " It appears to me that he alone ought to ofiFer perpetual sacrifice who has vowed perpetual chastity." St. Jerome, in the fourth century writes, " the churches of the East, Egypt, and Apostolic See take as clerics only virgins, ot persons who cease to be husbands." — Ep. ad Yigilantium. Bede tells us that British bishops attended at the great Council of Aries in which a canon for celibacy was confirmed. In that council the Pope's power was supreme. Therefore from the fact two things result — that the Church of Britain was at that early period subject to Rome, and that the English, through their prelates, adopted the canon about celibacy. There is no point of Catholic discipline clearer than that the Apostles and their successors, down to these days, observed celibacy. Eochaidh O'Flanagan, Erenagh, of Armagh, says, that Seachnall's father was Ua Baird — a descendant of Bard, or Ward, " of the race of the pure, fierce, white-coloured, Longobairds of Letha." This written passage is quoted 514 ~"^ 4. Dominus illum elegit ut doceret barbaras v Nationes, ut piscaret** per doctrinae retia, - ' : V Ut de saeculo credentes traheret ad gratiam, Dominumque sequerentur sedem ad seternam. 5. Electa Christi talenta vendit Evangelica, Quae Ibernas inter Gentes cum usuris exigit : '■ Navigii hujus laboris, tum operae pretium Cum Christo regni ccfilestis possedit gaudium. 6. Fidelis Dei minister, insignisque nuntius, , Apostolium exemplum formamque praebet : Qui tam verbis, quam factis plebi prsedicat Dominura, Ut quem^ictis non convertit, actu provocet bono. 7. Gloriam habet cum Christo, honorem in scíbuIo : Qui ab omnibus ut Dei veneratur Angelus : Quem Deus misit, ut Paulum ad Gentes, Apostolum, Ut omnibus ducatum praeberet regno Dei. 8. Humilis Dei ob metum spiritu et corpore, Super quem, bonum ob actum, requiesqit Dominus : Cuj usque* justa in came Christi portat stigmata, In cujus sola sustentante" gloriatur cruce. 9. Impiger credentes pascit dapibus coelestibus, Ne qui videntur cum (Christo in via defíciant : Quibus erogat panes, verba Evangelica, Cujus multiplicantur, ut manna, in manibus. by the Four Masters (A.D. 987), and bis death at A.D. 1003 ; they call O'Flanagan " Historian of Ireland." Aengus, the Coldee, in his book on the " Mothers of the Saints of Ireland," mentions Seachnall as one of the seven sons of Ua Baird. Priest Lngnath's (one of them) tomb is still to be seen in Inish na GhoUin Corrib, in Galway. — Dr. Petrie's " Round Towers." " Annals of the Four Masters," tell us, that Aengus Olmucadha, A.M. 3790, or according to O'Flaberty, A.M. 3150, gained twelve battles over the Longobardi; this he takes from Leabhar Gabhla (Book of Invasions). These got no possessions in Italy before the latter end of the sixth century, and there was never any such people known in Great Britain. But Leatha, in the language of old Irish scholars, mean» Letavia or Armorica — Letha, Litoralis^ maritime. ■'í|S|«!!|S^í'.- ■■ ."^i^^^jjW^:.- 515 4. The Lord him elected to teach barbarous* Nations, that he would fish by doctrine's nets, That from the world believers he would draw to grace. And the Lord they would follow to the eternal abode. 5. Christ's chosen Gospel talents he vends,* [interest. Which amongst the Irish Gentiles he requires with Of the pilotage of this labour, as of the work the reward, [the joy. With Christ, of the celestial kingdom possesses he 6. God's faithful minister, and illustrious messenger, Apostolic example and model he gives. Who, as by words, so by deeds, to the people, preaches the Lord ; {So) that, whom by language he converts not, by good works he stimulates.* 7. Glory hath he with Christ, honour with the world; Who by all is venerated as an Angel of God, Whom God has sent (to the Irish) an apostle, as Paul to the Gentiles, That to all, guidance he would afford to God's kingdom, 8. Humble, because of his fear of God, in spirit and body. Upon whom, for his good works resteth the Lord ; And in his pure flesh Christ's marks he bears, In bearing whose cross alone he glories. 9. Diligently the faithful he feeds with flesh celestial. Lest they, who are seen with Christ, on the way become weak; To them he distributes as bread the Gospel precepts, In whose hands like manna, they are multiplied. Stanza IV. — "Because strangers to the language of Rome, ** The ancient Latins sometimes used " piscu" — Piscaretur would not answer the metre, as it would make the line consist of sixteen syllables. Stanza V. — » Mandates he gives. *' Present tense for future, " will possess." Stanza VI.—» " to faith." 516 10. Eastam qui custodit carnem, ab amorem Domini: > ~ Quam camem templum paravit sanctoque^spiritui» "^ A quo constanter cum mundis possidetur actibus : Qnam ut hostiam placentem, vivam^ offert Domino. 11. Lumenque* mundi accensum ingens, Evangelicum, In candelabro levatum, toti fulgens sseculo, Civitas Regis'* munita supra montem posita, Copia in qua est multa, quam Deus possidet. 12. Maximus quoque in regno caelorum vocabitur Qui quod verbis docet sacris, factis adimplet bonis.** Bono praecedit exeraplo, formaque"* fidelium Mundoque in corde habet ad Deum fíduciam. 13. Nomen Domini audenter annuntiat gentibus, Quibus lavacri salutis seternam dat gratiam : Pro quarum orat delictis ad Deum, Pro quibus, et Deo dignas immolatque hostias.** Stanza VIII. — ■ Cujut, qui, quern, are used in this poem, by Antimseria, for ejus, M, quern. ^ Or tuttentans, but in every sense this word would be corrupt Latin. Stanza IX. — ■ Dapibut. — This word means the " Eucharist/' the fountain of all graces. If Seachnall meant bread, such as is used in the sacrament of the Lord's Sapper — mere bread — he would not have written " dapibus" but " panibus ;" nor does the use of the plural number militate against his obvious meaning. As a poet, he has applied throughout the tingular for the plural, and vice verta, as he did one tense for another. Prose writers do the same. Thus Seachnall, more than once, introduces actum for acta. In Virgil's ^neid, book iii. line 224, we read "dapibus," though there was evidently but beef, the flesh of the Harpies' oxen. This appears from the fact that Coeleno denounced woes to ^neas, " pro stratis juvencis," for having slaughtered their oxen. Wherever the word dapet occurs in the ^neid, it signifies fleih-meat. However, our feelings revolt from the abominable notions objected to us, because of our belief in the Real and Substantial Pre- sence of Christ in the Eucharist. From the latter passage is learned that dape$ was used by the old Latin poet to denote, not com or flour meat, but flesh meat. Hence it is patent that St. Seachnall intended to express by the term, that the Body and Blood of the Lord was the Spiritual food with which Patrick diligently fed his people, especially as in the second next line he introduces the "Gospel ' i;^;' , . 'jtA^m^i 517 10. Chaste he guards his flesh through love of the Lord ; Which flesh, as a temple he prepared, and (thai) for the Holy Ghost, By whom he is constantly possessed with pure deeds, Which flesh, as a pleasing offering, living he presents to the Lord. 1 1 . And he is a light of the world, burning, great, Evange- lical, In a candlestick, raised, shining over all the age, A city of the king, fortified, on a mountain placed. In which is great abundance, which God possesses. 12. The grestest» also in the Kingdom of Heaven will he be called. Who, what by sacred words he teaches, the same, fulfils by good works, He excels in good example, and model*' of the faithfiil. And in a clean heart hath he, before God, confidence. 13. The name of the Lord boldly he announces to the Gentiles, [grace ; To whom ofthelaverf.of salvation he gives the eternal For whose sins he prays to God, For whom to God he also offers* worthy victims.'^ troths," verba Evangeliea, as another sort of bread which he broke to his followers. Dope» is the term for delicious viands. Stanza X. — ■ Thus St. Paul says : " I bear the stigmas and wounds of Christ, our Lord." * Qw, is only for metre. •* Ftvam, living by virtues. Stanza XL — ■ Lumen is the flame, hue, the matter whence the flame issues. *> Civitaa Regis— l\xt King's City. The '< Speckled Book" makes Patrick the king, and Christ the fruitful mountain — the city is the Church, in which there is a great abundance of virtues; Christ possesses the City. What abounds in virtues and is possessed by Christ could not err. Stanza XIL — » For very great. — This is very common with Latin writers. ** Fttcti» bonis. — It is worthy of notice, the frequent mention made of ' ^Í2csv^v-*^'t ■■■?*"• «^W^ 518 1 4. Omnem, pro divina lege, mundi spernit gloriam. Qui cuncta ad ejus mcnsam sestimat quisquilias ; Nec ingruenti movetur mundi hujus flumine, Sed in adversis laetatur, cúm pro Christo patitur. 15. Pastor bonus ac fidelis gregis Evangelica Quem Deus Dei elegit custodire populum, Suamque pascere plebem divinis dogmatibus; Pro qua, ad Christi exemplum, suam tradidit animatri, 16. Quem pro meritis Salvator provexit Pontificera, Ut in coelesti moneret clericos militia, Coelestem quibus annonain erogat cum vestibus, Quod in divinis impletur sacrisque affatibus. " good deeds" — bonum actum, for bona acta, &c. ; if good works were dero- gatory from the merits of Christ, Patrick would not have performed them. " " The Life of St. Gregory," by Joannes Diaconus, has this couplet, taken from the epitaph on his tomb — " Implebatque actu, quidquid sermone docebat, Esset ut exemplum, mystica verba loquens." How like Seacbnall's character of St. Patrick. '' Forma, in the third line, can be also translated as a nominative case thus — " As a model to the faithful he has confidence," &c. Stanza XIII. — • Baptism is here meant. •• " Hostias," the plural number for the singular, as there w, was, and will be but one victim, the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus Christ, who con- tinues to offer himself in an unbloody manner on our altar, by the hands of his priests. " Hostias" must mean that, or prayers, or mere bread; he does not imply mer« orisons. Because, in the preceding line he mentioned jDrayer«, " be prays," it does not denote " simple bread," else the offering in the New Law would be inferior to those of the Old Law, in which cattle were offered ; and it is admitted, that the latter were superior to bread offering, or the sacrifice of Melchisedech, and as the sacrifice of Abel was before that of Cain; but it is repugnant to common sense, that the Jewish dispensation, " which was but Ú\b figure or shadow," according to St. Paul, would have had a superior offering to that of Christianity, which is the fulfilment of the fwmer. The latter is the reality, the former the type, and as substance excels the shadow so must the sacrifice of St. Patrick, and all priests, surpass that of the Mosiac system. Therefore the " hostias" mentioned in the poem, was written to express the sacrifice of the Mass, and in the foregoing line he alluded to the sacrament of penance. 519 14. For the divine law, all the world's glory despises he, Who all things compared to His table he deems trifles, Nor is he moved by the rushing current of this world, But in adversity rejoices, as for Christ he suffers. 15. The good and faithful shepherd of the Evangelic flock, Whom God selected to guard God's people, And to feed His people with Divine dogmas ;• For which people, alter Christ's example, he gave up his Ufe. 16. Whom for his merits» the Saviour raised to be Pontifex** That in heavenly warfare he might teach clerics. To whom he distributes celestial'' bread with vestments. Which dutT^^ is concluded by divine and sacred admo- nitions. Stanza XIV. — » The second line of the fourteenth stanza clearly goes to demonstrate the pre-eminence of the Eucharistic table — all things are tri/le» to it. If it were mere bread that was offered, the bible and other matters would not be called iri/leg in comparison to it. Stanza XV. — " Here, again, is made a distinction between ftedmg with doctrine, and the feeding with the Eucharist, alluded to above. Stanza XVI.—» Patrick is rewarded with preferment, for his meritorious or good works. His faith would be dead without them, as the Apostle has it — *' Faith without good works is dead." *> High Priest, or Head of the Irish Church, of course subject to the Pope, from whom he got his appointment, though previously called by God ; as must indeed, by grace, every true minister. * Here again is a distinction between teaching and bestowing the " Body of the Lord." In the previous line he was to warn (to instruct) Priests, in this line he gives celestial Eucharistic bread and vestments. Patrick is represented in the passage giving, not terrenam annmiam, but ccelestam—^uoX earthly, but celestial com or bread. An appropriate name for the Eucharist, whose ele- ments, whilst they retain the form, taste, appearance, &c., are entirely tran» substantiated, and feeds the soul, as temporal bread does the body. <* This quatraine refers to the sacrament of Holy Orders. The Bishop gives the candidates Communion, the vestments, the Missal; pledges them to chastity and obedience, and admonishes them in Latin. The preposition m, in the fourth line, signifies " by," as it does in the iEneid, book i. line 180— " in /omiie"—" by vibrating the materials" &c., and in many passages also in Greek. '^rs^fiferofí'^síepv^^'^^^irv;^^ «T T^tJSTfSltflfCMf^- 520 17. Regis Duntius, invitans credentes ad nuptias, Qui omatur vestimento nuptiali indutus ; Qui cosleste haurit vinum in vasis coelestibus, Propinansque Dei plebem spiritali poculo. :/y 18. Sacrum invenit thesaurum sacro in volumine, Salvatorisque in came Deitatem pervidet : Quem thesaurum emit Sanctis perfectisque mentis, Israel vocatur hujus anima videns Deum. 19. Testis Domini fídelis in lege Catholicá, Cujus verba sunt divinis condita oraculis, Ne hnmanae putrent carnes esaeque a vermibus, Sed coelesti salientur sapore ad victimam. 20. Verus cultor et insignis agri Evangelici, Cujus semina videntur Christi Evangelica, Quae divino serit ore in aures prudentium, Quorumque corda ac mentes Sancto arat Spiritu. Stanza XVII.—* This is an allusion to the royal marriage feast, mentioned in the Gospel of St. Matthew, cap. xxii. If but ordinary wine, how could it be called celeitial t ^ Propinaru, " distributing the Eucharistic blood." This Stanza refers to the celebration of the most holy and august sacrifice of the Mass, and the administration of Communion to the penitents at its close, just as our prelates and priests practise in our own times. If in the chalice or " vasibus," there was only ordinary wine, it was terrenum not cceleste — earthly not celettial, and the cup containing it would be no more coekste than any other vessel ; and in pledging the people of God (giving them the chalice, as was the primi- tive custom until necessity, to which all customs must bow, interposed) in a tpiritual bowl, he was therefore doing a duty with a vessel containing in it the true Sacred Blood of the Lamb that was slain. Every word in the qua- traine conveys the sublime notions that the Catholic Church has ever taught, believed, and professed relative to the real presence of Christ in the Most AdoraUe Eucharist. In it we have mention of the priests' vestments, heavenly not earthly wine (therefore transubstantiated), the tpiritttal cup, not temporal, having in it a tpiritual not a temporal gift. The language is altogether sablime and expressive. Stanza XVIII. — * Itrael, according to St. Jerome, is " a man, or mind, seeing God," he besides interprets the term — " Chief with God," when com- .^^^ra^!!?r*"^'^^?^vf'v!?^í^ J'' ■ra^'s^^ 621 17. The King's' messenger, inviting the faithful to the mar- riage feast, Who is ornamented, being clad in the nuptial robe, Who takes the celestial wine in heavenly vessels. And pledging*» the people of God in the spiritual cup. 18. The sacred treasure in the sacred volume he found, And in Aw Saviour's body the Deity he, clearly, saw, Which treasure he purchased with his holy and perfect merits ; Israel is called, his soul-seeing God. 19. The Lord's faithful witness in the Catholic law. Whose words are preserved*^ with the divine oracles. Lest human flesh would rot and be eaten by worms,*» But that they be seasoned with savor for a sacrifice. 20. A true and distinguished cultivator of the Evangelical laud. Whose seeds are seen to he the Gospel [or of the Gospel) of Christ ; [wise. Which, with his divine lips, he sows in the ears of the Whose hearts and minds he ploughs with the Holy Ghost. menting on Genetit, chap, xxxii. In the " Speckled Book" there is this remark : " Israe], when a dissyllable, denotes a man fighting with God, bat when a trisyllable, a man teeing God. It is written, that as the Twelve Apostles will sit in judgment, on the last day, over the Tribes of Israel, so will Patrick be judge over the Irish. Thus, according to Jerome's comments, they will be " Chiefs with Christ." How salutary must not then the invo- cation of St. Patrick be ? How influential his intercession with his Divine Master. Stanza XIX. — » From condior — to preterve or teaion. Fourth conjaga. tion. ^ Or, Lett human flesh would corrupt and be food for worm». Might not these words mean, that Patrick's own body would not see corruption as other bodies ? that it would not decay nor become the food of worms ? Or " ver- mibus," of viciout human science; that is, that men might not be left to perish by infidelity, or be led into error, -and become the prey of false teachers — " vermibus" or " lupis," " wolves." ,t«:y^-if^7"*^".*?p,íP5':»ír?w>-. .-c?*:- í,'?''""''" •í'*^ >y.?rr:i^i^}'- 522 21. XPS. (Christus) illum sibi elegit in terris vicarium, Quem'' de gemino captivum liberat servitio, Plerosque de servitute quos redemit hominum, - Innumeros de Zabuli obsolvit dominio. 22. Ymnos cum ApocalypsI, Psalmosque cantat Dei : Qi!.osque ad sedifícandum Dei tractat populum, Quem legem in Trinitate sacri credit nominis, Tribusque Personis unam docetque substantiain. 23. Zona Domini prsecinctus, diebus ac noctibus Sine intermissione Deum orat Dominum : Cujus ingentis laborís percepturus proemium, Cum Apostolis regnabit Sanctis super Israel. Stanza XXI. — ■ Elegit. — Peter is the Comes, Patrick the Vicarau, and Christ, the "King," St. Jerome, de gradibus Romanorum, says that the " Vicariu$ is a man who is over the city in the absence of the Comet, whilst the Comes goes with the * King :' so he (Patrick) is Vicarios Dei." — Liber Uymnorum. It is not necessary to tell the linguist that the Latin term, Comes, is a " companion," " chief adviser." *> By using gttem, " whom," the passage signifies, that Christ freed our Saint from his Irish captivity, and from what he underwent in his own country when he returned from Ireland ; or from the double slavery of man and Satan. But we prefer making it qui, '* who," and thus make Patrick the antecedent, as he emancipated thousands in his own country, in the islands, and Ireland, from the bondage of the devil ; and he likewise liberated thou- sands from physical slavery, as may be learned from his memorable letter against Coroticus, who captured and murdered, amongst others, the Chris- tians. He threatened him, in God's name, with eternal damnation unless he desisted frt>m his iniquity. We must then read in this line " captivos" for " captivum ;" or. Who frees captives from double slavery. Stanza XXII. — » The word " tractat," announces or publishes, impliei expatiates upon, explain* to his flock. ^ He believed the Christian law to be, that God was the Trinity — that .i:J ^ff'A ^^'^■{:^^\;.íjr]' :'■■:■•- -\^-'^:i^':':\ 523 21. Christ, him for Himself, selected' on earth, as vicar. Whom, when, captive. He frees from two-fold slavery ; A great many he* redeems from the slavery of men. Innumerable he has released from the dominion of Satan. 22. Hymns with the Apocalypse, and the Psalms of God he chants. And wKich he announces* to edify the people of God, Whom he believes to be the law'* in the Trinity of the Sacred Name, And in Three Persons, One Substance, he teaches.*^ 23. With the girdle of the Lord, begirt, days and nights, Without intermission, God the Lord he prays. Whose reward yor his great labour he will obtain ; With the holy Apostles he shall reign over Isreal. * Patrick. the Trinity was God ; that is, that there were three Persons, distinet, but that there was only Onk Scbstancb. St. Patrick was most minnte in explaining the Trinity and Unity. This doctrine — of course a stupendous mystery — he sought to make Laoghaire (Lhayree), the king, understand by pointing out to him, that the trefoil, or Shanrock, had three leaves and but one stem. Hence our native shamrock has ever since been held in venera* tion by Irishmen of all creeds and classes throughout the world. " " Que" after " docet" is for metre, to complement the verse of fifteen syllables. For the same reason it may be, that he uses the present tense for the past ; though, in doing the latter, he has only imitated the writings of some of the poets of the Augustan age. In fact, the Greek and Latin poets rather make language subservient to them, than that they should be bound up by grammatical rules. Our modern bards are equally arbitrary. Homer abounds in particles — " metri aut festivitatis, seu musicae, causa." An igno- rance of the laws of poetry and of poetic licence has caused parties, othervrise well versed in the translation of Irish, to destroy the fresco cornices of some pieces, to reduce them to the standard of their own notions of grammar. ■ -'?7^!'í?!?^J7Tí?^íí?í^^^ 524 [In Colgani exemplarí additur :] Audite: Patricii laudes semper dicamus, ut noscum iUo defendat Deus ; Ibemienses omnes clamant ad te pueri : Veni, sancte Patríci, salvos nos facere. Patrícius sanctus Episcopus oret pro nobis omnibus, Ut deleantur protinús peccata, quae commissimus. Amen. TRANSLATION. [In Colgan's copy of the Poem are read the follo?nng lines, which we take to be an Antiphon.] Hear ye : Patrick's praises I will always sing, that God us with him defend. All the Irish youths cry out to thee, Come, holy Patrick, cause that we be saved ; May the holy bishop, Patrick, pray for us all. That forthwith may be effaced the sins we committed. — Amen. The Antiphon in the Liber Hymnorum is different from the above, as is that in the Leabhar (Lhyowor) Breac. INDEX. CONTRACTIONS IN INDEX. B. p. — et passim, (many places.) B. e. = and elsewhere, pro. = pronoun, pre. — preposition. A. rule for n. g. 68, n. u. 75. A,commutablefor o.u. sometimes, Abbeyfaile» 130. Achaia, where situated 216, 217. Achonry, (Mayo.) Adamnan, St., 89, 93, e. p. Adam, Abel, Cain, Eve, 71. Adam, A. Dr., a. e. Adrian, Pope, 239. A, Ana., 77. JEngus, 226, 474. Aengus, the Culdee f God-worship- per,) a. e. Aengus (of the swine herds,) 514. African pirates, 212 e. p. (many places.) Aghado, Preface, vol*, ii. e. p. A. H. Brue, quoted, 429 e. p. Ailbe, 53 stanza, and in notes on it, college of, 474. Ainsworth, quoted in stanza 25. e.p. Aidan, or Eadan, king of Scotland. Ailbe, Ciaran, Ivar, Deichlan, 171. Aildergoid, monarch, A.M. 3705, had gold rings made in his reign, preface 35. Alban, (Albin,) 2l9. Alcluid, (Ercluid), in Gaul, ex- plained, see 63, 75, 77, 464, a. e. Alcuin, Charlemagne's Tutor, 480. Alexander Adam, quoted 434 and many places. Alcuin , scholar of Egbert, a bishop of York, (705. A. D.) 480. Alphabetical hymn of St. Steach- nall, (why so called.) 508. His life of St. Patrick, Catholic doctrine, &c. 508. Almhain, (Allen,) battle of 233,234 Amergin, or Avereen, 95. Ambrose, (St.,) on the appearance of Jesus on the earth after his ascension, history of. Ambrose, (St.) pref. = preface, n. c. — nominatiye cose, d. c. = dative case, p. =i= page. An uair, note upon these words. " Au," rule upon, 66 n. b. Annadown, 286 a. e. Antiquity of Irelaud. Annals of Donegal, 106 e. p. Anne. 233. Anglican church, Anglo Saxon characters. Anecdota Ambrosiana Muratori in " Patrick's history," 51 1. Andrew, (St.,) 171. Antrim, e. p., 475. Antiphonarium Benchorense, 460, 511, a. e. Angel, Victor, 114, 115, 116, and to the end. " Annals of the Four Masters, 222- e. p. " Anna," note upon, 233. Approving letters from 9 to 26. Apology for Eire, pref. Apparent difficulty of Irish ex- plained, 100. Aquitani. passini. " Ar,"rulefor, n. c. 68. Armagh, (book of,) 4, supremacy of Fiechshgrme, 486. Armenian deluge, 210. Argonauts, Amazons, 197. Artois, 437, e. p. Armorica. 435. Aradia Dail, different from all Riada 109, 110, 116 220. Archaeological Society, Kilkennv, 234. a. e. Ardfert, diocess of, 237. Archdall's Monasticon, 237. Archdiocess of Tuam, 455, a. e. Arran, 171,475. Ardfert, 227. Arran, (island of Galway,) passim. Ardagh,(school of,) (bishop of,)475, Ardbraccan, Life of St. Patrick. Aspirations of nouns, note a. 83. Asia, 71- ••A8,"n. h.68. Asaph, (St.) bishop of. Athens, its founder, note c. 82. Atlas, 73. Atlas, Universal de-Geographie. Athene, 233. Athy. Atrocities under Sir Charles Coote, 150, 151, a. e. Atha cliath, (a-a-Kleea,) Dublin. Angus, Ans. Author of Dirge, 160 169. Aiixerre. (Antisodorus) Eric of writes to St. German, Letha, (L&yha,) Amorica. Life of St. Fatriek. B. Babel, Tower, Architectof, 80. Babel Tower, (its site, the time of its erection, according to Beilar- mine,) 187. Baltic, 218. Bawn, Sleev, (O'Brennans of, 222. Baxter, (quoted,) passim. Baillet. Baronius, (quoted.) 459. Balcluths's walls of Towers, &c. Bangor, (school of.) a. p. Bayle, quoted,) passim. Barche,or Boirdhe Hy, in Leinster, Baptism, modes of administering. Bangor, monastery of 498. Bardaei. Barton, quoted, 310. Battle of cnontarf, 125. Barri de Wm., 127, four sons of, 127. Baggot, 157. Basgoine, (Ba«cine,) 159. Barrys, 155. Barbarous treatment of the Irish, 166, a. e. Beara, (a Spanish princess,) 228. Bealagha Beime, 162, 163. Belgse, (Belgium,) 429, 448. Belus, (Baal.) Beeling, 311,312.a, e. Benignus, (Benin,) St. of Armagh, pref. 36. Benna Boirche, where situated, 499 Bernard, (St,) 99 e. p. Bethiiron. Fiech's hymn, 400. a. e. Berchaven, (Beara.) Bilay, (Bile.) 102 e. p. Bible, boast about, 213. Bile, Brogan, 207, 208. Bile, pref, 35, 36, 77. Binnead uir, (Howth,) 21 1, 463. Bipartite division of Ireland, be- tween Connor and Owen, 112. Birr, 227, 237, a. e. Bishops in Ireland before Patrick, 118, a. e. Blake, Most Rev. Michael, bishop of Dromore, 173. Boetia, 216. Boetius, false assertion relative to Gadelias, 195, 196. Book of Invasions, 203, 206, 215, 217. Books relating to Ireland, pref. , 46. Boulogne, sur.mer, 441. a. e. Bonna, 434. Bononia, 434, e. pe. Bonaven, (Bonaum.) often. Bouhaeius, (qoted.) BoUndits, 442. e p. Book ofConquests, oft e "Book, Specled," of Ballmote, 441, e. p. Bobio, monastery of. Book of Reigns, pref. 35. Book of Rights, pref. 36. Bosgoin, (Boscain,) 102, a. e. Boyne, 139, 443, e. p. Boyle, annals of, see also O'Don- nell and Curlew Mountains. Book of Forfeitures, 301 . Book. " Cromwellians," 149. Brendan, (or O'Brennan, St.)) 226, 227. e. p Brittany, 25. Briotan Maol, 214. ancestor of Britous, 203. Brutus, his sons, 215. , ,. , Briarus, 73. i?*?,"' 3 Breas, Simon, grandson of Ne- mediuB, 215. Brigantes, 220. Britoan Armoric, 436—6. Brennan, (P.) P. Rev. P. P. Kil- dare, 225. Bretagne, or Little Brittanny, 436 e. p. Breanuin, Teffia, 222. Brendan, St., (O'Brennan, visits Ireland, great age of 236. Brooke. Miss, 229, pref. 27. Brogan, 102 e. p. Brendan, (O'Brennan,) St., carries the faith to distant lands, 236, a. e., great age of 236, 237, visits North America. Brian Boiroimhe, (Borivey,) 124 ft 6 Bridget, (St., of Kildare, 228. Bristol, 127. Brdwnes of Kcnmare, or illus- trious, 130 e. p., and in 2nd vol. Brennan's, E. "History of Ireland," 129, 130, a. e. Brendon's Hill. Briga,(St.,)of Annadown, Galway, mece of St. Brendan, 236. Brendan, (St.,) of Kerry, of the line of Ciar, 236, nis church and diocess, 236. Brown, Archbishop of Dublin, on vices of Reformers. Broudior or Bruodin, (quoted,) on massacre of Irish, 152, 153. Browne of Hospital, 130 159, a. e. Brué, (his general map,) 437. Bunowen, 434. Bull of Adrian, 129, as forged by Henry II., vol. 2, p. 136. licit by Pope John, 130. Burgundian library. Burke's Butler, 155. Buildings, stone proof. Buan, Dundaik, 253. Burn's "Remembrancer," 236. Byzantium Braganza, Baath, father of Farsa ; 204, 205. Braha, bay of Biscay, Bosphorus, Byrsa, the name of Carthage, 207. C. Celtic Records— Hodges & Smith, quoted, 250,251,252. Carthaginian Territory, 206. Carmody, Milveul, (honey mou- thed.) 208. Carpathian Mountains, 2\S. Cathaoir, (Caheer, king of Lem- 8ter,)221. Cas, father of Caisin, 228. Calais, 430 e. p. Caesar, (quoted,) 429, e. p. Canons Regular, 432. Catholics, (present outcry of for England,; 152, e. p. Calpurnius, (Patrick's father,) 4iO, 453, e. p. ('an:..cn, ^"*». Cairbres, (Carbys',) 1 t:arrig and "Craig," difference, 99. Calvary, (Cross of.) 432. Carte's " Ormond." 157, a. e. 313. Cambrensis and O'MuUoy, 127, e. p. Cantwell, Most Rev. L»r., 813. Castleconway, 348. Castle Ruby, 296. Cavendish, Hon. F., Mayo, 141. ' Cathair Mor, pref 35. " CacI pe CAel r leAiAi) po leACAi)," rule of. Celarius, (quoted,) 202, 433, e. p. Celibacy of Clergy, 123 108, 500— 10 a. e. Centre of Unity, (Rome,) diffi- culty to, in Cromwell's time, 233, Fiech's hymn. 487. Celestine, Pope, before Sixtus. 234, 235 e. p. Celtic Society, Dublin, learntd work of, 138. Chinese adjective, Caheer, 205. Cheroebus, son of Mygdon, men- tioned in 5th of Homer, 210. Chambers, Messrs. Gazeteer, (quo- ted,) 77, 79. Charles I., when beheaded, 165. Cionfodhla, 13, 97. Circassia, Chambers, Cathair, Cells, 202. 203. Ciarrigh, 221,237, a. e. Civitas Regis, King's City. Lluverius Clodius, 210, 211. Clan Neiv or Nemedians, 212. Clonfert, 227, e. p., (school of,) 475. Clovis, King of the Franks, 432. Clyde, 440,447, 451, e. p. Cloonfuiah, (Tuam.) Galway, school, 446, a.-e. Cluanmacnois, Book of, 104, e. p. Clanna Neill 1 1 ! Heremonians 1 1 1 Clontarf, Battle of, 2 vol. Clear, Cape, birth-place of Kyrian, A.D. 352, 234. Clonfert, its derivation, 238, a. e. CUfford, General, 269. Clarendon, (quoted,) 310, e. p. 152, 339. Clogher, 312. Clanaboy, 324, 138. Clonalis, 295 Clanricarde, 148, 153, a. e. Clochoir, (Gold Stone, > pref. 37. Clonard, e. p. (School of,) 132, 476, e, p. Cliona, 233. " Cnoc Nephin," pref. 26. Cnock-na-glosha, 348. Constantine of Alban, Cathlan, (Callan,) 219. Colpa, 221. Conall Gulban, 47, 143, a. e. Corcochlanna, (in Boscommon, ) 222. Conal Glu, (a son of Bruin ances- tor of Roscommon O'Brennan, 222. Conn, ( of the Hundred Battles, ) 228 Colman, St. 432. Confessions of Patrick, quoted. 114, 115, e. p. Colgan, Father, e. p., his opinion of Nem-Tur, refuted Coroticus, (English tyrant,) 434. Conchessa, (Fatrick,s mother.) Constantine's (Emperor,) law pre- venting two offices being filled by one person, note on Fiach, 484, 474. Columbcille, e. p. . Colmans, St, e. p. ' Columbanus, St., e. p. Monk of Bangor, in Down, 464, a. e. Colleges of Ireland, 464, a. e. Cothraighe, a name of Patrick (ex- . plained,) 485, a. e. Corrib, Lough, passim. 100. CoUas, their descent, 110, at Mac Mahons and Mac Guires. Conn's division of Ireland defined 113. •': Colman, (St.) a priest, 234. Columba, (Columcille.) 236 237, Coran and Ceish, (Keash,) 14«). Cogitosus 464. Connellan, Owen, Esq! 222. Con Mac Mahon, 280. Confederation Kilkenny, 316, clique of 315. Covenanters relieved by Ormond, 313. Cole, Sir W,. quoted, (aee Ma- guire,) a. e. Coote's wicked conduct, 320, a. e. Collection of Irish Massacres, book quoted, 149 and 130, 2nd. vol. Cooleys, Courseys, Creighs, Con- dons, Cusacs, 157. Connaught or Hell, origin of, 1 68. Consonants, (^mutable,) rule for, 173. a. e. Colman, (St.,) of Dromore, 173. Columb, son of Felim, 171. Conall, Cowen, Sts., 173. Conduct of the Abbot of Ferns, 240. Confession, 438, 440, e. p., 445, 446, 447, 453. a. e. Cormac, pref. 35. Cormac Mac CuUinan, 436. Crimea, Caspian. Colchis, Cappa* docia, 196, 127. Crete, 205. Cruanthooa, (Land of Boors,) the first name of Alban, 219. Criomthan, (King,) invades Belgse, 462. Cruachan, (Croghan,) ancient pa- lace of. Irish kings in Boscom- mon, 113. Cromwell, see at stanzas. 93, 91. 96. a. e. Crosbies, (M'Crossans,) 300. Crevin, 171. Crosses, ancient stone of Ireland pref. 37. Cromcruagh, idol, pref. 37. Crom dubh, pref. 37 Curlew Mountains, pass of the, 26, 268, where situate. See Dirge. J» v*f*'í* 5^ Curry, Eugene, Esq., 138. Cyrus, Cathiar, Carr, Carbin, Cabria, Cabiri, 199, 200. Cybele, Corybantes, , Cruthen, Cing (Qui^in,) 200, 210. Cyrus defeated by Scythians, 106. Cyclops, Centaur, CerberMs, 73. Coeges of Ireland, 475, a. e. D, rules upon, 68 n. e., 69 k., 70 c, 71. d., 78d. Darius, destruction of his army hy a tribe of the Scythians, north- east of the Euxine, 207. Danaan Tuatha de, settled in Achaia, 216. 217. Dalriada, 220, 116. Dathi, (Dhahee.) 228, (King.) Dalriads, explained, their settle ment, 109, 110. , .„ Danube. " Dapibus," interesting notes on. Darius, defeat of by Scythians, 106. Danes first invade Ireland, 125. David's, (St.,) bishop of, his part in the injustice to Ireland, 127. Dairy mple's " Memoirs of Great Britain," 153. David, (St.,) 171. Deaghthatlia,(Daha,) Dardanelles. 204,205. Defence. of Ireland, Tin Preface,) and 218, also in many places. '• Decurio," (Patrick's father was one,) explained , 163. Deluge, A.M., 1656. Desmond, its present extent, 107. Deighlan, (St.,) Life of, 234, 235, a. 9., 171. Desies, (Desu,) 234. Descent of the Saints Brendan, and death, 237, 238. Desmond, Great Earl of, 306, a. e., 144, 145 Dervorgilla, 126, n. Deluge of Ireland before last judg- ment, 121. Dease, bishop, 313. Decuriones, explained, 468. Defence of Ireland, pref., 2 vol. Dioscurias, (at the rivers, Cha- fictus, syaneus. and Hyppeus,) a city built by a Milesian colony, 196. Dido, Danube, Dniester, Tyras, 207. Disputes about variation of dates, not a proof against the existence of facts, 174, ». e. *' Dia," prep., explawed^ ccuuj»ared with Greek. '>'■--- Diunseanchus. Division of Ireland, first when it was made. 107. ..,;:.... Dido, Queen, pref., 35. ' Discord helped on by Beeling, also Mountgarrett, Preston, bishop. of Ossory and Meath, 146. Don— see Tanaii, 196, 198. .... Doverfield Mountains, 217. Donegal, annals of, MM e. p. Do bi (do vee,) he was, note upon Irish, Greek, Latin, French, compared, 101. Dowhshird, Marquis, pref. 29. DonoughifBrian's son,) 238— Theft Irish crown, 238. Drogheda, 221. Dromceat (in Derry») council of, 23Q, e..p. ' . Drummohd, 381. .^^ _ Dublin, passim. ■ r. -- : r Dunbarton, 447, 464, a. e. Dundalethglass, (Down,) 486, a. e. Dunshaughlin, 508, a. c. Dunaveeragh, where situated. — 141. Dungarvan, 263. Dymna, 234. > Doctor Todd, 470, 487, a. e. ... ■i .! "v;.! , E. Eastern language, 90, 91. iEneid. 26. ; . . ^neas, pref. 36. • . , Eclipsed or mortified letters, note g. 82, note a. 83, a. e. See p. 6. Eire, grammattical note on, 68, 70. Enceladus, 77. Eochy Mac Earc. last king of Fir- bolgs, 207. 6 Eogan More, (Owen Mor.) 228. Eoclia Meadhghoin, (Ayngha Meevin, king of Meath,) 222. Epiphaniua, bishop of Salamis, his opinion of ancient Scjthia, its polish, note b., page 81. Eryx, 73. Eustachius, 210. Eui^enias, 2:^8. Extremi hominum, the Morini in Belgic Gaol, 468. Ealpa, (English Alps,) explained, 444. Eadan, or Aidan, (O'Haydon.) 230,231. Eanuchduin,(Annadown,)206,a. e. Eclipsed letters, &c., after pref. Education, advantages of, 107. Edward VI., 323. Elphin, school of. Eliogarty, 235. Ely O'CarroU, 237, a. e. Eleran, (St.) ' Elizabeth, 333. Emain, when built, when des» troyed. III. Emain, (Ulster,) viz.; — Down, Ar- magh, Monaghan. and part of Antrim. England, (her bloody flag,) called Britain after BriotaH, a des- cendant of Nemedius, 263, 214, 215. Enon, (where Patrick was cap- tured,) 453. England, (her wars.) 150. "Entertainers,'* noblemen, and pref. England's bloody history, 105 e. p. England, Catholic or Protestant, equally unjust to Ireland, 129, e. p. Enna, (St.,) 173. "Equites," Knight8,explained, 463. Ercluade, (in Gaul,) 441, e. p. Essex, Earl of, 324. Kutropius. (quoted,) 437. Euchúist, 512, a. e. Eucbaristic Table, pre-eminence of, food, its distribution. Seach- nall's hymn, 508. a. e. Eustaces, 155. Eve, 69. Every Ronnsh Priest deemed a rebel, being a Priest, the crime of treason, 152. Evan or Evin, (St,) 173. ■ ^'"^ ■ F. Faolchan, (father of St. Ck>lman,> 4«2. Fair Hill, 165, 233. Fairy, (sidhe, shee,) 234. Feniusa Farsa, his University, its place, 189. Fergus the Great, 220. Fenian chiefs, 135, stanza xlvii., a. e. '-• ' Ferriter, Pierce, 232, a. e. ' Ferns, Abbey of, 240, Fergus, son of Conal Gulban, father of one of the Sts. Bren- darf, 237. Ferriter Pierce, hanged, 165. Fermo, archbishop of, 310. Fiontan, 6S, fi9, story of. refuted. Firbolgs, their history, 215. Firgailians, Firdhivneean. 215. Fitzpatrick. — See MacPatrick,221. Fiech, St. (quoted,) Dirge, 173. Fiech's Life of St. Patrick, 484. Finan, (St. of Clonard). Fionn Mac Cooill and the Irish militia, defence of, 109, sceptics answered, 109, 110. Fianniv (Fiannivh), d.c., fornom., 106 ; License of poets shewn from Virgil, 108, e. p. Finloga, St. Fursay's father, 237. Fitz Stephen, 1-27, 145, 127, 240. Fite Henry, 127, 145, 127, 240. Fitz Gerald, 127, 145, 127, 240. Fitz Gerald, Lord Tiiomas, and five unclM, hanged at Tyburn, 322. Finloga (King of U i Bran), father of O'Brennan or Brendan of Clonfert. Connaught, 237. Fiontan, father ol St. Fursey, 1889. Finglas, Baron " Breviat" of Uar, ris' Hibernia, 32l. Fingall, Earl of, 157. Finan. Mac, 16*2. Finan (St.), of Kiilarney or Lough- lane, 175. Fine Arts, pref. 48 to 5S. : Flood, Henry, pref. 32. Fort St. Michel, 103, 84. Four Masters, 128, 129, a. e. Franklaod (quoted), 310. Fursey, (St.), of Lough Corrib, 89, 188, his parents and history. Fursey 's (St.), Monastery in Lough Corrib, repaired by a Saxon king, 475. G. Gadelas, why so called, note-b. ver. 84. Gadelas, the Linguist and Profes- sor, 84. Gaelig, why so called, 188. Gadel, grandson of Gomer, aids King Farsa to digest the lan- guages, 80, 81, Gadelians, start from an island in the Caspian sea, encounter dan- gers, GoUay, Gollamh, Galli, 199, 2U0, see map. Goetulia, falsely stated as Óoth- land, 206. Gcssoriacum, e. p. Gomer, Gomerigu, Genesis, 210. Goldsmith, on the origin of towns, Gothland, 203 ; Gothia, 204. Gud, Pictish Chief, 218. Gabaon, 507. Gall (foreigners), first so called in Ireland, 154. Gallic Britain, 429, 430, a. e. Galways. — See O'Galway's. Gal (8t'.), Irish. Gaul Armoric, its extent, 429. Geishel, battle of, ^nd where, 112. Gilgesia, mother of St. Fursey. Giraldus Cambrensis, passim. Giants' Causeway. 5taII, seAll, the difference, 108. German tribe, 508. Geraldines, 130, 262, a. e. Gesta Hibernorum. Glen, knight of, 143, 144. Gobeneta (St.), 175. . ' Gog and Magog, 73. Gold, fetters made of in Ireland formerly, pref. Sit, rings made of, pref. 35, abundance of in Ireland formerly, pret. 35, 36. Gollamh, (Goll»y,) 102* t Gormaastown, Earl, 322: Grarea, Ber. James, Kilkenny 222. Grange Melon, near Athy, 320. Grsscia Magna, proof that the less country is called " great," whilst the "parent" one is not. Greek poets, knowledge of, useful for reading Irish buds, because of an affinity, 97, 233, a. e. Greek poets, practice of^ same as of the Irish, 100. Greek and Irish compared, 107, e.p. Gunboats. Guth ar d-igheama, corruptly gorti-y em means "language of one God," as he spoke to Adam. ■■ m Hanmer, 235, a. e. Ham, or Cham, 71. 78. Harris' Irish writers, 312. Helen, 126. Heber, 79, 80, a. e. Heber, Heber Scott, 77. Heber Olunfionn, bom, 204. Hemans, Mrs.p ref, 29. Henry II., the sancticide, 239, 240, 241. Henry I., his ill^itimate sons and. concubines, 240. Heredotus' notion of the origin of the Scythians, 83. His ciolum- nies of them refuted, 198. His ignorance of their topography, 198. His opinion of their great civilization, 82, 83 Heremon's accession as sole mo- narch — the battle between him and Heber — when and where fought, 113. Heinschenius, 462, a. e. He^peria (Spain), note on 101 — ^2. Heremon, 220. Henry VIII., hangs six of the Geraldines, 322—3. Henry VII., proscribes Irish lan- guage ; in his reign the Earl of Kildare burns the Church of Cashel, 322. , Hieronyraus, 33. Hirtius (quoted^, 437. f. ,-. - ■ 8 Hieres, islands of, 4d5. Histoiy of Conflication in Binning. . ham Tower, 30ft. EUot of James I., to butoh» Pa- pists, SÚ8.,' Hibernia Dominicana, 312, 313. Horace, alludes to the wealth of Mygdonia, S3. " Holy Tower." a city, e. p. Holy Orders, Fiech's and deagh< nail's hymn, 484, 508. Homer's Method, same as Irish bards, 108, 109. Hospitality violated, 324. Holy Cross, 432. Holy Castle, 432, e. p. • Howth, Hill of, 1 5 Í Hume, 310. Hugh (a quo Keogh, MacK^eogh. MacAogh, MacHughes, Hughes), the Fistsucker, king, 125. Hugh O' Flaherty, father of the au- thor of " Ogygia," 306. I, how sounded, note, c, 78. Iberia, Ibernia, 196. lar, Connaught, 305. laxartes, 196. Ibaru» (Ivar), St. of Big Erin, Wexford, e., p. Icius Portus, 43Í3. Idolatry of primitive Irish, 115. Ikerin, 320. lUeach Neid (in Derry), where Ith met the sons of Carmody, 208. Inchiquin drags priests from under the altars and murders them, put 3,000 to the sword in the Church of Cashel, 150. Inchiquin (O'Brien), the church burner, 305. Inis na Ghoill, in Lough Corril, 305, a.. e. '. ' Inishowen, Lord of, 73. Insurrection of Sir Phelim, 73. Injustice, England's Bar to Union of the two nations, 68. Insurrections, three great, 306. Innocent, Pope, see Rinuccini. Interpolation of passages in " Dir- ge," 130. Interpretation(different,of words). Ir, born near Thrace, 221. Ireland, several names of ; its se- veral colonies ; the dates of their arrival ; their chiefs ; the dura- tion of their time in the island^ &c., Ac., p., 178 to 228. Ireland : BOute of tbe Milesians or Gadelians fromScythia to Africa (see map 192)their return home' their route back again by the Caápian Sea { the Kur or Cyrus river ; through the defile of the Moscheek Mountains by the ri- ver Phasis into the Eusine or Black Sea ; their visit to their re- latives, the Goetoe or Goths, and DahOe north of it ; their return by the Black Sea, the sea of Mar- mora, into the ^gean Archipe- lago, by Crete to JEgypt, their having perfected some of their party in their arts and sciences which their ancestor, NiuU, had introduced thereto ; their depar- ture thence to Greece ; thence by the South of Italy, Sicily, througe the Pillars of Hercules ; thpir coastiag along the western shores before their landing in Gallicia, the north-western part of Spain ; the final migration of a colony of them, thence to Ire- land ; the names of their leaders, the plaoe of their landing, and the divisions they made of the is- land, &c. &c., p. 192 to 221. Ireland's Apostles, interesting list of. . . 'i . Irish Brigade, 155. ■ - : Irish Poets, their custom much like that of the Greeks, lt)l. Irish and Greek collated, 101, e. p. Irish and Latin, collated, 102 — 3, e. p. Irishmen ought to be united, 114, a. e. Irish and French pronunciation alike, 92, a. e. Ireland, genuineness of the history of pref, 32, not peculiarly ad- dicted to division, see prdP. 42, 44, 44, c, Chaistian Kings of, pref. 44, 45. Iran of Persia where situated, 80 a. e. " Italian'' and Irish collated, 100. Israel ; meaning of explained '^i«»í;^."Sy'- 9 St. Jerome, and " Speckled Book." Ireragh, 164, a. e. • ;. ■ J.: "■■'. /■. Japhet, 66, 11. Jove, 77. Justin's opinion of Scythic cÍTÍza- tion, 18. K. Keating, Reverend Doctor, O'Mahony's in America, best translation of, 33, his interpre- tation of Scotia, 84. Kilkenny, 320. Kildare. 320. Knocktua, 233. Kelly, Rev. M., Maynooth, 475, 418, 486, a. e- Keogh, the tribe of, 174. L.. Languages, advantages of, pref. 5. Language, Irish not dependant on any foreign, pref. 5. Iranian Irish given by God to Adam, 80. Latin. Greek, Hebrew, and Irish, taught by Niul, 189, 190. Labineau, (quoted,] 436, 459. Leinster, Duke of, 158. Leland, 169, 150, 321, a. e. Lhadir-Cormac,(Mac-Carthy,) 347. Lheaabhar Breac, ("Speckled Book,") 441, e. p. 1 Limbo, 69. Loghlin, (Denmark,) 125. Loghlin, (O,) passim. Loogh Lane, 1725. "Liber hymnorum," quoted, Prtrick's birth place, proven from a passage in it, also expla- nation of 3rd. stanza, of Fiech's hymn, 441. a. e. Lucas, Sir Thomas, 326. Ludbw's Memoirs, and a. e. 168, 150, a. e. Luaghne, (father of one of the Brendans,) 237. Lughmoe, Baron, 320. Maoretania 260. B M. Mamore, Mec Coill, Mac Caeacht. Mac Griene. MilveuU Moore, the poet, 201— 9.;/>,!i« ./ • . -/ Maghlth, 208. Magog, father of Bath, (Baa,) settled north of the Caspain ; Sts. Augustine, Jerome, and, amongst modern writers, Boc- hart think so, 210. Mac Gurtin, 214, 221, 228. Mac Cullinan, king of Cashel, says the same, 214. Mac Murrough, (O'Murphy.) 237, 240. Mac Patrick, 221. Mac Guires, (Maguires,) 107, e, p. 287, a. e. Mac Aliens, of Edinburgh, 230, 230. Mac Hale, Most Rev. John, Arch- bishop of Tuam, pref.454 and e. Mile, Easpaine. Mantan, 204,20^. Milesius, 90, 199, e. p. Moses and Ninl of the same time, 192, 193 Moschici montes,- Marshal, Mela, 196, 197. Moore quoted on discord, 209. More, the African chief; 312. Monmouth, Geoflfry of, 214, says Britaon, Maol gave name to the Britons. Moghflnna, 222. Morini, 429, &c., 438. Morinorum Castellum, 4*29, 430. Mygdonia, the County of Mygdon, brother of Hercula, Priam'a queen. 210, 211. Marianus Scotus, (quoted,) 192. Malabranque, (reters to Chronicon Morinense.) 433, 455. Martin, St., of Tours, e. p., Mosheim quoted on language. Maclovius, (quoted,) M'Crobons, (Crogbans,) in Connaught, 466. Macaille, (Mac Hale,) St., of Ros- common, 472. Mocthens, of Louth, St 475 ' Mochay, St., of Antrim, 475. Mayo, school of, e. p. 476 M'Finnan, M'Finnan Duff, 112. Malmesbury, 480. Mass, sacrifice of, 132 — 3. a.e Mac Carthy, 137. 10 MacDonne^s,151,and note in Dirge Mac Walter, Calvagh, 3JI. Mac Donough, (Mac Cartfay) 160, 161, a.e. Mallow, 160. Mac Mahon, of Monahan, 139. Mac Donough, of Ceaeh, 140 — 1. Mac Dermotts, of Moy burgh, 140. Mac Guire, 139. Mac Donnelli, of Mayo, 141, 142. Mac DonnellSjOf Antrim, 142. Mac Donough, of Duhallow, 161. Maj^nire, Rev. Canon, pref. 37. ?Jacnaniara, 228, 175. Mac Cartliy Mor, 161. Mac Carthy, Rev. Daniel, May- nooth, 162. Mary, Virgin, 175. Ma(! Mahons. of Clare, -33. Mac Egan, Bishop of Elphin Cloyne, and Ross, murder of, see dirge, 165. Mac Carthy Mor, The, 270. Marne 430. Mac Guires, of Fermanagh, 270, tortures, death of, 272. Mac Hugh, or Hughes, 293, a. e. Mac Sweenys, 143, 290, 240—3. Mac Mahon, Patrick. Esq., M. P., 291. Mac Manus, 293. Mac Murrough's return with his English robbers, 127, 239. Mac Mahon, Heber, bishop, 312. Mary, Queen, (Catholic,) treats us badly, 523, a. e. Mel, of Ardagh, St., 475, e. p. Milton, (quoted.) Milcho, 117. Miracles of Patrick, at 49 stanza of dirge : his glory, 486 — 8—9, a. e. Michael, (Fort,) St.. described, the modern naraeof Cnoc Heremond. Miletus, south of Troy, 232. Milesians, objections colony answered, pref. 407. Michael, Archangel, 171. Milesiad landing, variation time, note on, 104 — 5. Morrison, quoted, 331. Mountgarret, Lord, 320. Monarchy, Irish adhesion to, our own opinion upon, 139. of of Mountjoy, 331. Moores, (not the O'Moores, 157. Moore, or O'Moore's opinion about Milesian Invasion, 104. Morryson's (Father,) Threnodia, 299. Mamonia, 104, of Heber, e. p. Moore, (O') G. H., Esq., M. P., 306. Montmorency, 240. Montmaurice, iohumanity of, 240. Muratori, 479 e. p. Murray, Most Rev. Daniel, Arch- bisliop of Dublin, pref. Munster, its derivation, 165. Muskerry, Lord, (Mac Carthys,) 232r Murtegh,(Roe,) of Moycullen, 304. who so called, 305, its privileges, Muinamhon, King of Ireland, A.M. 3370, made helmets with neck and forepart all of Gold, pref. 34. MuUaghmast, massacre of, 324 to 332, Dr. O'Donnvan's account of Butchery of refuted, 324 to 332. Murderers of Charles, great plun- der of, Ormond shared it, 149, 150, 151. Muinach, St., 173. Murrougb, or O'Murphy, 1 10. Munster Christianity of (before Patrick), 234. Ailbe, Declan Ibar, or Ivar, Kyrian, or Cyrian. N. ... . N, sound of, before G. 5 a.e. Nathy of Achonry, 479. Names of places, proof of antiquity, 104. •Nati) rAi). iw>te upon 81. N em Tur (false translation of), 430. Neustria (its derivation).. 433. Nennius, 459. Nesta, daughter of King of Wales, concubine of Heary I., 127. Supposed mother of Lying Barry, (see Clarke's notes on . Dirge) ; nrarried (after being rejected by Henry) to other husbands, la- thers of the sinful spawn that polluted our holy island, 127, and 240. ■-\^ff:-- -'-i'; Í---; --•*^ít\r*'írTZK -^iJfW^J^- u Nelson, Rev., (Protestant) quoted, 150. Nicholson, Dr., (Protestant) pref., 29. -.-:,.-. .,;;,,. . Nimrod, 73. : NisnenoTogorod, New England, 203. Nial of the nine hostages, 291 . Nimrod's Tower, 77. Niul son of Fennius, 81. Note, important on Idth stanza, 79. Noah, 66—69. Norway, 218—219. Numerals note upon 78 — 9. Nuadha Airgiodlamh(Nooa Argid- lawn), 216. Nua Sneacht, why so called, 1 10, when King, 1 10, his Tictory over O'DriscoU, 110. Nun, (a man's name). O. O'Donoghue The, M.P. 342. O'Brennans of Ulster, 221, 227, 228. O'Brennans of Connaught, 222, 227,228. O'Brennans of Leinster, 221, 223, 224-25. O'Brennans of Thomond, 228. O'Brennans, Kerry, 221, 223, a. e. O'Brien's Castles, 305. O'Byrnes (The) of Kanelagh, 308. O'Brennan or Brendan (St.) of Kerry, 236. O'Brien's (Kings) of Thomond, 346. O'Brien's " Dictionary," 347. O'Bojle, 228, a. e. O'Brien, Dr. (quoted), 225, 227, e. p. O'Brien, family, 228. O'Byme, 248-9, «50-1 . O'Brennan (Roscommon), anec- dote of, 226. O'Connell, Richard, Bishop, in- hum^in murder of, with his horse's bridle by the demon regicides, 33, 232 OConnell, John, bishop, author of Dirge, pref. 59, 60, a. e. O'Caranagh, 221, a. e. O'Connors (Leinster), 147, a. e. 0*Connor-Kerry,Rev.C. J-, Sandy ford, Dublin, pref. 7, 232. O'Connor (of Connaught) King at Clontarf, 125. O'Connells of Kerry, 221. O'Connors of Kerry, 221, 229 to 304. O'ConnorFaly, 221. 291. O'Connorof Meath, 221, 293. ,; O'Connor of Sligo, 291 , 298. O'Connor of Roscommon, 295-6.8, the several families, and the names of the heads, 295-6. O'Connor, the historian, 291, 298, a. e. O'Cane, The, calumny about, re- futed, 285-6. O'Conry, Malachy — Archbishop — elect — of Tuam. O'Connor's " Historyof Catholics," 3 8 O'Cavanaghs, 146, 143, 240, 245, 249, a.e. O'Connor-Sligo. 291 O'Crevin, 165, 289. O'Connor, Roe. Teige og of Ros- common, hanged, 298. O'Connor-Kerry, John, inhuman murder of, 299. O'Connell (Immortal), Memoirs, 151. O'Connell's contempt of Catholics mistaken loyalty. O'Callaghans (J. C), work, 155. O'CaUaghans, 161. O'Canes, 107, 228, 285-6, a. e. O'Conallin, 'i28. ; O'Creagh, 228. O'Connor Faly, origin of name of, pref. 35. Odan (St.). Ochlad, a wood in Mayo. 484. O'Duffy, 221. O'Donnell, King of Ireland A D 603,231. O'DriscoUs, O'Dearys, O'CofFeys descended of Ith, 307—10, a- e, O'Donovan, Dr. John, quoted. 448, 138, 324. O'Deasv, Rd Esq., M.P., Q. C 234, O'Donnell, Hugh, the Great and u Victorious, his speech. 241 to 291 . O'Deisics, 120, 234-5. O'Donnell, Red Hugh, prophecy respecting, 296. O'Dojle, 228, a.e. O'Donnegan, 346. O'Deasy, Colonel, 154. O'Donoghue, Geoffrey.of the glens, 166. O'Dunlevi, 229, a.e. ODalys, 48, 163. 228, a.e» O'Duan, 228. O'Connell (Kings of Tyrconnellj, 228, a. e. O'Dunne, 291. O'Dempsey, 290. O'Darcy, 166, 228 0*Donnelly8, 107, e. p. O'Dogherty, 107, e. p., 145, e. p. O'Flahertys "Ogygia" (quoted), 222. 228, 306, e. p. O'Flaherty of lar-Connaught, 304, 305. O'Fynn, 165. O'Flanagan, * • Irish Writer, ' ' (quoted), 120. Ogygia, 84, 182, 306, a. e. Ogham Oiham, 183, 230. O'Gallways, 293. O'Gara (St.), 165. O'Gradys, 282. O'Gallagher, 228, a. e. O'Grady ,Hugh, 228.. O'Hay (Hayes), 228. O'Hagan, 228. O'Horan, 228. O'Halloran (quoted), 47, 221, 227, e. p. 323. O'Hanlys, 222. O'Heerin, 228, a.e. Oige, 204. OilioU OUum, 228. Oka O'Flaherty, 84. O'Horan. 228 O'Kelly, Malachy— Archbishop of Tuam, his execution. 312. O'Keefe, 161. Ollamh Fodhla, pref. 23. O'Leyne, Dr., 159. O'Moores, 306-7, a. e. O'Moore (The), of Leix, 306. O'Moores (Eory), wheat, X 10,000 destroyed, 331 . O'Mahonys, 154, a. e. O' Mulligan, 228. O'Mulconry, Archp. of Tuam, 275-7. O'Neills (Sir Fhelim), cause of his reigning, 310-11. O'NeU, Henry, Esq., artist on crosses, pref. 36. O'Neills (Kings of Tyrone), 228, 138, 167, 285, 306-7-8. O'Quin, Cormac, pref. 23. O'Reilly (the true name of Sir W. Raleigh), n. 210. O'ReUlys " Irish writers," 236. O'Rourke, 286-7. Onhond relieves regicides, 313; he aids atrocities of Cootes, 320 ; he deserts Dublin to Jones, 320. 0-ReiUy. O'Rourke, 141,269. O'Ryan, 221. O'Rorys (O'Rogers), 107. Ossory, 235, e. p. Ossory, bishop of, A.D. 1643, 316. O'Sullivan Beare's country, slaugh- ter in, babes taken by the legs, their brains dashed out against the walls, 150. a. e. O'Sullivan Don (quoted) 264 a. e. O'Toole, 249. Otidus ; Odisus, 485. Owen Mor (King of Munster), 228. P. Patriarchs, their ages, mystic.his- tory of the names, 183. Pausanias, 197. Partholan, arrives about 300 years, A. F. A. M. 1978, 210 ; his people perish, 211. Patrick (St.), Apostle of Ireland, his birth place; 429. The Theory of the Royal Irish Academy over- thrown,his existence, his life, by St. Fiech, his life, by St. Seach- nall, first coming to Ireland, 1 18. Patrick (St.), on language, 465. Parsons, Sir, L.,(late Earl of Ross) pref.32, ancestors of, oppressors, p. 32, Palladius (St.) 429, a. e, Papebrock, 450. Passive verbs, how formed, a rule 102, 103, a. e. Partition of Eire, first 107. Palladius, 124. IS "Parliamentary Records," 149, Parliament of Dublin. 1689, O'Moore of Majo ; sat at, 807. Pale, 301. Pentateuch, by Moses, 14. Peloponesus, 217. Persia or Iran when defeated, 80. Petrus de Natalibus. 465. Peter, Paul, 171. Petrie, Dr. 379 a.e. Peter's (St.), dignity, Patrick's rank. 514 Petty, W. S., 310. Peronne, in Picardy, 351. Persecution creates union, 125. Persecution of Prelates and Priests, 137—8-9, 309—310. Peers and Prelates with the Nuncio, 316. Fharoah visits Niul, the CHlav, 83 : his host drowned, what year &c., &c., 85. Pharoah Nictonibus, 206. Phelim (Felim, St.), 173. Picarde, 430, Picts (Cruthini), Cretani, 231. Pillar with ensanguined roll, 139. Pling, 297, 210. Plunkett, John, inhuman murder of his twelve sons, 156. Plunkett, liichard. Scholar of Meath. 501 Plunkett (family of), 135—6. Polyphemus, 73. Portugal, 204. Pomponius Mela, 210—211. Policarnus, Picts, Pictarium, Poic» tiers, 218, 219. Portus Jecius. 429. Potitus, (grandfather of Patrick), 446. Powers Pedigree of in 2nd vol 158. Power, James, Sir D. L., for Wexford, 158. Poets not bound by rules of syntax, persons ignorant of poetic license impair the beauty of Irish. Pope Adrian, an Englishman, 129, 239 Powers, 155—158. Probus, 479 e. p. Procopius. 466 . Priests murdered in Cashel, 150. Pronunciation of Irish, 5, 69-108, 177, a. e. Protestants, massacre of, refuted, 310. Proof of that author of "Dirge" was a bishop, 123, and language of, 169, and stanza CXUI.— See also p. 69. 335. Prostration of England, a jusi judgement, 308. < Prestons, 313. Protestant superstition, 349. Psalter of Cashel, 35, a. e. Psalms of David, Apocalypse. Ptolemy, 210. Purcells, 159. Puritans, or Covenanters, 313, a. e> *• Quidnuncs " (the) " Doubt every things ;" the modem Pynhos, al- luded to, 109, a. e. Quarrel (first), amongst the Irish Mileuans, 112—113. Raleighs rectius (O'ReiUys), 151. Raleigh, Walter Sir, 202—210, 213, a. e. Raleigh, Walter Sir, 202 a.e. Rapin (quoted) 310. " Reforma- tion" described, 132 to 137, A. As a. e., Cobbetts opinion of, 132. Reformers, licentious habits of, 132, 133, 134, 135., a. e. Regionarius Episcopus, Reyulares Exempti 454 Renown of tne Irians, 105, 107, e p. Religion, Catholic, great persecu- tion of, pref. 34. 150 a.e. Relative pro, ellipses of, explained, 113.- Restitutus. 508 Reynolds, 141, 287. Red Branch Knights, pref. 15. Rhetoric useful to preserve beauty of Irish poetry, 97. Rifloir welcomes Milesius on his return from Spain, to Scythia, Milesius* return to Spain, Seang, calls Scota his wife, his sons by her, 206. 14 Riphean Hills 202, 217. niada Dal, explained. 111. Binuccini, 311, his letters, 314 to 320. Rices, 157. /* ' Rosamond the Fair. 138. . Roches, 157. a. e. Round Towers, their use, 201, 353 to 427. Royal Irish Academy, 215, e. p. RoscomiDon, county of. 434. Rod of Moses, 482. Roth, Bishop of Ossory, asserts the virtue of St. Patrick's Staff, as does Barry of Wales 482. Rosse's (Lord) censure of Mac- Pherson the plagiarist, 230 and preface. Rothachaigh, monarch, chariots first made in reign of, pref. 35. Romans unahle to conquer Scythia, 106. Ross Castle, Killamey, 347. Ruadanus (Ruan), St., 351. Rushworth's " Historical Collec- tions," 520. Rnaeus (Jesuit), quoted. Rule for genitive case, 1 72, a. e. Ruadh — righ (Rooaree) clann, ex- plained, gref.,35. Rule for double consonants, 98. Radricians, prefl, p. 35, a. e. S. Saigar, Ciarau of, his prayer for Ireland, note e 53 stanza. Sarmatia, a description of Sevas- topol, 168, 198. Sarsfield, 291. Sallust (quoted) 295. Scholiast of Fiech 487, a. e. Scota, called after Scythia, 189, v. 19. Scotia, derived from " Scythia," n. 84. "Scythia" (ancient), its exact situation, 81, 84. Scythia, its University (where built), 80. Scylla, Spain, 89, 90, 91. Scythians, founders of Parthian and Bactrian empire, 106. Sclavonian Goths, 207. , j Scotch Britons. 432. '^.1,.,. Scythians and Darius. .V ^" ScythiaAntiqua, Sarmatia Atttfqua, Sarmatica Asiatica, Sarmatia Europea, 196, 197, 198. Seachnall's hymn (quoted), his hymn his life, the doctrine of the Catholic Church on the seven sacraments, proven from the poem, celibacy of the clergy ,508. Seanagh (Sionagh) St. of Mayo. Sechtmaidhe, 441 , ■ '/ , Segenius, Abbot of Hy. Segetius (priest), who at the desire of St. German, accompanied St. Patrick to be consecrated in Rome. 480 Seligher, Sclavonia, Samothracian deities, 202, 80. Servius Tullius. 480 Senuphius, Hermit (torn cloak ot). Senanus (St.), 172. •' Sh," how to pronounce it in Irish, 81,5. Shannon, 2;-7, a. e. ' Shannit aboo 145. Shenaar, Niul's birth duringFarsa's stay there, his return thence to meet the seventy- two .Delegates after their tour to collect lan- guages, his founding the Uni- versity. Error relative to, 189, 190. Shem, 71. Shipping, facility of, proof, 54 to 56. Sigebert. 480 . " :n v •! Sixtus,(Pope,and other placesLllB Simplicity of Irish verbs, 100 to 103. Sletty (Sleibhte), territory of. 491 Slaney, Wexford, Scotland, Spain, 218, 219, 220. '• Slan tuaith," note upon. 499 Smith's History of Kerry, 186, a. e., 299, 349, a. e. Sound of At), 65-6, a. e. Spratt John, Very Rev,, D. D., Dublin, 25, a. e. Spencers (Poet), plan of subduing Ireland, 331 . Stanza, 94, game of, explained. Strabo, 77, 196, 371, e. p., Statius, 15 Stat, 207. Strategy of tlie Gadelians, 209. Stanza (pronounced in RomaQ type), 69, 108, 176, 177. Stniingfleet481. Staff of Jusus, its virtue 482. Stow, Chronicle of, says in A.D., 73, Ireland colonized Albania or Scotland, 231. Strongbow and his band of Royal bastards, 239-40. Stuarts Royal, faithless, 347, a. e. Staatius, 157. St, Leger, Wm., abominable sa- vage act of, 150; offers to extir- pate all Papists, Idl. Summary of the various colonies, 210. Suetonius (quoted) 482. Substitution of one letter for ano- ther considered. Succat (St. Patrick) 484. Suck, 237. Sndden conversion of the Irish, reason of the, 238. Supremacy Spiritual, 339. Surrender of Boss Castle, 349. Supples, Shubecks, 159. Sussex (2). • Sussex, Earl of, 324, 325. Swift, Dean. Swilly, 146. Sybil of Carrigaleah, 232. Sydney, 239 a.e. T Tailtean (Telton), 103, 104. Taaffe (quoted), 323, a. e. Tankardstown (Standard), battle. Tartars, 155. Tanais, or Don, or Tane, 204, 205. Tait, Tobal, or Tubal, 204, 205. Tartary Independant and Western, 205. Tailte, daugher of Mamore, King of Spain, 207, Tailtean, or Telton, near Kells, Meath, 207. Taberna ; used in Connexion with the Romans in Gauls. Tabernae, Rhenanae, Rhin Zaberu, 439. Tabemse Triboccorum (Saveme), 439. Tacitus (quoted), 439, e. p. Tabernacles (Jewish), 440. Tassagh St. (Bishoj)), a Goldsmith, temple (quoted), 310. Test of Christianity, by Laoghaire» 119. Tea, wife of Heremon, 220. Terouenne (Tarvenna), Tarvana, 433-4. Texier. Telemaque, (quoted). Teaching, and bestowing body of the Lord, distinction between. Thales, the Astronomer, 232. Thucydides, 211, 89, e. p. Therma, the capital of Mygdonia, Cicero's place of exile, 211. Thrace, 204, TiUn, 73. , Tir Oilill, SUgo, 220. Tugharagh, King, pref. 37. Tighemagh (Annalist), e. p. iork or Turk, Lord Kenmare's, 130. Toleration mutual, 114, a. e. ; re- ligious, 323, a. e. Tours (not Patrick's birth-place), 429-30, e. p. Todd (Doctor), 441. Towns (origin of), 430. Trant, 83. Tralee, 232, a. e. Tripartite, on Sletty. '• Trinity " Trench, Archdeacon, pref. 29. Tuam, Archdeacon of, 351, a. e. Tuatha Foidha (Thooha Feeha), 216, 219. Tyrrhenean (or Tuscan sea). TJ. " Ua» Ui" equal O (Son), 166. Uige, 204. Ui Bruinn (of Connaught), 21, 222, 223. Ulysses, 204. Ulidia (Ulster men of), Ir, 107, and elsewhere. Ulmn, 305. Universities of Ireland, a:id other places, and pref, 475 16 Union, its good effect, 114. (Uniyersity) first one, 82. ' npa,203. Usher, Dr. of Armagh, pref. 32 ; 442, e. p. Valdai HiUs, Volga, Velika Re- ka, 196. Variation of the time of the of Mi- lesian Invasion, explained, 9R. 104 -215 to 21 9. Verbs (Irish) as in French, active translated passively. Vergobretus (in Caesar), an Irish term, 430. Visogoths, 207. Virgil (quoted), 642. e. p. Vico TabemisB (explained). „ Villanueva, Rev., 25, and St. SeachnaU's hymn. Vincentius.Beauvais, quoted, note, on. Victor (Patrick's familiar angel), e. p. Vindication of Keating and Mac- Curtin's computation, e. p., 96, 104 215 to 219. Virtue of primitive Scythians at- tested by Justin and Herodotus (enemies of them), 106. Virgin Blessed Mary, invoked by the O'DonneU, 265— 6. Vienna, 155. W. Waldensei, Irish people, 465. Wales, 214 Waterford Diocess, 233, atrocity of English at 240. Ware, Sir James, 350—351, e. p. Warner, Rev. Dr., quoted, on same, 310, 77, and a. e. Wadding, Father, 312. Walsh, (Walsh Mountains), 240, 320, a. e. Walsh Friar, the corrupt, 150, a. e. Wealth of Ireland (see preface),a. e. Wexford, 240, 320, a. e. Western northerns, of Heremon. Wild's (Chief Baron) persecuting spirit, 308. Wicklow, 320. William's times, 153. Wormius (on language). 220. Words in Italics (see note), a. e. "Works good," a. e., Patrick St., rewarded for them, 450, 480. Wormius (on alleged massacre of Protestants) quoted, 310. Wrights •• Ireland," 28, and 239. Wretches, who renounced religion, 131. " • ,Z. Zenolxis, the philosopher, taught the Scythians the immortality of the soul, 207. Zeal of Irish convert Kings, 236, e. p. Zopyrion. Alexander's general de- feat of by Scythians 106. LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 941,5 0b61s2 V.2 MOflCCr nSluni of mww ■! Ubmy MfltwWsl Tm MMmuni F99 for iLoalBeok toMLOO. The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Thafl, lb HMf mull in dtamisai ea» THw p ho t n CwHw. 333 M OO UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS UBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMRMGN n f£b Í - 193a QO LI6I— O-1096 ^^^Ci^' -^^- ^jief^yt^^^^y^'^^- ^^ ^^rA^Ji-^^ui A SCHOOL HISTORY OF IRELAID, FROM THE DAYS OF PARTHOLAN TO THE PRESENT TIME: DERIVED -^ From the Works of the best native Authors ; and Foreigners, who wrote on and published matters, having reference to «THE ISLAND OF SAINTS AND OF LEARNED MEN;" BUT E8FECIALLT From " The Annals of the Four Masters," Keating, Mac Curtin, Mac Geoghegan, O'Halloran, Lanigan, O'Sullivan, Archdeacon Lynch, Lodge's Peerage, " Hibernia Dominicana," by de Burgo, bishop of Ossory, Pacata Hibemia, " Ireland's Case Stoted," Carte's Ormond, " Taaffe," Clarendon's Rebellion, &c.. Baker's Chronicle, Ware, Archdall, Carlyle, Bede, Rapin, •• Remains of Japhet," Ogygia, Walker's Bards, O'Connor's Dissertations, Liber Hymnorum, The Bollandists, Curry's Review, History of the World, Bede, Lingard, Book of Rights, &c. In this volume are the most important events of Irish History — The Pedigrees of nearly every family in Ireland. Proofs that the Popes never gave a Bull to Henry 11. — A Map of the travels of the Milesians to Ireland. VOLUME II. elite, njo cifife pefp cu. Civ ceAt^c A5Ati) óuicre. SECOND EDITION. DUBLIN : PRINTED FOR AND PUBLISHED BT MARTIN A. O'BRENNAN, LL.D, Mernbir of the Honorable Society of Queen^s Inru, 57, BOLTON-STREET. Of whom the work can be had. Entered at Statio^^ Hall. #f CONTENTS. Preface, iii. and iv. Map of the travels of the Milesians. Origin of the Milesian», page 1. Different names of Ireland, p. 9. Description of the island from foreign authors, 13. Produce and weatb, IS. Character of the people and the island, 21. Antiquity of the Scoto-Milesians, 25. History of tbe Gadeiians, 33, 66. Nemediaiis. Firbolgs their arrival in Ireland, 39. Tuatha de Dana&ns, 34. Religion of the Mile- sians, and trade, manners, habits, dress of the earl; Irish, 38 to 45. Their government, 45. AVarlike practices and weapons. Earl; division of the island Into kingdoms and provinces, 52. Heber, Heremon, Ir, 53. Cathaoir M6r ( Caheen More J, 57. Oilioll Ullum, Eugene the Great, Conary II., 58. Cormac O'Quinn, Louis Mac Conn (or Mac Caenn) Fergus, &c., 59. The Callas and ■' Niall of the nine HosUges," 60. Fleet of Niall, and king Datby, 63. Usher, Ware, and Colgan on Christianity in Ireland in the time of Dathy. 64. Scotia Mi^or, Scotia Minor, 66. Divisions of Ireland into districts by the Firbolgs, again by tha Milesians, 6S. Pedigree of all the Milesian families, not one omitted that could be made out. Northern By-Nialls, 68. Connaught Here- monians, 69, 70. Descendants of Ir,71. Southern Hy-Nialls, Heremonians of Lein- ster, 71,72. Heberians of Munster, 72. Descendants of Cormac-Cas, Eugene the Great, and of Cian, 73, 73. Descendants of Ith, 74. The O'Connors of the different parts of Ireland, 74— 5. The term» " Stuiruter," " CUenn," » Sial,'' TeaUeach, Hy, O, Mac, duel, explained, 75. Territories of the ancient tribes, 76 to 84. St. Patrick, sketch of his life and mission, 84 to 96. Reigning princes, 97. State of religion before the Danish invasion. Saints Scholars, and Churches, &c. 108 to 112. Invasion of the Danes, 112. Bishops who attended O'Kennedy, king of Thomond, 1!^0. Brien Boroimbe (BoriveyJ 124. Council of Eells, Cardinal Paparo, 135. Council of the church at Limerick, 136. Pretended Bull of Adrian, &c. Arguments showing that such was lorged by Benry II, 136 to 143. Ensmsh Ihtasion, 149. Tara of old, its palaces. Par- liament, Ac. COATS of ARMS of early Irish, WEAPONS and KNIGHTS, Stanihurst's character of tlie bravery of the Irish, and the swiftness of their horses, 164. Eminent writers and poetry of Ireland at the English Invasion, 167. Vivian, the Apostolic Delegate, tells the Irish to resist the English, 170-149. Pedigrees of the Anglo-Irish, 177, and in first vol. Death of Donogh O'Brien, King of Limerick, 187. English colony of Dublin, 189. Quarrels of the Settlers, 190. Florence Mac Finn, Ab. of Tuaiu, and eminent Uarned men 193; Defeat of tbe Anglo Irish, 195. Success of Bruce, 196. Penal laws against the Irish, 203. Learning of Ireland, 206. " Statute of Kilkenny,'' ptnal agair.st the Irish, 209. Struggle of the native chiefs. 212-3, &c. Tbe O'Moores. O'Byrnes, and O'Neills resist English tyranny ; massacre of the Irish by the English, 217. Learned men, 218. William St. Laurence and Robert Barnwell, the two first barons in Ireland, 223. Intestine wars of England, 223. Simnel and War- beck pretenders to the crown of England, 224. Sir Edward Foyning ; 8 Anglo-Irish barons support the pretender, 226. Poyning's law, O'Hanlon, MacGennis, 227. Battle of Knock Tua, 229. Feud of Ormond and Kildare, SSI. Of MacCartby and Desmond, £33. Suppression of Monasteries by Wolsey, 235. " The Reformation,'' 239. Ezecu» tion of the Geraldines, 245. Escape of the surviving member of the family to France, Brown, the apostate Archbishop of Dublin, 347. Confiscation of Church property, 249. Titles of Honor, 251. First earl of Thomond, earl of Clanrickard, 253. Edward YL, p. 255. Confiscation of Leix and Offaley, 263. Reign of Elizabeth, 265. Connaught Into counties, 2C9. Printing in Irish characters. 273. Cruelty of Cosby and Ormond, struggles of the native chiefs, &c. &c., 275. The Spaniards in Ireland, 279 to 81. Persecution of Catholic ecclesiastics. Tbe names of tbe confederated chiefs against Protestant intolerance, 288. It is scarcely necessary to give a table of contents as the reader will find printed at the top of the pages the remarkable facts in Irish history. PREFACE. Ví:> It was to me, for a long time, a source of regret, that no " School History of Ireland," written by one, who knew the language, manners, and habits of the people, was in the hands of our youth. It is true, there were books, purporting to be abridgments for Schools, but the chief matter in them had reference to other countries. This I thought anomalous. If a pupil is to be taught English history he can read " Ldngard'a, by James Burke, Esq.," but, for a knowledge of his own country, he should have a work, containing, as much as possible, Irish events. I have said "as much as possible," for two reasons. Firstly — because the ground- work of Irish history was either destroyed by the Danes, Normans ; and Protestants in the 16tb century, or was carried away to the Continent by the Catholic clergy and nobility, who fled from persecution, and is now mouldering under the dust of foreign colleges. In the court of Denmark, I am satisfied, are the most important manuscripts of our ancestors. Se* condly — because I am convinced that the' brightest eras of our history, arts, and sciences, were before Christianity, — (the Tuatha de Danaans being the mo£t learned people that ever were in Ireland) — and the works of those davs having mixed up in them principles and practices of Paganism, were burned by the first missionaries, who, as not thoroughly understanding the native tongue, consumed what was good or harmless as well as what was immoral. Hence I may say that we have but little materials for a regular history, if I except church affairs. For an ecclesiastical work we have rich and abundant materials, such as no nation on earth can lay claim to. But as regards secular history, it might be safely penned, that we have not, at our disposal, documents from which to compose one. The deeds are yet to be achieved to form the foundation of such a thing. The records of the noble achievements of the early colonists were made away with by their successors ; and from the arrival of the English up to this day there has been an effort on their part, to annihilate ancient documents, which would stimulate youth to noble deeds, to rival their forefathers, and to make them feel that they were, by divine right, bom to freedom. Instead of these, spurious books, calculated and intended to make them suppose, that they were inferior to their taskmasters, were given them. When I was a child, *' along" books, written in England, apt to impress us with the notion that our ancestors were robber» vaá freebooters, because they dared to assert their natural rights, were circulated ; legends were framed by lying scribes, and bribed novelists (and it is so still), to debase the tender minds of Catholic youth, forcing them to hug the chains of slavery, and to burn the brand more deeply into their souls. The descendants of the royal blood of Ireland were described as barbarous brutes, fit only to be shot down, and Catho- lies as unworthy of credit on their oath. To remedy this scandal to morals and religion, to make youth love the old -faith, the old tongue, and the old 404498 knd of their progenitors, —to excite in them a rivalry of the men of by-gone days, — to make them look through the vista of past ages, by means of a clear telescope, — to induce children of all denominations to beget and cherish fraternal love, — to place before their minds the grand principle of mutual toleration ia religious and political views, — to point out the dreadful evil of national division, the benefit of cordial union (as in the reign of Malachy I. when for once Irishmen united and drove out the wicked Danes), — to do all this was my motive. Whether my effort will be rewarded or npt I cannot say» nor though I could, will I attempt to do so. I am fully aware of the great task I undertook — a task which, though the volumes be small, and perhaps not worthy of the name, demanded immense research and vast mental and phy» sical labor. Another circumstance which rendered the task difficult was, that most readers are inclined to hasten to passing occurrences» However, it was an ease to my mind to turn aside, for a time, from the contemplation of political subjects, the consideration of which, though it might not deflect me A-om writing truthfully, would, at le&st, disturb the current of thought. The reader of these volumes will find that the perusal of them will shew him what a glorious people our ancestors were. I have labored diligently to place before the pupil the leading points. I have so arranged these facts, that they may serve as mile-stones to mark the journey of his mind through history. In these pages, I flatter myself, will be found no intolerant sentiment, no narrow-minded opinion, no embittered language against those who differ frum me in faith. I have crushed into a very small compass a wonderful amount of national records. Some one. who had more time, talents, and means at his disposal, I thought, would have produced such a book as this. I saw publications to that effect ; but the non-appearance of such a history urged me to the work. I cannot be certain whether my labors will be approved or disapproved by the public. Be that as it may, I will console myself with the reflection, that I have risked a capital of over four hundred pounds, to supply a want — that I essayed an effort which few, (circumstanced as I am, unable to write until after ten o'clock at night), would have imposed on themselves. I have this other pleasing thought, that, however worthless these pages are, I have contributed my small rivulet to the great river of knowledge which is returning to the source whence it came — to the Eternal fountain of divine intelligence. From the moment I took up my pen to my laying it down, truth has been my aim — the defence of my mother tongue, my native land, and the Catholic faith my sole motive. I gave very little as my own. I have not aimed at ornamentation, florid style, or pompous diction. I wrote to be understood by youth. The narrative is, therefore, simple. I will not, at the same time, be so fastidious as not to think that the work has some merits. I place it before my countrymen, and await their verdict. MARTIN A. O'BRENNAN. ???^í*^-. ■•■- V. ; -t ,T IIÍTRODUCTION TO THK SCHOOL HISTORY OF IRELAND. THE EARLY ENLIGHTENMENT AND GREAT ANTIQUITY OF IRELAND. "A SCHOOL HISTORY OF IRELAND" cannot be more approprU ately introduced to the reader than by placing before him some undoubted proofs of the early possession of letters by our Pagan ancestors, and of Ireland's enlightenment fully 900 years before Christ» 1300 3rears before the time of St. Patrick. To establish this fact is of the first importance to the honor and fame of our once free and happy land. The sceptic» who would urge savagery against the Irish nation, if she was not in possession of written literature at the early period of her colonization, would be drawing an illogical conclusion. For instance, the Israelites were a civilized people, and yet until Moses penned the Pentateuch, they had no book. Tradition was the only means of education in the primitive days of men, and it continued to be so down to a time which cannot be named. And here I have to say, from my own expe- rience, that whatever I learned traditionally, or through auricular in- struction, either from teacher, or parent, is as vividly before my mind as when I first heard it. I am obliged to adopt this course, because I have sometimes read assertions of parties , as well of those who have a little knowledge of languages, as of those who have not, (except of English,) to the effect, hat it was St. Patrick introduced the Alphabet into Ireland. Such a wild statement makes an Irish scholar laugh, and pity the man who is capable of uttering such nonsense. The readers — some of whom understand this subject as well as I do — are aware that the Milesians claim descent from Gadelas, son of Niul, son of Phenius Fearsa. These are aware that Fhenius, from whom Phcenicia was so called, founded the University of Shenaar, wherein were taught under his own rectorship, and the superin- tendence of his cousin, Gadelas, from Achaia in Greece, all^ the dialects which were then spoken. It was the latter, the Greek professor, who digested into^scholastic shape the Celtic tongue, and hence the great affinity, in let- ters, marks, and melody, between the Greek and Irish. It was after thi* Gadelas that Niul's young son, the prince Gadelas, got his name , such wa« # VI . INTRODUCTION. the veneration that king Fearsa's son had for his tutor. When the king of Scythia had found Niul an adept in all the known languages, he returned from near Babylon to his own kingdom — east of the Caspian Sea, and be- yond the river Jaxertes, the present Independent Tartary — having brought with him scholars to establish schools in his own territories. He then re- sumed the reins of government, which he had entrusted to his son Nenual for more than twenty years, whilst he was president of the first University of which history has any record. Niul was invited to Egypt for the pur- pose of introducing letters, and consequent enlightenment, into that coun- try. Pharaoh gave him his daughter in marriage, and a large country along the Red Sea : this land, in Scripture language, is called Caperchiroth . Other professors, as young swarms of bees from hives, issued forth to all parts westward, bearing with them the lamp of learning, and the seeds of civilization, illumining all places, scattering the knowledge of languages, and introducing erudition into every nation wherein they sojourned. They taught the Egyptians the use of light-houses, or pharoés, which answered the two-fold purpose of sun-toorthipping, and guides for mariners, point- ing out to them the safe entrance into their harbours.* These were also used for the same purpose as our Martello towers, to guard the ports and to watch the approach of an enemy. And indeed the term " Fairi," which in our language means " watch," will lead any educated mind to that irre- sistible conclusion. In the Greek language " phaos," light, and " h-orao," to see, that is a house for light to gee, have the same effect. So that in both languages we have the same key to the uses of the " pharos." There can be no doubt but that the kings of Egypt were called from these build- ings, and that Pharoah-an-túir was thus designated from the fact that he founded a prodigious tower of that character. The Gadelians, in all their migrations, built towers along all the coast of the Mediterranean ; — and we have an account of the great one built by Breogan, in Gallicia, in the Bay of Biscay,t whence Ith took his departure for Ireland. Now, what " They were likewise for astronomical observatories, and from the top of them the officer of the Pagan High Priest with an instrument, called Stoc, summoned the people to worship, as in the east, wherein from the top of the Minarets a man cries out, " Prayer is better than sleep." f It is not necessary to notice silly objections raised as to the improbabi- lity of the Spanish colony being able to navigate the sea to Ireland. This is clearly answered in our Antiquities, though on reflection it was a waste of time to have done so. For a child can easily understand from the &ct of all the islands of Oceanica, having inhabitants, when they were dis- covered, that their aboriginal colonies must have gone from Asia to them. -^rrj^^-'p;»^-?^Kg ^j.;;. -;,: ^Hf # INTRODUCTION. VÍl tovlá hare interfered with our ancestors to prevent them from bearing en- lightenment into this country ; but all our native annalists, with scarcely an exception, say they did. Milesius himself, if we are to credit the con- current testimony of our native writers, must have been an accomplished And if poor barbarous tribes could have traversed such an expanse of waters» there is nothing repugnant in the notion of the Milesians having sailed from Spain to Ireland, a voyage that, with a favorable tide and wind, could be performedinhalf a day. Appian says, "Qnando in Britanniam, una cum laestu maris transvehuntur, quae quidem trajectio dimidiati diei est Ibernia." " When they sail to Britain in half a day, if the tide be favorable.'* The same is equally true respecting Ireland^ Moreover, the very fact admitted by so many Greek and Roman writers, that the Phoenicians traded here gives us an argument, a fortiori, that the Spaniards at the very time could more easily navigate to us, as they were nearer. The poet Moore says, " So ir- resistible is the force of tradition, in favor of a Spanish colonization, that every new propounder of an hypothesis on the subject is forced to admit this event as part of his scheme." The poet then quotes these words of Buchanan : — " The Spaniards did pass over into Ireland. It is not pro- bable that they, leaving Ireland at their back, — a country nearer to them, and of a milder temperature — should have landed first in Albyn (Scotland), but rather that first making their descent on Hibefuia, they should have afterward sent colonies to Britain," Lib. II., cap. 17. " In like manner," continues Moore, " Mr. Whitty, in his * Popular History of Ireland,' be- cause of the similarity between his country's Round Towers and the Pillar- temples of Mazandera, deduces the origin of the Irish nation from the banks of the Caspian ; in conducting his colony from Iran to the West, makes Spain the resting place. Innes, who contests the Milesian theory, bows to the universal voice of tradition, which, as he says, peremptorily declares in favor of a colonization from Spain." The poet then quotes Strabo, Plutarch, Appian, and Siculus in support of his view. Tacitus, he remarks, must have had solid reason for saying that Ireland was well known by her commerce with the Phoenicians. These quotations taken from Moore I would appreciate but little, did not tbie erudite Ross remind the reader of them already. It would have been well for the fame of the im- mortal lyrist and melodist, and for the honor of his native land, had he never attempted a history of Ireland — Such an ill-digested mass of anti - quarian lore has been seldom seen. There is much that is valuable con- tained in the work ; but the want of order of arrangement, and the blend- ing up o{ fiction with/ac/, renders the book not only useless but dangerous r^-ív ". vm INTRODUCTION. and courtly prince. Let us look to facts.— Having sailed from Spain, lu ' which he was born, to visit his kindred in Scythia, king Riifioir cherished him and gave him his daughter in marriage, and he became so popular, that it was apprehended by the king the people would dethrone himself, and enthrone Golamh or Milesius ; he went to Egypt, and Pharaoh gave him his fair daughter Scota in marriage, and large possessions. What but to the investigation of truth. It is a bundle of contradictions^a heap of assertions without an attempt at any substantial proof against what he strives to ridicule. For he sought to throw ridicule on our early history, but Parsons, and other eminent writers, neutralize the poisonous tendency of his poetic history. A poet has never yet been known to be a historian. Poetry requires flights of fancy ; history demands all the power of reflect- ion, all the capacity of condensation, all the ability of solidifying ideas, a calm, prudent, discerning mind, whose vision must have regard to the present, past, and future. Moore was a poet, but not a historian, — hence it would have been to his fame had he never attempted a history. To give the reader one from the many instances of his contradictions of himself will suflice. " How much more anciently and intimately the latter island (Ireland) must have been known to the geographers of Tyre than the for- mer (Britain). Her earlier intercourse with that people, herproporti- tionate advance in civilization, is hardly more strong than the remarkable testimony of Tacitus." In other places he states that Ireland was known to every Greek writer some hundreds of years before Herodotus. Now, reader, hear the ravings of the heated brain of the poet, when, at p. 68, after having elaborated proofs in sustainment of a Spanish colony, he thus contradicts what he held a few pages before. He calls the story of our native Annalists " a mere phantom of glory, for true historic fame." He penned worse. At page 131 he contradicts all this again. " It has been thus clearly demonstrated, that our Irish Annals are uo forgery of modern times, no invention by modern monks and versifiers, but a series of old authentic records, whose character is a sufficient guarantee of their truth." It cannot be objected that in one case Moore meant the Bardic writings, and in the other the Annalists. Because the Annalists could not be true unless the Bards gave down truths — even though there might have been some fable by way of poetic ornamentation — the annalists, who learned from the Bardic writings, could not be recording truth. So strange a volume never before fell into my hands. It was only when my research had closed that the book came in my way, else I should have exposed many of its absurdities, so as to guard the readers against such romantic trash. INTRODUCTION. IX his polished manners endeared him to these monarchs ? — What but his em- dition could have enabled him to cruise along the shores of the Mediter- raaqan after his several voyages through the Black and Caspian Sea, the Archipelago — and uninterrupted ? He must have been a man thoroughly acquainted with the use of shipping, and the languages of thft places at which he touched. He remained for a time in Crete, Lacedemon (Sicily) — and twelve months on a small island near Gibraltar ; it is now connected by a bridge with the land, and on it is built the city of Cadiz, which was founded about 1500 years before Christ, by a Phoenician colony — according to Anthon's Lempriere's Classical Dictionary. Canaan was an ancient country of Asia, and, strictly considered, was only 35 miles in extent, lying along the coast of Syria. It was also called Phoenicia. There are silly attempts to explain the etymon of Phoenicia, the fact being that it was 80 called after Phenius* (or Fenius) king of Scythia, who may be truly set down as the great inventor of letters, not the mythic Phenix, son of Agenor. What is said of the Phoenicians as regards the spread of civiliza- tion, and their vast commerce, precisely accords with the account which Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, gives of the Scythians (v. n. p.-f) This was assuredly the colony whose chief was Golamh, or Milesius, whose posterity invaded Ireland about 1300 years before Christianity, as Keating and other Irish annalists have it. He visited the country of the Goths, north- west of the Black Sea, which was overrun by the Visigoths. His object in having gone thither was to pay a visit to a colony of his countrymen who settled in it, and who were harrassed by the Goths. The Gothland visited by Golamh was probably this place. Hosts of Goths overran all parts along the Euxine, north and west toward the Danube and the other navigable rivers. Hence the popular error about the island "Gothia," or as some V7Í11 have the matter, Getulia, in Africa. To this place he could have no motive of attraction ; it was wild, and the habitable part was far removed from the coast ; it would not be wise for an adventurer, to go into the interior of such a country ; moreover, that he should have so done would have been inconsistent with the written account of Milesius's habit * A Scythic colony having subdued Canaan called it Phoenicia after Phoe- nius. This is an explanation founded on historical facts. t v. n. p., that is, " see note page."' To the end of this volume v. n. p. will be used in the same sense, and q. v. " which *ee.'' " lb" means same place, book or authority. As this history is intended for youth, it is ne- cessary to write to be understood by them. Simplicity, bordering on pe- dantry, will, therefore be sometimes uoavoidable. X INTRODUCTION. and character. Let us examine classical authorities for the truth of this statement : Lempriere writes, " Getse, a tribe of the Scythians, who, ac- cording to Strabo, inhabited the plains lying between the Ister or Danube, and the Tyras or Dniester ; they were the same as the Goths." This, therefore, is plainly the Gothia alluded to by early Irish writers, and which made the learned Keating say, that our ancestor sailed by a narrow sea northward, the fact being that he entered the Caspian, remained for a time on one of its islands, until he equipped his light fleet — (which must have resembled that mentioned by Caesar as used by the aboriginal north-westeru Gauls in their naval fights with him) proceeded thence to the Kur or Cyrus, along which he went until he met the majestic Phasis, on whose waters his fleet sailed into the Euxine ; thence he steered north, to the people alluded to, who was Scythic — the invincible Dabs, from the south-eastern shores of the Caspian, whose country was called Hyrcania. These Get», says Lempriere, were taught by Zenolxis the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and this belief made them fearless warriors, despising death. It waa by this people, called by Virgil in his seventh book of ^neid " indomita- ble," that the vast army of Darius was cut off in the present Bessarabia, near the Danube, 485 years before Christ. This was the Gethia or Gothia visited by Milesius, who visited also Thrace and Samothrace, in which Ir was bom. Some say that Samo- thrace, an island in the ^gean Sea, N. W., of the Hellespont, and in which Cybele, Ceres, and Proserpine were worshipped, and 22 miles north of Lemnos, was " Gothia ;" this is probable, as some of our authors state that Gothia was not far distant to the north of Crete. A history of Ireland brought out by the Ursuline Nuns makes Sicily the land of the Goths, visited by Milesius. To suppose that such a man did not carry letters would be absurd. Moreover, the time of his voyaging was about the era of the Trojan war. He was in Mygdonia, the cotmtry of the opulent and grand Choroebus, the affianced husband of Cassandra, Priam's prophet- ess daughter. Any man, who has read Homer, must be aware of the polished manners of those days, and their perfection in the arts. This can be inferred from the great poet's description of Choroebus's chariots, horses, mansion, furniture, &c. — the polished finish of the armour of that remote period, the accomplished language he attributed to the chiefs, their arms, their gold cups — all these things tend to prove that enlightenment existed at that early epoch. Now, in the midst of such progress in the arts and sciences, which it is universally admitted, first came from Scythia, or Egypt, it was impossible that Milesius could not have collected a know- ledge of the polite arts. Our native Annalists relate that, when Milesius was arranging to sail from Egypt for Spain, he put twelve of the most INTRODUCTION. XI talented of his people to leara the arts and sciences to the end of having them taught in Spain. The very circumstance that we do not read of any mutiny having arisen amongst his foUovrers is an evidence of a highly cul- tivated mind on the part of the admiral. Learning alone, and that of a high order, could have endeared him to his followers. In Crete he left after him some of his people, who were infirm, or weary of the voyage. It is certain that Minos and the Cretan sages, of whom history is loud in praise, were their offspring. Minos and Ollamh Fodhla (Ollav Fyola) were unquestionably of the same stock. We are informed that Ith, who came to reconnoitre before them, was looked on as a wise aud learned man, so much so, that the native princes, sons of Carmody, referred their dispute to his judgment. What but a high opinion of his cultivated intellect could have induced them to bestow so high an honour on a stranger ? The Trojan war occurred, according to some chronologists, about 1300 b.c. Scaliger says 1240, Eusibius I2fíl B.C. This would place that remarkable fact at or about the time Ith arrived at our island. Though the works of Virgil and Homer abound in fiction, yet they substantially hand down to us the manners and habits of the times of which they write. Sir Isaac Newtou maintains that Dido lived, not hundreds of years after JEneas, but was his contemporary ; others say that Virgil and Ovid committed a great anachronism by making them of the same time. However, this variance does not militate against the fact that they existed. It ought to be no cause of wonder that there should be a variation in the dates of ancient facts, and a difference of opinion amongst authors about them, when we call to mind that the system of cal- culating was strokes or heiroglyphics, and, if the use of the expression be permitted, by Ogham characters,* that evea.these were sometimes imper- fectly engraven, or manuscribed, and that posterity had a great difficulty in deciphering them. Hence if the stroke, occult mark, or ogham, were in any manner defaced, its value could merely be guessed at, and therefore each antiquarian had his own interpretation. Hence, therefore, we have the cause of the yariation of dates, nor is this any cause of wonder, con- sidering the very early period of which we are writing. But pre-supposing that we had numbers as now, yet when it will be recollected that printing was not formerly used, an imperfect copyist might so write his arithmeti- cal numbers as that one would be taken for another ; thus, an imperfect 7 might be taken for 1, or vice versa — also an imperfect 3 for 5 — or there might be an omission of a cypher. Such errors were almost inseparable * Not the characters called from Ogmius their inventor. Ill INTRODUCTION. from ancient records ; and it is nonsense to expect mathematical accuracy in dates and circumstances. If the leading fact be settled, that is the great point. Even typography has many gross blunders. The conclusion to be arrived at by this reasoning is, that the ancestors of the Irish must have had early enlightenment. The royal splendour of Dido in every par- ticular, as well gold and silver plate of every description, and for every purpose, used at her table — the style and elegance of her palace — the order of serving up the banquet not equalled by courts of our own days — the servants so arranged as that in the twinkle of an eye the dish was no sooner out of the cook's hands than it was on the table. The embroidered vest- ments — carpets — the purple couches — the gilded ceiling — the brilliant lamps ; the theatres — the temples — the law courts — all these at so early a period, testify a degree of extraordinary cultivation. Again, the magniii- cence of Priam's palace — the parapets — the turrets on its roof — its massive doors—its vestments — its numerous departments, united by private en- trances — the splendid bedposts, ornamented with imported gold — the gorgeous dresses of Paris, Helen, Andromache ; these matters, together, evince an advanced state of refinement. The science displayed in the erection of the famous cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, the dispatch with which the Carthagenians cut a harbour so as to come out of the city on the Romans during one of the Punic Wars, whilst the latter held the regular harbour with a formidable fleet. From a close consideration of all these facts one is inclined to think that so far from the arts and sciences having progressed, they have retrograded. Troy lay to the S.E. of Samothrace, or I»rna — the island on which Ir was born ; and a little south of the Thracian Chersonesus ; some distance south-east of this was Phoenicia, a colony from Scythia, whence, as facts will prove, all enlightenment issued. Tyre, its capital, was the great em- porium of commerce, the grand mart of manufactures, until the narrow- minded policy of Pygmalion, by his prohibitory laws and tariff duties, and by his own avaricious speculations in merchandise, gave a eheck to its prosperity. To it all nations, from Gades to Japan, had recourse, because of its pre-eminence in all sorts of mechanism and the fine arts.* The iden- tity of the Scythic or Irish tongue with that of Phoenicia — the manners, habits, tastes, and weapons of the Milesians and Phoenicians, leave no doubt on this point. Now, it is not at all likely that Golamh (Golav) who was of the same stork, and having travelled through such enlightened na- tions, was not a highly polished captain. It could be shewn that one of his sons, shortly after having landed here, exhibited his skill as a poetf Some • The original inhabitants were descended of Ham. t Avereen. WHW^', ■m. INTRODUCTION. Xlll of his poetry is now to be seen after 3156 years. He sought, by the ia- flaence of his muse, to arrange the quarrel between his brothers Heber and Heremon. He flourished a.m. 2706. as can be seen in O'Clery's Book of Invasions, written a.d. 1639. We have already observed the unequalled skill of the Phoenicians in the fine arts. All historians set them down as having spread, amongst the surrounding, nations, that- knowledge in which them- selves surpassed. This was Vallancey's opinion ; it was that of the Earl of Ross ; and of Parsons, of London. Fabulous writers, unacquainted with the Celtic language, were bewildered in conjectures about the origin of names, whereas, if they were aided by its benign rays, they had 'not'ljeeii wandering in their darkened orbits. They, for want of such knowledge give lis Phoenix, (it should be Fenius), as the son of Agenor, and Cadmus as his grandson. But our Irish early annalists and poets, rational thinkers and vigorous writers, tell us common sense facts. They relate, that Fenius was the grandson of Magog, who was the offspring of Japhet, son of Noah ; that Gadelas was grandson of Niul, who was the successor of the royal linguist, Fenius. Now, as the letter "C" and " G" were often nsed one for the other, there is no doubt that Cadmus of visionary philologists, was no other than Gadelas ; and that it was he , as our old historians record, that taught Greek in Achaia, but at a much earlier date than that in which it is asserted Cadmus introduced the alphabet into Greece. Gadelas, the linguist, son of Esthoir, of the posterity of Gomer, was erroneously taken for the son of Niul. It is true he was his near relative. We will now introduce to your notice the talented and erudite Parsons, ancestor of the present distin- guished astronomer, Lord Ross, whose vast mind and penetrating genius has been so zealously and successfully devoted to the contemplation of ^he heavens. When the reader will have read some quotations from his brilliant work, a defence of Ancient Ireland* — its early enlightenment — the truthfulness of its history — its high antiquity — its former renown, and its possession of letters and of arts, when other countries were barbarous— the effulgence of its literary lamp when England sat in darkness — we think they will be apt to agree with the conclusion which we have formed with respect to the fame of our illustrious progenitors. He refers to the Trojan war, the weapons, and their finish: He places that fact about 1400t years before Christ, as does O'Flaherty. Lord Ross was known to be a great friend of England — never considered as partial to the Irish. However, when he found history clear as to the glory and renown of the • See Preface to O'Brennan's Antiquities, also " Ancient Ireland.'' ■f- As we said already, there is a difference of opinion as to the date. Some place the fact at 1200 b.c. XIV INTR0DUCTI05. Milesians, be had the hoaorable candor to defend Ireland against her slanderers. It is a rare occurrence to find a man having magnanimity sufficient to trample on hereditary prejudices, and becoming the defender — the zealous advocate of a proscribed people, and especially as his own ancestors were amongst the most relentless persecutort. We may now premise that, in quoting from Sir Lawrence Parsons, or Lord Ross, we differ in some instances from his deductions. For instance, he would make the Milesians be the offs]>ring of the wicked Ham, if we gave credit to his theory. But this would be contrary to all genuine history. We recollect that " The Londonderry Standard" brought us to a severe account, because he thought — though erroneously — that we acquiesced in the opinion of Parsons. We were highly gratified with the indignant disclaimer on the part of so respectable a Conservative Journal. To give a mere conden* sation of the language of Ross would be only substituting an inornate composition for bis graceful and elegant diction. We shall therefore extract some passages in emtento. As the antiquity of Ireland and its early possession of letters are intimately connected, the quotations shall refer to both topics. " The first who mentions it is Orpheus. In his Argonauiica, speaking of Jason and the Argonauts,* he says, * then they went by the island of Jernis.' That by Jernia he meant Ireland, I prove by the authority of Camden, the great antiquarian of England ; also by the authority of the learned Archbishop Usher ; also by the authority of Bochart ; also by the authority of Andreas Schottus ; also by the authority of Stephanus. Thus is Ireland mentioned by this Greek writer expressly by name, long before the name of England is anywhere to be found in Grecian literature. What follows ? That it would not have been the first noticed if it had not been the first known. Thus the poet Orpheus marks the situation of Ireland with great accuracy, and names it as if it were a place well known, and which would ascertain the limits of his course. But he does not name England, or Scotland, or France, or any other country near Ireland, and by which the Argo, in the course which he re - presented her to have taken, must have passed. And why ? Because they were not known ; for if they were, we must suppose that Orpheus would have mentioned them particularly by name, as he has all the nations in succession from Thessaly to the Sea of Saturn ; especially as by doing so he would have marked his course more precisely, and given a greater ap- pearance of truth to his relation." " Camden, however, who wished to make his country participate in this ancient memorial, has endeavoured to prove that the Greeks were not at • 232 years before Christ. INTRODUCTION. XV this time entirely ignorant of England, though they had not a name for it. If it be objected that the ancient Greeks did not navigate seas ' so distant as the northern parts of the Atlantic and the Sea of Saturn, I answer, that I do not mean to assert that they did ; but that the Phoenicians did ; and from them the Greeks obtained their knowledge of those remote parts of the world — of this knowledge many authors of high authority think that Homer, in his Odyttey, as well as Orpheus, in his Argonautic$, availed himself. Not that they suppose that either Ulysses or Jason actually sailed into the Atlantic, but that these poets, to give more variety to their poems, represent them to have done so. Strabo is of opinion, that a great part of the scenery of the Odyssey is placed in the Atlantic ; Plutarch says that the island of Calypso, mentioned by Homer, is an island west of Britain. He also says that Homer took his notion of the infernal regions from the country of the Cimmerians " who lived near the North Pole. And he says that in one of the islands near < Britain, the barbarians feign that Saturan was imprisoned by Jupiter, and hence the North Sea was called the Sea of Saturan.' And Strabo says that Artemidorus asserts, f * that there is an island near Britain, where Ceres and Proserpine are wor- shipped with the same rites as in Samothrace ; and Bochart ' supposes that these ceremonies were introduced there by the Phaenicians.'^ Others who wish to conáne Ulysses to the Mediterranean islands, but think, how- ever, that Homer represents him as having passed into the Atlantic, sup- pose some of the Mediterranean islands — by a poetic license — transferred to the Atlantic. But this supposition is so inconsistent with that attention to geographical accuracy, . which Homer in all the other parts of his poems has observed, that it is quite inadmissible. Hesiod places the gardens of the Hesperides in the Atlantic, near the territory of Atlas. It is very pro- bable, therefore, that the Atlantic, both to the north and south, had been navigated before the time of Hesiod and Homer ; Herodotus, the most ancient writer extant in Greek prose, says of Europe, * no one knows, whether on the east, or on the north, the sea flows round it.' What fol- lows ? that it was known in his time, that the sea flowed round the south and the west, and consequently that the Atlantic had been navigated from the pillars of Hercules to Ireland." Bochart is so certain, that he says, " it must have been from the • Gimhir or Cimhir (Giuir), winter, is the Irish root of this word, t Here is an evidence that the mythology of Greece and Rome were in use in Ireland. X So called after Phenius, king of Scythia. "^i:rí XVI INTRODUCTION. PhoeniciaDs that Orpheus learned the name of Ireland, for these places at that time had not been visited by the Greeks." " After that invasion it was warmly contested by Julius Caesar at Rome, whether England was an island or not, so little did they know of it ; nor was the fact ascertained until the time of Agricola, that is several hundred years after Orpheus expressly names the island of Ireland. Besides, Aristotle mentions a commerce carried on between the Carthaginians and the islands beyond the pillars of Hercules, which would not have been the case if the Carthaginians themselves had any intercourse with those is- lands. It must therefore have been from the Phoenicians, and not from the Carthaginians, that Aristotle and all the Greeks antecedent to his times, received their information concerning Ireland." Consequently the Greeks themselves had no interconrse with the Gades,* and therefore they could have had none with the Britannic isles, which are so much more distant, and to which they could not sail without passing the Gades. If, then, neither the Greeks nor the Carthaginians had any intercourse with the Britannic isles at the early period I have been treating of, I think any reasonable man will agree with Bochart, that it must have been from the PhGBnicians that the Greeks learned the name of Ireland ; and consequently that the PhoBnicians were acquainted with Ireland before this poem by Orpheus was written, according to every opinion about it, not later than the time of Pisistratus ; it follows, that the Phoenicians were acquainted with Ireland, with its situation ; for the poem describes it ex- actly and with its name, about the time of Pisistratus, that is above 500 years before Christ. How did the Phcenicians obtain this lead which they imported from Ireland into Greece ? Must it not have been by one of these two ways : — Either that the Phcenicians wrought these mines themselves, or got them by barter from the aboriginal Irish. " It is, therefore, much more probable that some Phoanicians went there, as some of the old annals of Ireland relate, casually at first, and established themselves there, and in process of time afterwards, as they increased in numbers and extended themselves into the country and explored its recesses, that they discovered these mines. Consequently it was not until several ages after the first settlement of the colony into Ireland that lead was imported thence into Greece ; and as we know to a certainty that it was imported so early as in the time of Herodotus, and probably long before, it follows that the Phoenician colony was settled in Ireland many ages before Herodotus, that is, many ages before one who flourished 500 • Now Cadiz, a small island, S. W. of Spain, but joined to it by fi bridge. rHF^9''S?S;^^: íW:^ ;• ,v--:,- ;•;:•»■. J«!5 INTRODUCTION. XVlí years before Christ, and probably> therefore, about the time in which Sir Isaac Nenrton says that the Phoenicians first visited these northern seas ; that is, as he says, in the time of the Phoenician Hercules ;* that is, he says, immediately after the destruction of Troy : that is, above 3000 years ago. So great, from reasonable inference, appears to have been the anti- quity of the Phoenician settlement in Ireland ; and this accords with the ancient annals of the country." Newton was born a.d. 1642 If, then, we suppose, what is reasonable, that his opinion of the Milesian colony was given in the fifty-eighth year of his age, (a.d. 170U), his period of 3000, squares exactly with the native writers. For clearly 1700 -|- 1300 = 3000. Hence it is that most good writers admit the genuineness of the Irish annals. I am bound, however, to dissent from Newton as to his era of the Trojan war, which did not occur until 120 years later. Facts and circumstances alluded to elsewhere shew this. Besides, we are sustained in our view by many writers. Burns, in his chronology, says that Troy was built 1255,-)-b.c., and was burnt on the night of the llth of June, 1148, B.C. Ross then goes on thus — *' Now, the name Albion is of Irish etymology, * Albin,' signifying ' mountainous,' from ' a/6,' ' a mountain^ — the very character of this country — and this part was also colonized from Ireland — this colonization is asserted by all the venerable English writers , scarcely any one has ever denied it ; and the inhabitants there, at this day, speak a dialect of the Irish, or Erse, as they call it. Nay, Camden considers it so certain that he says — ' That if all historieg were lost, and no writingi made it known that we English were descended from the Germans, and ge- nuine Scots from the Irish, and the Armorican BritainsXfrom our Britains; yet, the communion of languages alone would clearly evince it — nay, more clearly than the authorities of the most profound historians.' The infe- rence that I make from this is, that Aristotle having called England ^/6ton, (and here let me observe that when I say England, I mean the whole island, using the modern and familiar name to avoid confusion with the old names * It is probable that this Hercules was Golamh. i'Tegg says it was begun 1546 B.C., and ended 1184. J Britaon Maol (Britan, the Bald), son of Fergus, son of Nemedius, was the ancestor of all the Britons inhabiting England, Brittany, and Wales. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Walsingham, Nennius, Bede, Bishop Cormac Mac Cullinan, Keating, Mac Curtin, O'Halloran, and other emi- nent Irish writers, attest the truth of this opinion. " The Book of Beigns and Conquests'' bears the like testimony. See Mac Curtin, p. 35, XVlll IKTRODUCTlOii. of which I am tpeaking), Aristotle, I aaj, haviag called England AlbiúHt and having got that name from the Phoenicians, for reasons already stated, the Phoenicians must have got it from the Irish, it being applicable to that part of the island onlj which was peopled bj the Irish. For if the Phoe. nicians in their voyages to England had taken the name of the country from the inhabitants themselves, it would have been from some southern part which they had visited, and they would have given it a name to be found in the southern districts, which Albion was not, for that they, sail- ing from the south, should pass every southern and western part of Eng- land till they came so far north as Albin, and thence denominate the island, i« not to be supposed. Whereas no supposition can be more probable than that the Irish should name England to the Phoenicians from that part of the island which they best knew, and which had been colonised from them, and with which they kept up a continual intercourse. One more word con- cerning this passage in Aristotle : he says ' that the Britannic isles are Albion and Jbkna.' " Csesar received the term ' Britannic ' from the Greeks, and the Greeks roust have received it, as I have already proved, from the Phoenicians, and therefore it is most probable that the Phoenicians, as Bochart says, were the authors of it, and that it was in their language expressive of the situ- ation* or product of those islands. Again, as the Greeks use this term as a general and common name for both islands equally, it must have been ao used by the Phoenicians from whom they received it. In fine, I say, if any one imagines from Anding England called Britain distinctively in latter times, that it was so called anciently, and antecedent to Julius Ctesar, it is an error. And consequently, if any one, from finding Ireland anciently denominated a British isle, would, therefore, infer that, in ancient times, England was of more note, and that Ireland was thus only implicated in a name, which peculiarly belonged to England, it is an error likewise. And consequently it cannot be inferred from Ireland having been anciently called a Britannic isle by the Greeks, that therefore the Phoenicians were better acquainted, or, at all, acquainted with England, or that they, at all, implicated Ireland in a term, appropriate to England, as this term was so peculiarly appropriated until centuries after." " I have now shewn, first, that the Greeks, and, therefore, the Phoeni- cians, were acquainted with Ireland before they knew anything of England | and if it was mentioned by them at all, it was only mentioned as a waste without even a name. Secondly, that what knowledge they afterwards got of it was from Ireland, and that they gave it a name only from that north- * This is wrong as can be seen from the previous note. INTUODUCTIOy. Xli em part which was colonised from Ireland. And thirdly, that the word Britannic was only a name of external origin, imposed by the Phoenicians, and equally applicable to both islands, and therefore no inferences in favor of ancient note or eminence in England can be thence derived."* " If this will not satisfy, let it be recollected, when external anthorities are called for to confirm the ancient history of this country, the neighbour- ing nations were barbarous and unlettered ; or at least that they have no ancient records now to appeal to. Let it be also recollected that the Phoe- nicians were the only distant nations that anciently navigated these seas, and that they are long since extinct. That their ancient records have all perished, and that there is scarcely a memorial of them now remaining, except such brief fragments as are to be found in Josephus, Theophilus, or Sanconiatbo, which are little more than the barren chronicles of some of those kings, without any account of their colonies or commerce. What then is to be done when we are called upon for ancient attestations of our history, but to collect, as I have endeavoured to do, the rare and scattered mention that has been made of these islands by the Greeks, and thence to deduce by reasonable inferences a judgment of the time at which the PhcB- nicians became acquainted with them, and of the knowledge which they had of them, and to compare these afterwards with the Irish accounts ? " I do not mean to say that Ireland was not inhabited before the arrival of the Phoenicians, but that the Phcenicians made a settlement there, and immediately, or by degrees, obtained a complete dominion over the ancient inhabitants, and established in the island their laws, religion, and Ian- * This argumentation is of great force against those who would impute cannibalism to the first settlers of this island. Because one person of this isle in a foreign land was seen, as is alleged, to have eaten human flesh» a general conclusion was diawn. That mode of reasoning is contrary to Aristotle's rules of logic — One of the rules says, " No conclusion can be drawn from particular premises." But it is idle to spend words or time in refuting such a calumny. For even though it was conceded that there were a few instances of human flesh being eaten, yet we know the adage» " One swallow does not make a summer." Again, if such a thing existed when St. Patrick arrived here, either as slave or as Apostle, he would, no doubt, have transmitted the fact to posterity, as he did all the abominations of Pagan superstition. I care not who may be the fabricator of a ground- less libel on our nation, I shall expose his ignorance. Argument and authority, based on common sense, and facts alone, will I recognise ; every other assertion I will designate as stuff, fabricated either for pay, or through malice. ^Tj ■■■;•, T^ .• ■?T'Í^:.".' . ' í^' i'S^y»^';''-'?^; . ~' ^ -^^"«fWw*--^ f^^^TJ^^'^. 2ti INTRObUCTIOÍÍ. guage. To prove, then, that the Irish were a Phoenician colony : ahd hér« I shall begin with their language, which, as Camden says, is the great con* firmation of this question, and the most certain argument of the original of nations ; for, that they who have the same language have the same origin, I think no one will deny. Now, it is universally admitted, that the Carthaginians originally came from Phoenicia, and spoke the Phoenician language ; and a specimen of that language has been preserved by Plautus in one of his plays which contains some speeches of Hanno, a Carthagini- an, in the language of his country ; and these speeches appear, upon ex- amination, to be evidently and undeniably the same language with the Irisht " The Carthaginians and the Irish were descended from one common parent country. Now we know to a certainty that the Carthaginians were descended from the Phoenicians, and I have shown already from Greek au- thorities, that the Phoenicians must have had very early intercourse with this island. Is there then a reasonable man upon earth who will not rather believe that the Irish were a colony from Phoenicia than from Carthage, and that they must have been a colony from either the one or the other, the identity of their language has proved ? *' It being established whence the Irish colony emigrated, the next point to be determined is, when it emigrated. And thici, I think, may be pretty nearly determined by the Pagan worship of the Irish at the time of the in- troduction of Christianity into the island ; I mean by such facts of their worship as are undisputed. That the Pagan Irish worshipped the sun and moon,* and the ancient deities of the Phoeaicians,'!' and of the eastern nations, and that these were their principal deities all writers are agreed ; also that they did not worship images. Now, of this we may be certain, that at the period when Christianity was introduced into Ireland, they wor- shipped all the Pagan deities that had been worshipped by their Phoenician ancestors at the time of their emigration. For though a people in that state of primitive civilisation, in which they were, might have added to the number of their deities, we cannot suppose that they diminished their number ; for this would be utterly inconsistent with their dark and super- stitious state. Neither, for the same reason, can we suppose, if the Phoe- nicians had worshipped images before the emigration of the Irish colony, that the Irish would not have continued to do so, I shall not, however, attempt to determine the precise epoch when those Egyptian and Syrian ♦ See O Brennan's Antiquities," chapter on " Round Towers." t All these deities, at first, were the heavenly bodies. It must be kept in view that in early days " Phoenicia" was the most western part of Iran or Persia. See " O'Brennan's Round Towers." INTRODUCWON. XXI deities, unknown to the Pagan Irish, were adopted by the Phoenicians, or when precisely the Phoenician worship of them commenced ; but merely state that all the writers are agreed that it was at a very early period, and when the Phoenician history is in great obscurity, and therefore without spending any more time about it, I shall apply to the Irish the observations of the learned authors of the " Ancient Universal History," in their account of the Numidians. They 'say, speaking of the sun and moon, as being the principal deities of the Numidians, " this is a convincing proof of their high antiquity, as clearly evincing that the emigration of the first colony which peopled this country, preceded the introduction of image worship into the Pagan world." This is assuredly a reliable testimony in favor of the very early peopling of Ireland after the Flood. Nothing can be clearer than that the Pagans, who first came here, would have brought with them their idols if such they had- Their not having done so places beyond all manner of doubt the fact, that Ireland was colonised before the Milesian invasion ; because, whether that era was 1300 years before Christ, or later, history tells that Greece, Troy, and other eastern nations had their deities, and consequently the children of Golamh* would have introduced their idols, had their invasion happened after that period. It is true they worshipped divinities, such as the sun, moon, &c., but not graven images. If they did, we have no ac- count of them until 1144 B.C., in the reign of Tighermas.f whose idol was the same as that of Zoroaster of Bactria, or CaoH Cruadh, to whom altars were erected in a plain in Brefney, and had votaries until the days of St. Patrick.^ But this occurred long after the Milesian invasion. Therefore, they, too. must have arrived here before image worship, unless we agree with Doctor Parsons of London — already alluded to— and Charles O'Connor — who hold that the first inhabitants of Ireland worshipped the true God. They state, that the offspring of Ham began to adore their an> cestors as gods, when they abandoned the true God — but that the Clanna Phoenius adored the God of Heber. They add, that the true religion was afterwards perverted. Now, in addition to the evidence of Ross, we have this matter-of-fact proof of the early migration of. the Irish colony : — All, or most of their war instruments and weapons were of brass; there can be no attempt to deny this fact, as many of them are to be found in our country this very day ; weapons of exactly the same shape and substance, found at Cannae , ♦ mh="t;.'' t "^A"in the middle and at the end of a word ending with e or i, is silent. \ See O'Brennan's Round Towers,'' in Antiqtiities. 2 XXll IXTRODUCTION. supposed to be CarthAgiuian, are to be Been in the British Museum. This ctrcumBtance Parsons concludes, places the migration about the time of Cadmas, bnt certainly anterior to the IVojan war. If it had been after, he states, the colonists would have brought with them more arts — would have introduced deities and image worship, which all scholars admit to have been in great vigor about the period of the siege of Troy. It is not necessary to refer to the Penates, nor the images of the gods which the Trojan women worshipped and embraced on the night Troy was on fire. Nor is it requisite to direct attention to ^neas, bringing with him his gods to Ijatium. Idolatry was wide-spread throughout Greece and Asia Minor fully 1200 years before. Wherefore, it is clear, that Ireland must have been peopled long anterior to that period. For history tells, that Golamh re- sided in these places, and no doubt would have brought with him image worship if he arrived lacer than 1200 B.C.* THE OPINION OF THE BOLLANDISTS, RESPECTING THE EARLY POSSESSION OF LETTERS BY THE IRISH, REFUTED. From such premises flow these conclusions : — ^Hiat Ireland wa« at a very early period known to the Phoenicians — (what Doctor Parsons calls Clanna FeniusJ — that it was colonised by them before the Trojan war — that they introduced here such arts as they knew — that letter», for which they were famous, were amongst those arts : they could not. Parsons adds, without the use of letters, have preserved, for so many ages, their language un- corrupt, and so identical with the original. Besides, we all know that invaders have ever brought their own language into every country con- quered by them ; the English did it here— the Normans and Saxons in England. THE IRISH ALPHABET.t "Now, there is something very well worth considering in this matter ; it is said, that Cadmus brought sixteen letters only from Phcenicia. and that others were added by Palamedes, &c. , to fill the alphabet, as the Greek language has it now ; it is, therefore, extremely remarkable, that the Ma- gogian, or Irish alphabet, consists only of seventeen letters to this day ; which so fully answers every purpose of expression in that language, that they have not yet found any necessity to add new ones, which, at once, points out its originality and simplicity, in a manner hardly to be disputed ; as it consists of fewer letters than any other alphabet in the world ; nor is * See " Remains of Japhet," and " O'Connor's Dissertations." t James Parsons, M.D., Member of the College of Physicians, and Fellow of the Royal and Antiquary Societies of London, 1767. *' Remains of Japhet." INTRODUCTIOX. XIIU it «Htterially altered from its first state, so as to moke any sensible differ- ence ; which will appear by the table, where .the alphabets of various ages will be exhibited, according to thúr «eniorlty in that language, and fartiier explained in the sequel." " There are authors who think that Palamedes invented the Greek letters ; others give ike invention to Linus, the preceptor of Hercules ; and others, to Cecrops ; and, as Cecrops was said to be an Egyptian by birth, that he might have had the knowledge of letters from Moses, who was about that time in E^pt : but it is easy to see, that there is very little affinity between the H^rew and Greek alphabets ; and it would even be absurd to suppose, that there were no letters in Greece before the times of these persons, who came late into the world, compared to the ancients, or Aborigines, who were Pelasgians aU ever that country ; but it will be seen that the Greek alphabet had another source ; and has a greater similarity with that of the Magogians «md Gomerians, than with the Hebrew ; but the former have evidently preserved the simplicity of theirs, as we have shewed before ; ao they have the purity of their language, in their present recesses in Ire- land and Scotland, in our own times, for the reasons often alleged before. . . . . This opinion is pretty clearly evinced by Diodorus, in his third book, speaking of the Pelasgian and Fhoeoician letters, where he says : therefore the letters were called Phoenician, because they were transported from the Phoenicians ; these first were called Pelasgian letters ; and the curious coincidence of the fact of Fenius having carried learning from Scythia into Shinar, and propagating it there ; whence it gradually spread among the Phcsnicians, long before Cadmus's leaving them, to go into Greece ; but both Egyptians and Ph«enicians had colonies settled in the maritime places in Greece, before he arrived there, and the old language was much mutilated at his arrival ; notwithstanding what is said by several modern authors, that the Phoenicians first invented and taught letters. " To be ^ell acquainted with what has been handed down by those filidh,* or bards, in the Psalter of Cashel, and the Leabhar Gabhala, as. well as others, now extant, would be the best qualification to read what Sir Isaac has given in his book» mentioned before, as well as other modern authors , the facts are very striking, and the similarity of circumstances amazing ; and his connections, however mistaken and disagreed to by other chrono- logists, are qiade manifest, by these filidh, in a more clear light ; which were clouded by the Greeks, and, in their veiled condition only, taken up by him, as well as other ingenious men. . . Buchanan* Ware. Ward, and others, say, * a colony of Spaniards, or Scythians, by the name of ScotSi settled in Ireland in the fourth age of the wx)rld.' Neonius and * Aidh, uidh, old, idh, aigh, uigfa, oigh, igh=ee. XXIV INTRODUCTION. Henry of Huntingdon say the same thing, tlie former of which computes the fourth age of the world to be from David to Daniel, or the Persian em- pire. The bards say, • that Kinea Scuit (the Scots) and the posterity of Eber Scuit (the Iberian Scots) were a colony of Spaniards, who settled in Ireland ubout a thousand years before Christ.* Strabo, and The Universal History, think, ' that the Phoenicians, who were the first propagators of learning in Europe, carried on an early intercourse and commerce with the Iberian Spaniards.' The bards say, ' That the ancient Iberian Scots learned the use of letters on the Continent, from a celebrated Phenius, from whom they took the name of Phoenicians.' Newton, in several places, says, 'Nil, Belus, Sihor, Osihor, Toth, Ogmius, &c., were famous Egyp- tian warriors, who acquired great fame by their glorious actions and enter- prizes.' The bards say, " that Niul, Bileus, Sru, Asru, Tait, and Oga- man, were mighty and famous in Egypt and several other countries.' These are the proper Magogian names, which the Greeks changed as above. Newtoa says, ' the Egyptian conqueror of Spain got the emphatical name of the Hero, or Hercules.* The filids say, • a great hero, famous in Egypt, got the name Golamh, and Milea Espáiné, that is, ' the conqueror,* or ' hero of Spain.' Newton every where says, ' Nil, Sihor, Osihor, &c., succeeded Phenius in teaching the use of arts and letters.* And this will be made more clear by and by, in tracing these great men, in the very places where they did really give those instructions, as delivered by the Irish, or Ma- gogian records ; which I do not pursue here, to avoid the interruption of this comparison of history. Newton, page 98, says, "in the days of Hercules, or the Egyptian conqueror of Spain, a long drought is reported to have burnt up the ground.' The filidh* sing, that * the conquest of Spain, together with a great drought, which happened at the same time, forced the Iberian Scots to fly into Ireland.' This arid state of the air, which affected the greatest part of Europe and Asia, at that time, gave occasion to the fable of Phaeton's having burnt up the earth, by his arro- gant attempt to conduct the chariot of the sun. Newton has it ' that the Hercules or Hero of Spain, is reported to be the son of Belus.' The bards say, ' Milea Espáiné,' or Hero of Spain, was the son of Bileus ; and it appears so upon the genealogical table of Milesius, of which more here- after. 't " Can any historical facts be better authenticated, than by4;his reciprocal agreement between those bards and our great Newton, &c. ? This coinci- dence of times and parentage, within the same period of time, is extremely remarkable : from this hero, whom the Egyptians called Hercules, the old • Fileadh (Feelee), poetic historians, t See First Chapter of the History. INTRODUCTION. IXV Britons, and the Scnits, or Scots, Milea. Thus we see that all*' those exploits, said by Sir Isaac to have been performed by Nil, Sihor, Osihor, Ogmius, Toth, Belus, Dionysius, end Orus, the bards have as- cribed to Niul, Sru, Asru, Ogaman, Tait, Don, &c. These are reported by the bards, to have been great travellers, spreading fame and conquests in many places, and were professed instructors of mankind, wherever they went , that they were famous in Egypt and great heroes.*" We will leave the extract to the intelligence of our reader. It is not written by an enthusiastic, but a calculating professional man, resident in London, whose writers have been even proverbial for their slanderous compositions of ancient Ireland. We have thrown into the van the lan- guage of the erudite Doctor Parsons, as his own name, the name of the city, and the time in which he wrote (1767) impart valuable cogency to his language. Camdenf writes, "The Anglo-Saxons flocked to Ireland as to the market *This is precisely what Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, says of the Scythians, whose grand, costly ornamentation of gold, and furs and skins of the most perfect finish, is recorded by Herodotus, who was their tra- ducer, and an unwilling witness to their splendid attire — Dresses of skins, shining rich furs, are the most costly and the most beautiful. f Camden, according to his translator Philemon Holland, says, " This monastic profession (that of the Irish) was far different in those days from that of our time ; they desired to be that indeed which they were named to be ; they were far from colourable dealing or dissembling ; erred they in anything, it was through simplicity, not through lewdness, much less of willful obstinacy. As for wealth and those worldly things, they so highly contemned them, that they not only did not seek after, but also refused the same, though they were offered unto them, descended by inheritance." *' For (says he) in very late times such as gave themselves to religion there, did mortify their flesh even to a miracle, by watching, praying, and fast- ing." He also says, " The Scottish monks in Ireland and Britain, highly excelled for their holiness and learning, and sent out whole flocks of most devout men into all parts of Europe, who were the first founders of Luxen Abbey in Burgundy, of Boby Abbey in Italy, of Witoburg Abbey ia Frankland, of Saint Gallus in Switzerland, of Malmsbury, Lindisfern, and many other monasteries in Britain." Learning of Ireland from 432 A.D. to 820 A.D. " Henry Altisidorensis (Henry of Auxerre) writes thus to the Emperor Charles the Bald — " What shall I speak of Irland, which despising the dangers of the sea, flitteih over it with whole flocks of PhiloBopheri XXVI lííTRODUOTION. of refined letters, and thence they aeem to have received ÚiQ ayajbeaa of forming letters, whereaa they have clearly used the same chavoeter that » in use amongst the Irish." Wormins says that the Icelanders «aH odq of their alphabets " Ireletur," or the " Irigh letter." " Doctor Parsons allege» that " from a thorough investigation of the subject, it will be probable that all the neighbouring nations got their alphabets from Ireland ; aad that laws, fashions, war, and the sword, could never entirely destroy the ancient language of Ireland." Now in this place Parsons might have gone a little farther and said, that this fact puts beyond doubt, that the Irish alphabet is an original one. He says, there was no one like it but the Lybian or Carthaginian ; and he, in another place, shews it could not be that. It therefore, follows, that we have in Ireland our alphabet from Gadelas, or Gael of Scythia, 700 years before the wolf suckled Romulus, before a wall was drawn round the Eternal City of the Seven Hills. I am therefore no enthusiast when I believe that in our language there is something divine- that it can never be uprooted from the old soil. Pliny states, that Cadmus introduced into Greece sixteen letters, whilst others say the number was eighteen. Herodotus tells us, that arts, sciences, aikl letters, issued out of Babylon. Now this, according to Moses, is moat probable, and accord» exactly with our own old writers as to what they relate with respect to Fe- uius Farsa, as mentioned before. Some learned men eoy that the Hebrew letters were ancientdy only seventeen, which is the nuraiber of the Iri^'— I cannot now be certain what was the precise form of the original Irish alphabet, as letters may change, though not the language. Plutarch relates that when the tomb of Alcmena was destroyed by Age. silaus, the Greeks of that day could not read the inscriptiea on it. Lord Ross mentions that Greece and Carthage, being in a manner subdued by the Romans, adopted for a time the Roman character, but afterwards took up their own, which was certainly Phoenician. It is stated that the Irish ancient numerals are identical with some of those of Phcmieia. This is only reasonable. For no matter what length of time or extent of seas and lands intervene, the language of all colonies will be idtentictd with, or at least, have a great affinity to that of the parent,' whence they migrated. The posterity of the Irish soldiers who remained at the Alps after the deatii of Dathi,* in the fourth century, retain yet a dialect of oar vernacular. unto our shores. Of whom so many as are more skilful and learned than the rest, do voluntarily banish themselves to attend dutifully on the wife of Solomon and be at his command." I suppose Cbarlemagoe ia theSo^' lomon meant in the quotation. • Ohahee. INTRODUCTION. 3«¥li Mr. Beaufort says, " By these (tke Irish alphabet) we are empowered to assert that the Irish Druids had the method of comm«nicating their doc* trine and learning to writing.- That the letters made use of for this pur- pose, bear a great affinity to those of the ancient Phoenicians, Carthagini- ans, and Egyptians ; in many cases they are exactly the same." The Druids of Ireland taught their pupils in groves, and imposed on the letters or characters they invented the names of trees, which possessed medicinal properties, thus teaching letters, and the science of medicine by one and the same act. We are told that St. Patrick gave us our letters I ! 1 This is an egregious error, contrary to fact and history. It is most certain that we had our alphabet centuries before Rome was built ; we had learning and letters fully at least 13&0 years before St. Patrick was born in " Holy Tower," a Boman fort, not far from Calais, in France, where his father was with the Roman army. I will be able to prove my position from the evidence of facts. It is true that St. Patrick gave the Roman alphabet to his pupil Fiagh. whereby he might, the sooner, prepare him for holy orders. Not that the Roman character was easier than the Irish, but the Roman mis- sioner wished to establish an uniformity in the mode of instruction for his pupils and converts, especially for those intended for the Church, that himself and they might join in prayer in the same language, composed in the same characters. This is an incident worth notice, — that In fifteen days Fiagh could read and understand the Latin psalms. This could not be so unless he was a thorough proficient in the knowledge of some cha- racters before that. It can be clearly seen that it would be impossible for a man, wholly unacquainted with letters, to make such rapid progress in a language so learned and so difficult of attainment as the Latin is admitted to be. But St. Fiagh, Bishop of Sletty, was a graceful adept in the old Irish. Let us see what our own native writers tell us, and what no man ever has denied. We are told by them that when St. Patrick was crossing the country from the north to classic Mayo, to celebrate the Lent and the Easter at Cnoc Aichle (Eagle Hill) be called to visit Dubtagh,* the Druid, and the great poet laureate of King O'Leary, and who was the first con- vert. During his visit he inquired if the distinguished convert could re- commend any person for tha mission. He was told that he had a comely youth) who was also a convert, but who was now gone to the north of Mayo with a present of poems to the chieftain ^of that country ; that when he bad returned he would introduce him. Now, how could Fiagh have poems to be given as a present, and of his own composition, if he was not a pro- ficient in the use of letters, able to mould them into any shape. The hy- pothesis is quite absurd. Again, jf Ireland bad not an alphabet before the * Pro "DUVAGH." XIVlll INTRODUCTION. great apostle, it is very strange that the Roman characters were not continued in general use. I would be glad to learn, who gave us the Celtic letters, at what age, in what monarch's time ? — the when, the where, the manner how we obtained them, would be an interesting piece of informa- tion. Our historians give no records of these things. The annals are silent on the point. It, therefore, remains, that they came to us as has been sufficiently shewn. Parsons states that there is no alphabet like ours but the Lybian, and he shews, that that was Phoenician, not Roman. In the next place the Roman alphabet has twenty-six letters, we have only seventeen. How comes it that we lost nine of the number ? The letters of the two alphabets have different names ; that would not be if Rome gave us our letters. St, Fiagh wrote a life of St. Patrick in the Irish language, apply- ing the Irish characters. Hence it is clear that that was the language with which he was better acquainted. This, in itself, proves that he had letters before the apostle gave them to him. St. Seachnall, Bishop of Dunshaugh- hn, another disciple of Patrick's, wrote a hymn in praise of his great master, having used the Irish characters, though the language was Roman or Latin, through which Seachnall obtained his education and mission in Rome. Having preached in Ireland for nine years, he died, and was buried in Dunshaughliu. These two latter incidents would be quite sufficient to establish a refutation of the calumny that we had no alphabet until St. Patrick gave it to us. Again, if the Apostle introduced the alphabet, it would contain the same number of letters, the same order of letters, the same character of letters, as ours does, but in none of these instances are the Roman and Irish characters similar. Until lately our alphabet ran thus : Beith, luis, nt'on, thence called " Beithlius nion," whereas the other is termed alphabet, as commencing with alpha, beta. The form and num- ber are ditferent, the Latin characters being seven more than ours, 'and more easily written, and for the latter reason also it is clear our ancestors would not have given it up for one more difficult of manuscribing, if it were their original mode of writing. The very fact that St. Ciaran went to Rome to study theology, clearly proves that he must have had a know- ledge of letters before he thought of doing so. The existence of some bishops, clergy, and many Christians in Ireland when St. Patrick presup- poses learning in this country. We should not have dwelt so long on this, but, however, as some parties, not linguists, nor historians, but they whose words — written or spoken, — because of their position, might mislead the unthinking, I deem it a solemn duty to give the real state of the case in as plain a point uf view as possible. All parties can bear it, and arrive at their own conclusion. In the Preface to " Ancient Ireland," and " O'firennan's Antiquities," (Preface) the real character of Ireland is ex- hibited, as before every other nation, in the number, brilliancy, and INTRODUCTION, XXIX variety of her scholars, eveu in her renown in arms and her fame in everjr accomplishment as regards the fine arts and polite literature of every descrip- tion. It is objected to us that if our letters were from Phoenicia or the Scythians, our ancestors would have written from right to left as the Greeks, who borrowed their alphabet from the Phoenicians, did. I have to say that in the time of Herodotus, the Greeks wrote from left to right. This we learn from his surprise at the Egyptians writing the contrary way (book ii., chapter 36.) The Irish might have originally written after the same man- ner, but changed, as did the Greek. I understand that inscriptions have been discovered in this country, executed from right to left. The Greeks called this system BoitatropAedon, as it resembled the course of the plough ; we call it the reaper's path. Bollandus was quite wrcng in having inferred from Colgan having said that Patrick gave the Pagan Irish an " abjectoria," or alphabet, that they had no letters before that time. Now the learned Colgan expressly taught tlie contrary, whereas in the same chapter he alludes to the poems composed by Fiagh himself, and especially to that about St. Patrick. He also alludes to the composition of Saint Benignus, partly in Latin, and partly in Irish, namely, " The Book of llights." From this circumstance Harris clearly proves that the Irish had their own characters before St. Patrick. Cesar, Pliny, and others, tell us the Druids were learned ; that they kuaw philo- sophy, theology, and other sciences ; that the Druids of Gaul, who wished to be perfected in the knowledge of their mysteries, went to Britain to be instructed in them. Ward, in his book of " Irish Antiquities," (cap. 5) informs us that the Druidical order was established in Ireland in the days of Caesar, and that they had the advantage of the same sciences and letters cs ^mougst all the nations of ancient and modem times. Doctor Parsons, who makes the Milesian invasion so very early, " states they had their Druids with them in all their wanderings from Scythia;" and this can be seen in the Book of Invasions. Celestius, the great supporter of Pelagius, the Heresiarch— and who is called by St. Jerome " the leader of the whole -Pelagian army" — while a youth, and before he had adopted the heresy, was, as is supposed, for som« time at the monastery of Tours. From this place, he, in the fourth century, addressed to his parents in Ireland three letters, " in the form of title books, and full of piety, so as to make them necessary to all who love God." Reference with regard to these letters is. made to Tisdall, and others who make honorable mention of these two unfortunate Irish heresiarchs, against whose doctrine Rome had to drive the full force of her artillery— St Jerome, St. Augustine at Carthage, St. German, St. Patrick himself before his XIX IXTttODUCTION. «pQHtleship to Ireland, and u whole host of Saints had to war against these two men. Now the very fact of Celestius having sent letters to bis parents, presupposes th« use of letters ; otherwise it would be preposterous to send letters to persons wbo could not read them. Between the Hebrew and Irish characters this difference exists. The former are the names of various objects, whilst our letters are. all, the names of trees. This happened from the fact that the Druids inhabited woods, and imposed names, with which they were acquainted, as of trees having a curative %ualitj[, Ip, ti^is point of view our alphabet I19& no equal. I may here Qbserv« that our progenitors, like, the Egyptians, had their characters for sacred as vmli as profane purposes. This character, you are aware, was the Ogham to which I have already directed attention. This is referred to by Monaieur Gebelin, in his work, " Origine de rEcriture," as well as by Baily> They state, that " the Irish Ogham resembles the characters at ParsepoBs " There are nrumy of those characters still legible on stones in this cguatry.* Oa these the primitive Gadeliana wrote to commemorate the dmth of a hero, or a mystery of religiieD. The aiu:ient Greeks built their moauments to the dead, and theúr temples of rude stones. So Brigani tcl)* ; and before image* such stones were worshipped by the Greeks, and tbc Pagan Irah did the saiBe.f The latter generally wrote on tables of wood, which were made of beech. From this circumstance, Parsons and Camden argue tbar the English got their letters from us. They say that tÍM term ** bac or buec" is Saxo», and means a ietch tret. Why dwell so long on the letters? To place beyond cavil the antiquity of our alphabet and our enlightenment ; at the same time not with a wish to cast a stigma oa other nations, not ao early blessed in that respect, a& we were. This too maniíÍBBts what a vigoMnis class of thinkers our ancestors were. Names were imposed,, not arbitrarily, b«t from some causes ; Keating and Gratianus» or Rar. IXkIot Lynch, Archdeacon of Tuam» refer to several Irish Pagan works. Our early polish is freely confessed by every unbiassed scholar. Candeu «tatc^ " that the antiquity of all other nations is in respect |b that of tW Irish mere novelty." Daniel, Gtldas, and Rider (alias Knight) bear taatisaony to the fact, and they say, " that up to the time of the Saxons and >ionnaiu, the English writers have no reliable annak. " This we can our- ■ehres kam by a glance at their history. Jn the days of Egilfrid or Elfrid, • See W. Williams' Essay— Kit. Arck. Soc, May, 1806. I Our own opinion is that they 4h1 not, but that pefM»s wba saw them^ pray around them ifnpatedsuch ta them, aa IV>tcstaiits accuse CatboUcs of u> isle. That nnfiHriunatc princa learned^ X may «ay, hU a^habeK in tbe gceat, AJUinj of Ma>o, whose iv>>niantled waJUarq «till standing, having defied Uia ia- fluenees of nan aod time. H« wa« forc«d iato bospitaUe aiui learned £ure by his wicked aubjeets, wbom CharLeiaagne dcnowacecl aa wturd/grert of their lorda^ Here all eti^t and, the persecwied of otber nations, found, a 1 one and a secure asylma,. aud h»d oothiog to pay la th» wign of Alfred tbe Great, when England bad hardly a koowledga of aoj l angitagfiy our ancestors were so learned, that it is falael\; stated mdo* of them wrot« lucid elahorat» fictions. But a& I^ord Ross very pvopecly observea, '* if these documenta were fcH-gAd» and not pemuine, tbcrQ would be some tracea of novelty about them. Who can prove the fiction ? Tbera must, b* an end put to the audacity of any one person presuming to prooounf a on ouc venerable relics of antiquity. No age ever went by in which Iroland 4iA not distinguish herself in the race of literature. It could be truly assertied that the writers of this country have been nnmerou» aa tbe «tan^ «hen twi> light is fading into darkness in a frosC See O'Reilly 'a and Harris's aocotmt. Josephus relates, " that such was the precaution of the Pbcsniciaaa, lest the memory of their transactions should perish, tiuit their wisest men alwaya secretly preserved them in public records. They k«pt a moat accurafa» register of ancient occurrences. They did so because their religjioua inslitu» tions enjoined it as a duty. We are then to conclude that the Irish colony of Clanna Fenius» besides the letters and «eligioa of their ancMtors^ brQugftt with them, and religiously preserved, the records of tJbteir «ation« Iheir pe- digrees, and principal transactions. This opinivn ia forcib^ put by Poctor Parsons, and by Lord Rosa, who says, ** that tbougb the bistoryt of the pre- decessors of tbe Milesians is not unworthy of notice be would oot dwell OB it.'* Let me observe, that a few journalisla who reviewed my work, seemed not satisfied that I took notice of the coiome» alluded, to. Yet I am glad to find that such distiaguishod «liters, as the two Fbraiwa, did not reject their history as entirely fabulous. That ia exactly what Insb vnntecs havQ done. What waa consistent with reason they preserved, having passed ovec tbe rest as doubtful. Parsons saysi, *' let it ba recoUeCted that tbe lustory ■■ until tbe colony leaves Phoenicia, ia pcopeily Pbctniciaft, and not Irish, then it may not be unpalatíádc. The Irish and Mosaic account <^ tbe creation^, of the world, and the history of the binnan race, are substantially tbe same • Some writers maintain that " Magog" means •« the land of Gog." (Magh GhoigJ. Others think that Magog is the same as " Mac Gog" that is> " son of Gog ;" and at this day, so remote from the time of the Patriarchs, no one could decide positively what is the Urue version. XXXU INTRODUCTION. utitil the third generation from Noah. So far, therefore, the Irish account cannot be questioned. At this place they separate." Our genealogists derive our descent from Magog, son of Japhet, son of Noah; Magog's sons are not named by Moses— it was uot necessary for him to do sb — Keating who thoroughly explored our native records says, that Magog had three sons, Baath, Jobhath, Fathada, (Baw, Jova, Faha)^then Parsons writes, " there is a chasm of one generation from Baath to Pbenius wiio was contemporary with Moses." This should not be a cause of surprise, as in our own time we will meet many persons who cannot tell the names of their grandfathers, though they could give the names of their great grand- fathers'—and therefore if they were writing a history, they would omit a link, simply because they did not know the name. Thus a generation may be easily overlooked. Pheuius was their king, and Scythia their country. Josephus relates, " that, after the Flood, Magog established a colony called Magog- ians, by themselves." On this Ross comments thus, " this, word for word, agrees with the Irish account. We then ask, how could the chronologeri or minstrels of Ireland know that Magog was the ancestor of th Scythians Did they understand, or did they read Josephus ? The name of their parent country they say was Scythik, their progenitors Scythians, but they some- times call them Pheni or Phoenicians." Parsons* and Raleigh were bewil- dered as to the exact spot whence our ancestors originally migrated. I shewed from the language of our old books in our own archives, that the place was towards the north-east of the Caspian, whence Fenius went to Babylon for the purpose of learning Adam's language from Heber, with whom it remained after the confusion of tongues.f The present Indepen- dent or Western Tartary was the primitive Scythia. In course of time, as the colonies streamed from it, the term Scythia was applied to a vast extent of country ; all the north and west, and a very little to the south-east, to- wards the Himalaya muuntains. However, Raleigh was not far from the mark in having placed it north east of Palestine. Josephus makes a brother of Magog to be the founder of Tyre. Hence, therefore, the manifest cause of the identity of the Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Hibernian dialects. «• Byrsa" is a Phoenician name for " hide ; ' " Barsagh" is the Irish for a << scolding woman," or "threw,'' meaning that the lash of her tongue is as cutting as that of a cow-hide thong. In O'Brennan's Antiquities at <' Round Towers," is set forth the exact extent of Primitive Pertia, in which was Scythia. • Not the London Antiquary, for he brings them from Scythia to Spain, thence to Ireland. f See " O'Brennan's Antiquities," Index for Confusion of tongue». ■ INTRODUCTION. XIXlll VERACITY OF IRISH HISTORY. It may be interesting to know, that Ogygia was the name of one of the gates of Thebes, in Acbaia, built by Cadmus or Gadelas. Now such is one of the ancient names of Ireland. Cadmus erected a temple to Oga, the goddess of wisdom. She was the same as Athens of the Greeks. This fact is worthy of notice, V6 tracing the identity of Cadmus and Gadelas. In other words, that Cadmus was Gadelas. " The coincidences mentioned by me," observes Parsons, "are conclusive as to the antiquity and veracity of Irish history, llie Irish, it is maintained, did not read Herodotus. They, therefore, had no otber^ way to learn the events of the eastern coun- tries but through their own records." And, he adds, " that native records are the purest guide to trace the origin and transactions of any tribe." He continues, " if you allow the Irish to have bad any record of those times, their having mentioned Moses ought not to invalidate their history. " Be- cause," he has remarked, " though Dius and Menander mention Solomon, and Berosus speaks of Nebuchodonosor, and Manetho and Cboeremon talk of Moses, yet no one doubts the authenticity of the fragments of their his- tories. " He argues " that the Irish writers say the Phoenician colony sup- plied the Israelites with provisions, and then moved down the Red Sea w th their ships. " So relates Rabbi Simon, who lived 200 years be^e Christ. "And because these Canaan (Phoenician) ships gave Israel of their provisions, God would not destroy their ships, but with an east wind carried them far down the Red Sea." Ibis is precisely the Irish version of the event. No person will attempt to say that our ancient writers received their information from the writings of the Rabbi. This harmony in narration must be accounted for thus :— The Rabbi got it from the Jews, and the Irish had it from their ancestors. Parsons explains away the apparent dif- ference in other respects between the Jewish and Scripture account. He shews ''that the Greeks knew nothing of Ireland unless what they heard from the Phoenicians, and that the Roman writers can afford no evidences, as both England and Ireland were wholly unknown to them until the time of Julius Cssar, which, he says, was about 1000 years posterior to the landing of the colony. It is strange, that authors should attempt to traduce the character of a people of whom they knew nothing until after thetime of Julius Casar " " Strabo (adds Parsons), Diodorus Siculus, Mela, and Solinus, asperse the Irish nation, and yet they never set their feet on lis shores ; they got their information from men, who likewise were never in Ireland ; their aspersions therefore are not to be noticed ; they dont even say that they received their account from persons who visited Ireland ; they were consequently, he says, quite unacquainted with the internal polity and manners of the people. Wherefore, the ancient history of Ireland can XIXIV IXTUODUCTIOJf. never be refuted by «ttemal aathority, which is not to be relied on.''* liord Ross then deah severely and summarily witii the plagiarist Mac l^erson, "whom he accuses of having claimed for Scotland the poems of 0«Han, and having scatidalouiAy corrupted tliem. Doctor Parsons, after a close review t)f Utte eoimddences of the Irish traditions of even the humbler people wtthtbe written annals, thus staites — " The historical parts of their "poems, diverted of their poeúcal flowers, coincides exactly with the most ■AQthentic histories in the world, as well sacred as ptofane. " The poet Flr- dieirtne, who composed a code of Irish laws, in the reign of the Monarch. "Connor Mac Nessa, at the birth of Christ, wrote the Uriceipt, or grammar t>f the Iri^ language. Cinfaola, or the Learned, corrected it in the reign of King Donald, a.d. 624). His writings have been ever looked up to as a criterion of purity in Celtic literature ; they are referred t« in the annals of the i'oor Masters. His poem, relative to the advent of the Milesians, has internal evidence of fts aothentScity. It is to be fbund in the book of Bal- lymote, folio xi., column 8, compiled in the fourteenth century ; and in tiie book Of <31endalough. The remains of the forts and palaces, therein mentioned, are still to be seen in Kilkenny, Wickluw, and other places, and this fiact refutes the notion, rtiat the Danes built our duns or forts, though #)ey raised some ; as to these Ledwich errs. It is objected that our Bards, making Moses and Niul contemporaries, threw discredit on Irish history. The objection is frivolous, as in a matter of such high antiquity no person can Hx the exact period of Phenius's mi- gration from the banks of the Caspian to Semiair (^Old land), for the purpose of learning die primitive tongue, and of collecting the various dialects that arose at-the ■" Confusion of tongues," and which were spol^n by the dispersed tribes, ^e object of Kiul's father being such, his migration must have been long after the ConfHision. The Bards dont say Phenius went to see Heber, but only that he went to learn his language. Now Heber died A.M. 2187; and if I make a fair hypothesis — that it was 100 years after that event the Scythian king went to Babylon^the date of his arrival will be A.M. 2287, just 186 years before the time Holy Writ tells us Moses crossed the Red Sea, ftnd was, according to our Bards, relieved by the Gadelians with provisions, and for which God blessed their offspring through Moses. When the reader will have considered the extraordinary character of Niulf for goodness and learning, he will admit that 186 years were no great age fur him at that early * How applicable is this rebuke of Parsons to English scribes who, pre- tending that they make tours through Ireland* pen books, nvhilst perched on a roost in an attic in London, and give to the world their " Week in the West," " Week on the Shannon;" whereas they never left the roost. f Niul was born about twelve months after Phenius's arrival in Sennair. iNTRODiJCTroif. rxir periiod \rtiÉ^ «leti led téhiperirte "lives, and were rematkabte far longewlty . Bnt afl wonder mil dhappeat wtieu Í haw placed beA)re you a fiifvr itets. EastobS woA on " Human Longevity * (Salisbury, 1799), say» thafftie Courttesftof Desmond, a native of Ireland, lived to the age of 145, and, up to lier deMb> «as in all ber usual vigor. She saw nitie traceemlve king» of England fVom Edward IV. to James I. TTiomas ¥arr, Wimhigton, Yorttshire, «td A.». 16S5, aged 159; and medieal men say, if be had not gone to London betronld have lived to the age of 200. Henry Jenkinb, Yorkshire, died A. D. WTO, nged 16d years. St. Monagh, 1781, aged 165. tbe «ame auriior tells M that Maffeus and the royal historiographer, femattáa Lopec, l^ortuguese authors (whom Easton calls tnod^s of verafcity), State that one Nnml» de Cugna, a native of Bengal, lived to ttie age rf 370. Tegg's •Chronology mentions one Lynch, a negro of Jamaica, who lived tb 150. I bare been myself speaking this year to a person named John Smith, in presence «f many witnesses, as he told me that be saw in the churchyard of St. fatrick^i Cathedral, New York, a tombstone of an Italian who died at the age of 175. Hie Freeman's Journal gives an instance of a man having died at the age of 150, in Kingstown, near Dublin, A.D. 1S97. Hence it is plain that tiiere is nothing unreasonable in the Bards ha^ng said that Moses and Niul met* On the contrary it is to their credit tliat their narration of facts can be made to agree with that of Holy Writ. ANCIENT NATIONAL MILITIA. As to ouf National Militia, I have not time to speak of tbem as the mat. ter demands. There was never better disciplined, nor braver men than they. Their sysf^ra of strategy was most perfect. The standing army was only three legions, o£ 3000 men to each, ualess in case of necessity, when the number was nine legions, of 2,000 men each. There was a Cath-mhilcadb (Caveelee), or Colonel, over each legion, and a man, known, loved, and trusted, by the men in his command ; every hundred men had a captain of the same character ; a lieutenant bad fifty men ; a serjeant, who was like the Roman Decurio, had the command of twenty-five men. But when the army was drawn out in battle array, there was an oBScer to every ten men in a rank, and that was the usual order. It is on this account that the erro- neous impression exists, that one man was equal to ten men of any other nation ; whereas its meaning is, that the officer, witli his ten men, would encounter any ten enemies. It was death by the military law to recede an inch — but to advance fearlessly. The Irish militia laws were most honorable. By tbem no candidate could be taken intu the ranks until he had first sub> scribed to these articles :— first, that in selecting a wife, he should do so for ber virtues, her courtesy, and good manners— not for her fortune ; second, that he would never oifer violence to a woman's honor ; third, that XXXVl INTIIODUCTION. he would be charitable to the poor ; fourth, that he would not refuse, to fight with any nine men of any other country. From this it appears how par- ticular Finn Mac Chumhuill (Chooil) was in selecting men for his army, Never was an army superior to these Pagan soldiers in bravery, discipline, and morality. They generally subsisted during six months of the year by fishing and hunting, and wherever night came on them, they fitted up tem- porary sheds of and with the boughs of trees ; their beds consisted of the same materials, strewed over with rushes and moss. In the winter months they were maintained at the King's expenfe, and billeted amongst the peo- ple. They took only one meal, and that in tíie evening. To prepare for it they dug large pits, and into them they put alternate layers of stones, dried wood, and meat tied up in rushes, and then applied fire to the bottom, as we now dry com in our rnrtd kilns. This being done, they went to wash off the day's perspiration in some water, near which they were always sure to rest for this purpose And such was their modesty, Miss Brookes and Rev. Wm. Walker say, that they first washed the lower part of themselves, and then having tied their shirts round their waists, they washed the upper part. What morality iu Pagans ! but it is admitted on all hands, that Pagan or Christian Ireland at all times was pre-eminent in this respect ; the few exceptions do but prove the rule of Irish morality. Some lying historians, who wish to make money by ministering to the morbid appetite of the lovers of romance and vulgar nonsense, have sought to bring discredit on our Irish militia and their generals, by telling myths, relative to them. Amongst this vile hireling class, is Hector Boetius of Scotland, who repi^sents Fmn Mac Cumhuill as a man of enormous stature, fifteen cubits high. But the ancient native records tell us, that he was a man of ordinary size, that he had under him men of larger size, and of a more robust body. Never was there a better authenticated fact, nor more certain, than that Finn was in existence, and of great renown in Ireland as a veritable man, and a polished courtier. His parentage, pedigree, the time of his birth and death, can be ascertained by reference to Keating, O' Flaherty, O'Hallaron, and others. The history of Magh Lena, which I understaud has been lately edited by I'rofessor Curry, will convince any rational man as to the existence of the illustrious Commander-in-Chief of the Fianna Erin. To this day, when the peasantry turn up hard black earth, they call it " Finn's earth," thus meaning, that it is some of the remains of the burnt clay which remained of the pits in which the Fianna cooked their meat. It must be borne in mind, that it was not native writers forged the fables, but men of other countries, for the purpose of traducing the Irish character, and to throw discredit on our history. Throughout the history will be inserted arguments in sup- port of Ireland's pristine glory. HISTORY OF IRELMD. CHAPTER L A HISTORIAN, who would make his narrative inteiesting, ought to make the reader acquainted with the aborigines .of the country about which he means to write. In accordance with this principle a School History of Ireland cannot have a more suitable opening than the following. TRACING THE SCOTTIC RACE TO THEIR SOURCE— JAPHET, SON OF NOAH.- The thread of this chapter is taken from the " Book of In- vasions," which is called the '* Record of Dromsneachta." This was a book of authoritv, when St. Patrick came to Ire- land. Magog, the son of Japhet, had three sons — Baath, Ibhaath, and Fathaechta.* From Baath came Fenius Farsa, the ancestor of the Gael. Niul was the son of Fenius, and Oaodhalf was the son of Niul. The reason of their being called " Cinna Scuit," Scythic, or Scottish race, is this : — The sovereignty of Scythia having been left to Nenual, the elder son of Fenius, whilst Niul the youngerj having got for his inheritance only the profits of the arts and sciences, ordered •his posterity to be called Scuits or Scots. Fenius went to Shenáir§ to learn the language of his ancestors. This was after the return to Scythia of the seventy-two of his scholars • Baw, Ivaw, Fawawghtha, f Gayul. \ It is from this Niul the illustrious O'Neills of Ulster derive their name • §01(1 land. 3 . 2 HISTORY OF IKKLAND. whom he sent out as deputations to collect the several dialects. With these he formed the University of Shenair. The heads of this School were Fenius, Gael, the son of Eahor of the race of Goraer from Greece, and Khee, of the race of Shera. Kinflola, the learned, tells us that it was at this time was born JN'inus,* son of Belus, who was son of Nimrod. At the end of twenty years Tenius returned with some of the learned men to Scvihia, where he estabHshed Schools. He made Gael, son of Eahor, his relative. President of these vschools ; and, amongst pther things, he got him to reduce the Irish tongue into school form, and to divide it into five dialects, viz. : — the Eenian, the poetic, historic, medical, and the ver- nacular dialects. It was after this Gael, and not after the grandson, our language was called Gaodhalig.t Fenius lived and ruled twenty-two years after his reassumption of the scep- tre. Niul's fame, having reached Pharaoh, he was invited into Egypt for the purpose of founding schools therein. He got Scota, Pharaoh's daughter, in marriage ; and, as a marriage portion, he received territoriesi along the Red Sea. On his death In's widow and Gael ruled the territory ; of Gael came Eacru, and of the latter was descended Sru. These succes- sively ruled Niul's territory on the banks of the Red Sea. Pharaoh a7i túr^ banished the Gael;|| and in this part of the narration Walsingham in his Hypodigma concurs : but he certainly errs when he says, that it was Sru who came to Spain, the fact being that it was Braha, the thirteenth from Niul, that settled in Spain. It was to Crete Sru migrated, and in which he died. His son, Heber Scot, went thence to Scythia, * Anno mnndi 1945. f Gayul. \ Improperly called " Caperchirath," as there was no city there at the time. § I'baraoh of the Tower — so called, as probably he was the first Egyptian king that got a large one erected tot worship and as « Kgkt-koute. 11 The Gael banished from Egpyt A.D. 2265. ORIGIN OF THB MlLKSlANS. Z with a crew of four ships and thirty persons in each ship. In Crete he left some of his people. On Heber's arrival a war broke out between him and the offspring of Nenual for the crown. After Heber's death, Eagnon, son of Taith, killed Riflore the king, of the race of Nenual. The two sons of the latter, RiíRll and Nenual, drove out the Gael under the leadership of Eagnon and Heber, the sons of Taith. They sailed to an island in the Caspian. In this island died Agnon, whose sons w'ere Ealladh, Lavfiun,* and Lavglass.t Tiie sons of Heber were Cahear and King. At the end of twelve months the Gael sailed from the island in three ships, there being sixty in each, and every third man having a wife ; there were six captains. They sailed along the river Cyrus until they reached the Moschech mountains where the Phasis met the river Cyrus- On the majestic Phasis they navigated into the Pontic or Eux- ine Sea ; along the eastern coast they sailed until they arrived at the country of Gothia or Gothland, lying east of the mouth of the Danube but west of the present Crimea. It was here Lavfinn had an eminent son, Glunfinn.J Here it is said they remained 150 years. It was in this country was born Bratha, the eighth in descent from Heber of the White Knee. The Book of Invasions states that Gothia was an island near Crete and Sicily, but that cannot be, as the same authority told us already, that the Gael, upon havnig left the island, sailed by a narrow sea, which was no other than the river Cyrus (there being T^o other possible passage for them, considering circum- stances), until they came to the Moschech mountains (not the " Riphean Hills" as there were no such), whence they navi- gated to a country, called " Gothiana;"§ There was no coun- • White hand. f Greea hand. % White knee. § We incline to the opinion that " Samothrace," an island in the ^gean Sea, north-west of the Thracian Chersonese, is " Gothiana," a&it is called by some writers " Irania," in which Ir, the noblest son of Milesins, WM born. 4 HISTORY OF IRKL.VND. try within reach of then» by sea but that pointed out before. From Gothland they sailed along the west of the Euxine, out by the Bosphorus, or Straits of Constantinople, the Propontis or Sea of Marmora, the Hellespont or Dardanelles, along the coast of Phrygia, westward thence to Crete, Lacedajmon, Sicily, then cruising along the coast of Africa until they arrived at Gadeira or Cadiz. Here, beyond all doubt, they, for a time, settled about A.M. 2355, and formed what is called the Phoenician colony about 1565 years before Christ. Bratha sailed thence northward, and put into Gallicia, so called after the Gael. The four chiefs, who accompanied Bratha to Spain, were, Oige, Uigé, Mantan, and Cahiear. Under these ad- mirals were four ships, in each of which were fourteen mar- ried couples, besides six armed men. On landing they were opposed by the descendants of Tubal, son of Japhet, whom they subdued. The offspring of Oige and Uige died of a plague, whilst Braha's encreased. Of Braha came Brogan, from whom descended Bile, father of Mile Easpainé * or Milesius. Milesius, whose fame was become great in Spain, having conceived a desire of visiting his kindred in Scythia, who he heard were harrassed by neighbouring tribes, equips a fleet of thirty ships, and having manned them with the due number of heroes, takes to the Atlantic, sails southwards, goes in by the Pillars of Hercules (Straits of Gibraltar). He tliereupon pursues the route that his ancestors took as they came to Spain. Upon his having arrived in Scythia he sent a despatch to Riflore, king of the country, to apprise him of his arrival. Milesius was invited to the court, where, after the usual greetings of welcome had been gone through, the king, having made him commander-in chief of his forces, gave him in marriage his daughter Sheng, who bore him two sons, viz. : Don and Air- each Feavrua. When Milesius had subdued the invaders and * Spanish warrior. ORIGIN OF THE MILESIANS. marauders, he became a great favorite with the people. The king, having observed this, grew apprehensive lest Milesius might become so powerful as to deprive him of the sovereignty. Under the influence of this dread, he ])lotted for his death, though he was his son-in-law. A knowledge of the plot having been intimated to Milesius, a dispute arose between the king and him. Thereupon Milesius in single combat wounded the king in the knee, and he died of the wound.* Milesius, therefore, unwilling to remain longer in Scythia, assembled his faithful people, embarked them on board sixty ships, and sailed through the Caspian ; thence having entered the river Cyrus west of it, navigated until he came to the river Phasis, which joins it, at a defile in the Moschech mountains ; he rode on the waters of that majestic river until he reached the Pontic or Euxine Sea. He thence cruised along its eastern coast, pass- ing south of the present Crimea, visits the invincible DahsB a tribe of the Scythians, and having learned the state of his kindred in that country, which lay east of the Danube, he once more put to sea, going along the western coast of the Euxine. He then continues his voyage through the Bosphorus or Straits of Constantinople, enters the Propontis or Sea of Marmora, comes out by the Hellespont or Dardanelles, pro- ceeds through the ^gean Sea along the coast of Troas, Ionia, and lands at Crete. Here he leaves such of his crew as were sick, aged, or weary of the journey ; and having done so he sailed to the mouth of the Nile, whence he sends a message to Pharaoh Nictonebus, informing his Majesty of his having landed in his dominions. The latter, upon the receipt of the embassy, dispatches some of his courtiers to invite him to his palace. When he had arrived, the king having welcomed him, gave lands to himself and his people. At this time there • Book of Ballymote, p. 31 aad 32. 8 ' HISTORY OF IRELAND. broke out a mighty war between Pharaoh and the king of Ethiopia. Pharaoh, having heard of the heroism and valor of Milesius, made him commander-in-chief of his forces. Such was his prowess and great success in arms against the enemy, that his fame and renown spread far and wide. In consequence of his brilliant achievements, Pharaoh gave him as wife his daughter whom he called Scota, after the name of the country of his ancestors. By her he had two-sons in Egypt, viz. : Heber of the White Knee, and Avergin who was afterwards a celebrated poet. We should have previously stated, that, as soon as Milesius had arrived in Egypt, he sent twelve young men* of talent to learn the chief arts of that country, giving direction to each of them to become thorough master of some one art, so as that at the end of his beven years* residence therein he might return to Spain carrying with him the most valuable knowledge of Egypt. In this very fact we have an evidence of the great devotion of the Milesian race at all times and in all places to the cultivation of the Arts and Sciences. After a stay of seven years in Egypt he gets ready his three-score ships, and, having embarked in them his people, he takes leave of his father-in-law. He sails north- ward to visit the colony he left in Crete. Thence he goes through the -^gean Sea and arrives at Samothrace, a small is- land lying west of the Thracian Chersonese. His object in having visited this island was to learn the rites and ceremonies of their religious worship, it being the great mart for acquiring a knowledge of Pagan theology, as almost all the Gods of Asia and Greece were worshipped there. It was in this island was * The Book of Balltmotb supplies ns with the names of the twelve, who learned the arts and sciences. These are they : — Segda, Sabairce, and Sairge, learned Mechanics; Mantan, Caithear, and Fulman, Druidis ; Goisdean, Anairghin (Avereen) and Don studied Law ; Military Tactics were leaf necf by Milidh, Oige, and Uige. • ORIGIN OF THU MILESIANS. 7 born Ir, the noblest of his sons, and the ancestor of the most illustrious champions of Ireland, her greatest saints, statesmen» orators and poets. This island was, from the fact of his birth therein, called Ir-an (land of Ir) or Iraena. Having here attained his object, he puts to sea, voyaging southward tiirough the ^gean and Cyclades, passing by Milos, until he comes to Lacedaemonia, whence he goes towards, and puts in at the island Ortygia, contiguous to the sonth-west part of Sicily. The« most of this route has been suggested by the beautiful Irish poem of Bishop O'Connell, which we have given in the original with a translation in our First Volume. This poem is now rendered famous under the name of " Ireland's Dirge." Having sailed from this island, he proceeds along the coast of Africa, comes out through the Pillars of Hercules, cruises by the western coast of Spain, and makes land at Galicia, or " The land of the Gael." His countrymen Avere overjoyed at his return, as they were overrun by the Goths and other stran- gers. Against these, having collected all the forces he could, he triumphed over them in fifty-four battles, and expelled them the country; so that himself and the descendants of Brogan, the Spanish ancestor of the Gael of Ireland, became sole masters of the country. The land having been wasted by war, famine and disease, the usual consequence set in. The chief- tains, therefore, having met in council, to deliberate upon what steps should be taken to alleviate the people's suffering, re solved upon sending the most prudent, learned and accom- plished amongst them to take observations of Ireland, as tiieir prophet Caihear had predicted that such was their final desti- nation. The personage So selected was Ith (Ee) son of Bro- gan, son of Braha and uncle of Milesius, though some say (but falsely) that he was his brother. He could not be tiiat, whereas he was brother of Bile who was father of Miiesins, The council chamber was in Brogan's tower in Galieia. The '^ 8 HISTORY OP IRELAND. reader will please bear ia mind that in the terrible days of English Elizabeth the glorious O'Donnell, the 0' Moore, the renowned O'SuUivan Beare, and other persecuted Irish princes, made it a point, upon having landed in Spain, to make a pil- grimage to the remains of their ancestral Tower. In addition to the prophecy relative to Ireland, there existed an affinity between the two countries ; for Eochy Mac Arc, the last king of the Firbolgs, married Tailte, daughter of Mamore, king of Spain.* The Book of Invasions tells us that Ith, upon his having made land, asked the name of the country, was told that it was Inis-ealga (noble island), and that the three sons 6f Carmoda Milvul (or Carmada, "the honey-mouthed") son of Daga, ruled the country alternately each successive year. They were at this time in Ulster, and had a dispute with regard to the division of the treasures of their ancestors. Ith, with two-thirds of his crew, or one hundred men, proceeded to have an interview with the princes. They bade him welcome, and told him the cause of their dispute. He informed them that it was a storm drove him on their island, that he did not intend to reside in it but to return to his own country. His courtly manners and learning conciliated for him the good opinion of the princes, whose names were, Mac Coill, Mac Ceacht, and Mac Gréine.f Ith having advised the brothers to make an equal partition of the treasure, and thus reconciled them, he withdrew — after having first spoken in high terms of the richness of the land which they possessed. The princes* * From this queen the celebrated games, known as the Tailtean, were so called t Mac Coill, that is, " the son of icood," as he liked the trade of a car- penter. Mac Ceacht, the "*on of the plough,]' as he was fond of agri- culture. Mac Greina, as he studied astronomy, including the motion of the sun and other heavenly bodies. For,' assuredly, the primitive Da- naans worshipped the true God, though in after times they worshipped the celestial deities. ORIGIN OF THB MILlfiSIANS. 9 when they had reflected on the iangnage of 1th, considering that he but came to reconnoitre the island, and that he might return with his countrymen to make a conquest of it, followed and slew him. His followers brought the dead body of their admiral to their shipping, and having put it on board returned to Spain, related to their friends the treacherous treatment of the Tuatha de Danaans. The sons of Ith and of Milesius re- solved to sail for Ireland and avenge the death of the former. Thirty ships composed their fleet, and in each ship were thirty chiefs besides common soldiers and their wives. In this fleet were, according to " The Book of Invasions," forty sons of Milesius, eight only of whom were legitimate, and were sons of Sheng, daughter of the king of Scythia, and Scota, daugh- ter of Pharaoh. By the former he had, as was before said, Donn and Aireach Peavroo ; and by Scota he had six, viz. — Heber and Amhergin, born in Egypt ; Ir, born in Ir-an or Samothrace ; Calpa, born in Gothia ; Aranann and Heremon, born in Gallicia.^See page J 25 Keating, vol. I. for the names of the illegitimate sons of Milesius, and the places in Ireland called after the forty commanders. The place of their landing was, first, in Wexford harbour, and afterwards, at Inver Sgeine, or Kenmare in Kerry. — See Poem of Cionnfaela on " the Mile- sian voyage." Having, it is hoped, satisfactorily traced the true Milesians of Ireland to their source, and having followed them through their circumnavigations, to the utmost of our power, resting on the most reliable authorities, we now come to treat of their territory since their arrival. CHAPTER II. ON THE DIFFERENT NAMES OF IRELAND. Ireland, according to Orpheus of Crotona, cotemporary of Pisistratus, and of Cyrus the Great, in his poem of the 10 HISTOUY OP IRELAND. Argonauts, 543 years before Christ ; aud Aristotle, in his book of the world, to Alexander, call it " Jema'^* Juvenal and Poraponius Mela, call it " Iuverna."t Ptolemy, "luernia." Diodorus Siculus, " Iris" In the life of Gildas Badonicus it is called " Iren."i Claudianus and Strabo call it " lerne." Eufus Pestus Avienus in his book calls it " Insula Sacra."^ Plutarch, in his book De facie in orbe lunae, calls it " Ogy- gia."|| Caesar, Pliny, and Tacitus call it " Hibernia," which is the same as the previous names; "h" is no letter and is only an euphonic insertion — a thing very much used with Greek and Latin writers — removing h and b — we have " lernia" The Irish derivation of which is "ir" sacred, " in," island. Greek, Hiere, sacred, nésos, island, " sacred isle." Pliny tells us, we should seek the proper name in the language of the country, and the one adopted by the inhabi- tants, and not the one given by the caprice of strangers.^ Keating*"*^ says it was called " Inis Alga,"tt or " noble island" " Inisfail,"íí from "Lia-fail," or "stone of destiny," brought thither by the Tuatha de Danaans from Norway before and after the arrival of the Milesians ; it was called Eire, Podhla, (Feeola), and Banba, after three sisters, who were married to * Of a similar antiquity, neither the Romans themselves could produce a testimony. — Usher, page 724. •f- Peter Lombard, comment, cap. I. \ He went to Iren or Ireland, that he might find the opinions of other Doctors of Philosophy and divine learning — Life of Gildas, c. 6. § From this the ancients gave it the name of Sacred Island ; it has a deep soil in the waters, the Hibernians are its possessors ; an island of the Albions lies near and open. — Festus Avienus in Camden. g The Poets call that '• Ogjgia" which means " most ancient'' — Rhodog. b. 15, c. 33. H Hist. Nat. Lib. I. ** Book of Emigrations. tt Psalter of Cashel. X\ Lecaa «ad otbws. IUli:LA^D IV PAGAN TIMES. . II three brothers, who reigned alternately, m we> in our first chapter, mentioned. Camden says, that " Erin," or Eire, is the real name of the island, but he is wrong in its derivation from the Irish word " Hiar." — SeeOgygia.* The Milesians called it " Scotia," and the inhabitants, Clanna-Scuitte, from Scota, alluded to before. It is certain that from the third to the eleventh century, Ireland was called by foreigners " Scotia" and ils inhabitants Scoti, or Scots.t Ammian and Claudian, in the fourth century, call the Irish, Scots. J St. Prosper, speaking of the Pelagian heresy in Britain, calls Ireland " the Island of Scots. "§ Gildas, in the sixth century, speaks of the Irish and Scots as the same people. || Isidore, in the se- venth century, says " that Scotia is the same as Ireland" (" Scotia eadem et Hibernia."^ The Abbot Jonas says, " that Columbanus was born in Ireland, which was inhabited by Scots, and that it surpassed all the neighbouring countries in the fervor of Christianity, and in faith."** The holy men Aid- helm, Abbot of Malmesbury, and Adamnan, Abbot of Hy, use " Irish and Scots," " Ireland and Scotia" as synonimous terms.tt The Venerable Bede, a respectable authority of tha eighth century, confirms the truth of this statement, in his Ecclesiastical History, in the first chapter, where he speaks of * As much as the east is distant from the west, so much does Eire (Hiar, in the Irish, which means westerly) difiFer in its meaning — Ogy, p. 20, pt. I. f Peter Lombard, comment, cap. I., page 5 ; cap. II. page 15. X The following lines from Claudianus prove Ireland to be the country of the ancient Scots. " The icy lerne bewailed the heaps of the Scots ; when Scotia, and all lerne were moved, and the sea moved from the hostile oar." — Usher. § St Prosper in Usher, c. 16, page 797, and Usher's Church History, c. 16, p. 798. II He takes the Scots and Irish for the same people, so Cogitosus also observes in his prologue of the Life of St. Bridget. — Usher, c. 16, p. "29. H Origen, liber 14, cap. 6. ••Usher, c. 16, p. 7. 729. ttDo. 12 HISTORY OF IRELAND. the Scots as the inhabitants of Ireland ; in the sequel of his History he distinguishes the Scots of Ireland from those of Albania ; he says, ** that Pope Honorius sent letters to the Scots of Ireland to correct the error about the celebration of Easter, and that they conformed to the canonical rite."* In the end of the chapter, he says, " that the Picts gave the Scots the island of Hy, in gratitude for preaching the Gospel among thera."t Columbanus, the abbot, built a monastery in Hy. (Bede continues) there came from Ireland a holy man, named Fursey, who preached the word of God for many years in Scotia, and then left his native land.ij: From all these proofs from Bede's history, it is evident he allows but one Scotia, which is Ireland. § Alcuin, the disciple of Bede, in his life of St. Willibiord, uses indiscriminately Scotia and Ireland. Eginhard, secretary to Charlemagne, and Anguoleme the monk, who wrote the life of Charlemagne, ajffirra the same thing. || Rabanus, Archbishop of Mayence, Ninius; a British author, Fabius Etiielwerdus, and the Anglo- Saxon annals;^ Notker Le Begue, in his life of Charle- magne,** and Usher, quoting an ancient author of the life of St. Killian,tt all unanimously affirm that Scotia is Ireland. • " The Scots, who inhabited the south of Ireland, listened to the ad- monition of the Holy See, and conformed to the canonical observance of Easter." — Bede, book 3, c. 3. t Bede, book 3, c. 3 and 4. ^ | Bede, book 3, c. 19 § " Though Bede distinguishes the Scots of Ireland from those of Bri- tain, still Scotia to him is one and the same." — Usher, Hist. b. 4, p. 623- I " A Norman fleet attacked Ireland, the country of the Scots ; a battle was fought and the Normans defeated.'' — Annals of Eginhard on the year 812. ^ Ethelwerd chron., lib. 4, cap. 3. " " It happened that two Scots came from Hibernia to Gaul, most learned in sacred and profane writing." — Notker le Begue in Usher. ft " Scotia, called also Hibernia, is renowned for the| sanctity of its people, from among them Columbanus gave lustre to Italy, St. Gal to Germany, and Killianus to Teutonic France.*' — Usher, c. 16, p. 733. DESORIPTION or THK CODNTRY. 13 From this long chaiu of evjdence, and from the concurrent testimony of so many respectable authorities, in favour of Ire- land being called, Scotia, and Scotia Ireland, I presume the impartial reader will not hesitate for a motnent to give his un- qualified assent to the truth of the assertion. CHAPTER III. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. Ireland, the most western island of Europe, is in the At- lantic ocean, lying west of England, between 51 and 55 N. Latitude, and 5th and 10th degree W. Longitude. It is about 306 miles long, from Fairhead in Antrim to Mizzenhead in Cork. Its breadth is about 210 miles from Carnsore point in Wexford to Urris in Mayo. Its circumference is 1400 miles; it contains 20,765,342 acres, of which 13,464,300 are arable, 5,340,700 are reclaimable mountain and bog, and 455,720 acres are under lakes. According to the census of 1841 the population was about 9,000,000, but according to 1851 it was 6,500,000 ; the decrease isthe result of famine, disease, and emigration, owing to the insecurity of the occupiers of the soil. Its general distance from Great Britain is 45 miles. Ireland is 220 miles from France, 440 from Spain. The long- est day in Ireland is about 17 hours. The climate is mild and agreeable. Isidore says it is more fertile than Britain. The venerable Bede confirms the opinion of these writers.''**' Cam- * "Nature has bestowed on Ireland mildness of look and climate. It has a great many majestic lakes, abounding in fish, larger than there is in any other country we have seen ; this land is specially favored." — Camb. Dist. Cap' 1, Sept. Top. " Hibernia is distinguished by some things ua- known to the ordinary course^ of nature, as, though the treasury of this land seems to be of a peculiar nature, wherein she has yielded up her rare and more valuable secrets."-^/^., Cap. 2. " Of all lands she is the most temperate, neither the burning heat of Cancer forces you to the shade, 11- HlSTORf OF lllKLAND. brensis says, that of all climates'Irehnd is the most temperate. Though he extols the fertility of the soil, he and Camden say that the inhabitants are without morals and undisciplined sa- nor the piercing cold of Capricorn forcibly invites you to the fire.'' — lb.. Cap. 25. *' The temperature of its air is such that neither the obstructing cloud, nor the pestilential breeze, nor the emaciating atmosphere is there* The island needs not the doctor. No native who never left the land and its salubrious air, has ever suffered from either of the three species of fever ; they suffer from one sharp species of it, and that but seldom." — lb. " She has deer so remarkably fat that they are unable to run ; and the ■mailer they are the statelier their head and horns. It abounds in hawks and falcons ; you can see eagles and birds of ])rey in abundance.''— /A. " It is an island most rich in plains of undulating corn, well irrigated with fountains and rivers, its woods and meadows are enchanting, in metals abounding, of gems productive." — Bart. Angl. c. 15, p. 80. The previous as well as the annexed passages shew two things — the an- tiquity and the superiority of our nation. Of Ireland early authors write: — *' Scotia and Hibernia are the same ; next to Britain it is the greatest island, less in extent, but more fertile in soil.*" — Isodore, c- 6, b, 14, de intuits. " Of all islands (Ireland) has the most productive glebe." — Suirus on the Life of S. Rumold. " Of very rich soil, of a yield of crops, a genial land, the fields abounding in every sort of produce, its mountains covered with cattle." — Gerald Bam/s To- pography of Ireland. In another place Cambrensis says— >" Ireland abound- ed in gold and silver." " An Island rich in wealth, gema, riches, and gold, In air, sun, and soil, salubrious for mankind, Scotia teems with milk and honey throughout Its lovely plains, Abounds in fine robes, armies, crops, men, and science." ^ From a Life of St. Bridget in the Vatican. *' Better known than Britain by reason of its ports and harbours, which were more suitable for trade and commerce." — Tacitus, " In this respect (ports and harbours) better provided than Britain." — Lombard. " In Hi- bernia, which is called ' Scotia Major,' there flourished holy men, who dispersed themselves over all parts of France, Gaul, &c." — Conrade. " Scotia, called also Hibernia, is happy in its soil, but still more in its emi- nent saints, of whom Columbanus resides in Italia, Gall in Germania (rather Switzerland), Kilian (Bishop) in Teutonic France." — Breviarium Aberdonense. " St. Kilian of Hibernia, or Scotia, most productive of most DESCKIPTlOIi OP THE COUNTRY. 15 vages, not to be governed by laws. If sach be their character, we will leave the reader to infer from what will be said in the course of this History, as well as from the language of our Introduction. In Ireland there are four provinces — Leinster, distinguished men.'' — Chronicon Mundi, fol. 132. " Hibernia, anciently called Scotia, of which is the nation of the Scots of Albania." —Author of St. Columba's Life, Capgrave. " St, Kilian, a saint of the island Hibernia." — Marianus. " Hibernia is inhabited by Scottish tribes." — Orosiut. " Hi- bernia is the country of the Scots." — Bede, L. 1, part 20. " Let them go to Scotia, that they may enter St. Patrick's Purgatory." — Ceesarius, L. 12, cap. 38. " Scotia, lying to the west, is called Hibernia." — Petrus Cani- sius. "The old Scotia is denominated Hibernia." — Gretserius. "This island has something specially good in its productions." — Camirensis Dis. c. 2. " It has enchanting plains, richest soil, a most abundant yield of all fruits ; it is a charming couiltry ; its fields teem with all productions ; its mouatdins with herds." — Berti Ang. Solinus, in his third book, speaks in high terms of " its fertile fields, rich pastures, and numerous flocks." The Editor of " Wright's Ireland," has, in reference to Hume, these words : — " From the language of the countries he (Hume) holds it clear that ' the Highlanders and the Irish are the same people,' and that there is positive evidence that 'the former, in the third or fonrth century, sprang from the latter.' " — At A.D. 411, in a note. Camden writes — " The genuine Scots were descended from the Irish.' He adds, that " the communion of languages alone would clearly evince it, nay, more clearly than the authorities of the most profound historians." " In musical instruments, of all nations to my knowledge, she is incom- parably educated. Ireland uses and delights in only two instruments, namely, the harp and the tambourine." — Ibid. In the last part of this passage Barry is wrong, as can be seen on reference to Walker's " Bards" and Miss Brooke's " Collections," wherein other instruments n'e men- tioned. " Here (meaning Ireland) are also, in abundance, numerous mine- rals, such as native silver, alumen, vitriol, (flint), sulphur, antimony, nay, even some metals of surpassing character. There is here also a quan- tity of marbles of a three-fold genus, namely, white, black, and green (in this he is wrong, for there are more. ) There is also alabaster in the north- ern part. And in shells as well as on the strands are found many marque- rites, of which there are many of very great value, though not as brilliant as those which are brought from the east. Nay, the Lapis Lydius is here in abundance and not far from Dublin." — Cambrensisy cap. 9. 10 HISTORT OF IIIKLAND. " Ulster, Miinster, and Connaught ; 32 Counties — 12 in Lein-- «iter, 9 in Ulster, 6 in Munster, and 5 in Connaught. The principal rivers of Ireland are, 1st, in Leinster — the Barrow, which rises in ,Slieve-Bloom in the Queen's County, and falls into the sea at Waterford. The Nore rises in the Queen's County, and joins the Barrow above Ross. The Boyne rises in Kildare, waters East Meath, and falls into the sea at Drogheda. The Liffey rises in the County of Wicklow, runs by Leixlip, where it tumbles from a rock, called the Salmon- leap, and falls into the sea at Dublin. The Slaney rises in Wicklow, and falls into the sea at Wexford. The Bonnagh rises in the King's County, and falls into the Shannon. The rivers of Ulster are — the Baun, which rises in the County of Down, runs through Lough Neagh, and falls into the ocean ; the best river in Europe for fish.* The Mourne or Eoyle is a river, formed by the confluence of the rivers Binn- dale, the Pin, and Derg, rising in Donegal, and of the Ca- meron and Foyie in Tyrone. This united sheet of water, after forming a part of the boundary between Donegal and Tyrone, passes by Londonderry and disembogues itself into Lough Foyle. The Erne has its source in Lough Gann, passing Lough Oughter in Cavan, through Lough Erne, and falls into Donegal Bay. The Laggan rises in the County Down and falls into Carrickfergus Bay. The rivers of Connaught are — the Shainion, the largest in Ireland, rises in Slieve-an-iaran in Leitrim, waters Lanes- borough, Athlone, and Banagher ; divides Leinster from Con- naught, flows through Limerick into Kilrush, and bears ships of the greatest burden into the ocean, the distance of 50 mile?. Its entire course is 140 miles. The Moy in Mayo falls into the ocean at Killala. The Suck has its source in a well in the village of Cloonsuck, about two miles below the small village of • Ogygia, Part 3, Cap. 3. RIVERS AND LAKES. 17 Ballinlough, running between Roscommon and Galway, falls into the Shannon wear Clonfert. The rivers of Munster are — the Suir, which rises in Tippe- rary, and joins the Barrow at Waterford, and flows with it to the sea. Avon Dufl", or " Blackwater," rises in Kerry, passes through Cork, and falls into Youghal Harbour. The Lee and Banuon rise in Cork, and disembogue themselves into th^ sea at Cork and Kinsale. The Lane rises in Kerry, falls into Dingle Bay. The principal Lakes of Ireland are — Lough Neagh, 30 miles long, 15 broad ; its waters change w^ood into iron and stone;* it is bounded on the north and east by Antrim, on the west by Tyrone and Londonderry, and on the south by Armagh. Nennius an English author,+ Tolius,i the Author of Ogygia,§ and M. de Buffon make mention of it.|| Some say holly is the wood it petrifies, others say oak, broom, and yew-tree. Lough Toyle, Lough Erne, Lough Swilly, Lough Cone (now Strangford), Lough Dearg. All in Ulster. The Lakes of Connaught are — Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Conn, Lough Ciaran and Lough Dearg on the Shannon, Lough Boffin, Lough Allen, and Louglirea. The Lakes of Munster are — Lough Ogram, Lough Oulan, and Lough Derg. Lough Lene, in Kerry, contains about 6000 square acres (ac- cording to Hansbrow) bounded on the south and east by the mountains Mangerton and Turk, west by Glena, and r^rth- east by the town of Killarney. It contains several islands, like gardens. Nennius says, that four mines, tin, lead, iron, • Wares' Antiq. Hiber. cap. 7. f Ogygia (Wonders of Ireland.) \ " There is a lake in Ireland, every thing thrown into it, is changed into iron or stone." — Tollius Hist, on gems and stones. § " There is in Ulster a lake, Lough Neagh, if wood be put into it after 7 years, that which is at bottom becomes iron, what's in the water a whet- atone, and at the surface a tree." — Ogygia, part 3, c. 50. II Barton (Philosoph. Lectures), page 85, 4 J 8 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. and copper, form four circles around it, and that pearls are found in it, which kings wear for ear-ripgs.* The Giants Causeway, in the County of Antrim, is well worthy the at- tention of the curious ; it is the form of a triangle, extending about 600 feet into- the sea, consisting of many thousand pillars, pentagonal, hexagonal, and heptagonal, varying from 15 to 26 inches in diameter, touching one another with equal sides, which are so close, that the joints can scarcely be per- ceived, these pieces, which form them, are set one into the other, by concave and convex outsides ; these pillars are, in some places, 36 feet high, but their depth under the earth is not known. Whether they are a work of art, or of nature, is a question among the learned. They seem to be the produc- tion of art. The mountains of Ireland are, principally, the Curlew hills, in "Wicklow ; the Ard-na-Erin in Queen's County ; the Man- gerton in Kerry ; Mourne in Downe ; Mielre, Croagh-Patrick and Nephin in Mayo , besides many other not much inferior in size. There are many bogs, some 20 feet deep, which supply turf for fuel, which would be found highly valuable for yielding steam for railroad and Boat-engines, for a most brilliant gas and caudles. These bogs, by a proper treatment, could be brought to a state of being suitable for agriculture. - PRODUCE AND WEALTH. Ireland'abounds in all sorts of grain, viz. : wheat, barley, rye, oats, peas, &c. ;t its pastures are the best in Euroi)e. Bede says, it is " an island rich in milk and honey ."J There • " There is a lake in Ireland, Lough Lene, in which are found many gems, which kings wear for ear-rings." — Nennius wonders in Ireland, Ogy- pia, chap. 5. f Petrus Lombardus (de regno Hiber. Comment, cap. 8,} ^ " Divei lactis et mellis insula." — L. 1, c. 1. PROUUCB AND VTEALTH. 19 is also a plentiful supply of timber-trees, fruit-trees, peach, apple, pear, apricot, cherry, plum, &c. Ireland has ever had rich herds of oxen, sheep, goats, and swine, which mainly supply the EngUsh market ; her horses are excellent, for the saddle, draft, and for " the turf.* Her Connemara ponies are offspring of the Arabian horses imported here by " the Tribes of Galway/' There are eagles and other birds of prey ; also grey- hounds, fox-hounds, and other hunting dogs ; there are stags, boars, foxes, badgers, and otters ; all kinds of game, such as hares, rabbits, pheasants, grouse, woodcock, partridge, black and grey heron, snipe, plover, quail, wild geese, and wdld duck, &c. The rivers teem with all kinds of fish, such as salmon, trout, pike, eel, perch, and carp.f As to its sea fisheries, no nation in the world can surpass them, but a novicial govern- ment, and the nepotism of rulers, allow these immense treasures to remain undeveloped. Mines of goldj andsilver,§ tin, lead, copper, alum, sulphur, vitriol, and iron, are found in the bowels of the earth, and coals in abundance. There was on the bor- ders of the river Barrow || a foundry for manufacturing bucklers and coats of mail, to be given by kings, to those who distin- guished themselves in battle. There was also a mint for making gold chains, and rings for kings and other nobles. The mines of Ireland, if fully developed, would be a vast source of wealth, and would keep our laborers at home in full employment. Our Connemara marble quarries afford a«good field for the investment of capital by an enterprising company. The bowels of the earthy are heaving with rich burdens of copper and iron ore. Cambreusis himself bears testimony to • Racing Calendar (1845). + Pet. Lombardua (Comment, cap. 7.) I " A mine of gold near Liflfey." — Keating, pp. 64, 66, 74, A.M. 3085. Ante Ch. 915. § "A silver mine at Argiodross." — Ogygia, part 3, cap. 21. y Gratianus Lucius, cap. 8, pages 59, 62. 20 mSTOHY OF IKtI.AND. the wealth of the island, after the devastation of the Normans.* There are many extensive deposits of freestone, alabaster. Its produce and export are oxen, sheep, swine, leather, tallow, butter, cheese, salt, honey, wax, furs, hemp, wool, linen, stuffs, iish, lead, tin, copper, and iron, to a small extent.f Its har- bours are the best in the world for trade, J formerly frequented by the PhcEuicians,§ Greeks, and Gauls, and yet it is the fate of poor Ireland to be kept in subjection to, and dependance on Britain. The imports ' are numerous, the exports trifling. Hence the condition of the people can never be steadily im- proved, until at least the latter be equal to the former. This is the great question for Irishmen. Ireland has another peculiar blessing ; its land is entirely free from venomous serpents. || This property is peculiar also to the island of Crete, in which Milesius left a colony as he visited Egypt. When they are brought from other places (says Bede) they die upon approaching the land.^ Camden says, neither serpents, nor other venomous things, are to be met with here. Campion writes the same. The inhabitants of Ireland are tall and well made.*'* Their exercises are, hunting, horse-racing, foot-racing, wrestling. Their ancient military exercises were at Telton in Meath, instituted by Lugha-Lam- l^ada,tt one of their ancient kings. These games continued 30 days, 15 before and 15 after the first of August, in honor of thiir king Lugha, hence called Lugha Nasa. The Irish, as a distinct nation, have no military exercises in these days ; but numbers of the people are hired as soldiers by England — and on every battle field have ever proved themselves worthy * " Aurum quoqiie abundat insula."— Pet. Lorn., c. 9. f Wares Antiq. Hiber., cap. 7. X Petrus Lorn, c 2), and Tacitus, in his Life of AgrÍQola, says, the harbours are better known than those of Britain. § Ware's Antiq., c. 1. | Do. c. 7. ^ Bede, liber 1, c. 7. ** Petrus Lorn. cap. 12. ft Keating on the reign of Lugha* CHAKACTEa OF THE PEOPLE. 21 of the great fame of their chivalrous ancestors. As in litera- ture and in piety the old inhabitants were the foremost of all nations, so in arras their posterity have been always distin- guished. CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE AND THE ISLAND. Camden says, the Irish are " warlike and witty ;"* and Sta- nihurst, that they are of all men, " the most warlike, and most patient in fatigue, rarely suffering themselves to be cast down in the heaviest affliction. "f " They are of a kind and generous disposition — seldom down trodden in adversity. They have a great respect for religion. The knowledge of the liberal arts are held, also, in the highest estimation. But as to the reports propagated by some, that they spend their lives np and down in forests, amongst the wild beasts, and feed on grass like the brute ; these assertions are so far from being true, that nothing can, possibly, be truer than the contrary." Such is the language of Stanihurst in 1580 in the reign of Elizabeth, a reign of terror, misery an(^ barbarism as it re- garded Ireland. The people were left without their priesthood, who were murdered or forced into exile. The Catholic inha- bitants were uncontrolled by any law except what was derived from the force of their ancient manners. They were deprived of their lawful pastors, and they would not yield to Protestant ones. The} preferred to suffer earthly privations in the hopes of everlasting happiness. Rev. Peter Lombard, D.D., an emi- nent Irish writer living in Louvain, and a coteinporary of Stanihurst and Camden, thus writes: — "They (the Irish) are delighted with music and poetry (arts apt to polish and refine manners) ; they are fond of the sciences and liberal arts ; they hold the learned in the greatest estimation (a great sign of civilization.) They are more inclined to those studies, which * Camden Brit. p. 689. f Stan. L. 1, p. 48. 22 Hf STORY OF IRELAND. demand versatility of genius, than to those which require no exertion of the mind." After the evidence of so many re- spectable and unprejudiced authors, attesting the noble cha- racter of the inhabitants, and the superiority of the country, no writer, without subjecting himself to the imputation of a sinister, or malicious nature, can presume to assert that "Ireland was a nation of barbarians, and undisciplined savages — not to be governed^ by laws I ! T Such is the language of tlie lying Carabrensis or llev. Gerald Barry. As the Irish escaped the danger of being rendered barbarous and irreligious in the time of Elizabeth, it is clear that they could not have been so in the days of Barry, when England and Ireland were Catholic, and each country was alike anxious for the welfare of the Catholic Church, though the invader sacrificed many of its interests to subserve their own purposes. ** Scotia, called also Hibernia, is an island of the great ocean, famous tor the richness of its soil, but more so for its saints.''* " St. Killian, a bishop of western' France, was by birth a Scot of Hibernia, or Scotia, which has produced most distinguished men."-!- "The Anglo-Saxons, from all parts, flocked to Ireland, as to the mart of good learning.''^ " Hi- bernia is most tenacious of the Christian faith, which excels that of all neighbouring nations."^ " Ireland surpasses all the neighbouring nations in her failh.|i" " In Ireland not alone has the faith always existed, but thence issued most emi- nent saints.^ " In the south of Munster is an island on which is a church dedicated to St. Michael, of very old and authentic religion.** The island alluded to' by Cambrensis (Barry) is " Seelig Michel," or Skelligs, ofl" the coast of Kerry, The four principal places for pilgrims in Ireland are " St. Patrick's Ueek," in Connaught (Mayo), " His Purgatory in Ulster," * Breviarum Aberdenonse. t Chronicon Mund., fol. 132. } Camden. § Baronins. || Flodoarus. ^ Bosius. ** Cambrensis. CHAllACTKll OF THB PEOPLE. 25 (on Lough Derg in Donegal,) " The Rock of St. Michael" in Munster (alluded to above), and " St. Kevin's bed" in Lein- ster (Glendalough, Wicklow.) " The Irish are most expert in war, of a beautiful, and straight figure, of most robust members, and fair complexion. It's horses are naturally sa- gacious in their gait, and seem to walk as if to tune, and in royal style. Their draught horses are swifter than the ordinary saddle horses of England."* Of all nations with which I am acquainted, Hibernia is incomparably the most learned in music.f " Hibernia i* the school of saints and learned men."i " Hibernia abounds in most saints and largest population."^ " Hibernia has almost as many saints as there arc stars."|[ " Moved by the example of his ancestor, he, (St. Fulgentius) through a love of learning, went to Hibernia, famous for great philosophy."^ "There were there (Hibernia) at the same time, many of the English nobles, and of an inferior rank, who, having left their own country, either from a desire of divine study, or a more secluded . life, had gone thither, and some, indeed, shortly after, faithfully devoted themselves to a monas- tic life. Others felt a pleasure in visiting the cells (of the monks), to receive lessons of masters. All these the Scots cheerfully receiving, supplied them with daily food, books, and instruction gratuitously."** *' In Hibernia there is nei- ther serpent, snake, nor any venomous spiders ; so destrnc- tive, therefore, is the whole land of poisonous animals, that earth being brought thence, and scattered, kills serpents and toads. For, after serpents, being brought to it from England, as the ship was near the shore, having felt the smell of that clay, died; furthermore, nearly every thing brought from this land is an antidote against poison." "Of whom (Irish mouks) St. Columbanus, having arrived at our part of * Charsaa. i" Cambr. \ Gulimaa. § Mariaaus. II Surius & Mariaaus. % Author of the Life of St. Fuigentius. *• Bedt. 24 UISTORY OF IRELAND. Gaul (at the mouth of the Seine), built at Lexoviune a monas- tery whose inmates became very numerous."'*'" Proofs of this kind to a great length could be adduced. "They (the Irish; are gentle, spirited, brave, ready, patient of toil and hunger, fond of glory, and most capable of all military discipline, practice, and the exercise of arms of every kind.t They are a nation of strong and robust bodies, of a penetrating and warlike genus, quick conception, a strong and soaring mind, prodigal of life, covetous of fame, very hospitable to stran- gers, constant in love, credulous, impatient of insult and wrong. Its hunting days are the best." " Such is the cle- mency of its climate, that there is neither impeding cloud, pes- lential breeze, nor corrupting air. In it there is little need of physicians. No native, remaining in the country and the sa- lubrious air, has ever suffered from any of three classes of fever ; one sort of fever alone, and that very seldom, affects them."t " It has deer so fat, that they are not good for flight ; as they are small of body so they aire remarkable for erect heads and antlers. There are kites, falcons, and sparrow-hawks. Eagles are here as numerous as hawks in other countries." Por Ireland's mineral wealth and other resources, the reader is referred to Sir Eobert Cane's Work. In the time of the Peninsular wars the rearing, spinning, and after- manufacture of flax constituted a great staple, and since that article declined, with it declined one of the surest means of generating industrious habits, and spreading contentment amongst the peasantry. The nobility and gentry would ma- terially serve themselves and their tenants by encouraging these branches; and this they can best do by offering prizes, and erecting rippling and scutching machines on their estates for the use of the poor farmers. * St. Bernard. f Lombard. | Cambrensis. BARDS A^ND POSTS. 29 CHAPTER IV. ON THE ANTIQUITY OF THE SCOTO-MILESIANS. Historians are so much engaged about the researches, and origin of ancient countries, which are so marvellously described by ancient writers, that it is, with difficulty, you can distin- guish the small portion of truth they contain, from the fables they are vain enough to insert. Sacred History, therefore» must be the infallible guide in discovering the truth with re- gard to antiquity. Tne Chaldeans pretend to have made astronomical observations for 400,000 years. The Egyptians reckon 48,000 years and say, they have seen 1200 eclipses before the reign of Alexander the Great. The learned reject the chronologies of the Chaldeans and Egyptians as fabulous, and unknown to ancient astronomers. The Chinese acknow- ledge their books were all burned 2000 years ago by order of their Emperor Zeo ; and therefore they cannot have more an- cient monuments than since that time. Have not we, in the twelfth century, a certain English monk, in his forgery, called " the History of Brutus," great-grandson of ^neas, giving Britain this Brutus as the origin of its name, but this has been contradicted by Camden and Baker. The antiquity of the Gadelians, too, has perhaps something of the marvellous in it, but we cannot on that account say it is entirely devoid of truth. The reader is referred back to our Introduction on this point. The House of Austria, and Dukes of Ascot, trace their origin so far back as the deluge. The Milesians have done the same, by carefully transmitting to posterity, from a certain epoch, some features of their history ; if they have done so, with every appearance of truth, or not, will be seen from the sequel, as well as from a previous chapter. Varro marks out three eras : — the 1st, from the creation to the deluge, as obscure and uncertain ; but assuredly it is so it HISTORY OF lUKLAND. only in part. The close student can easily distinguish what is genuine from what is fabulous. The 2nd, from the deluge to the first Olympiad (775 years B.C.) is mixed with fable. The 3rd, from the first Olympiad to the present time as historical. Although Varro has been, to a certain extent, contradicted by Josephus, in regard to the correctness of many things in the histories of the Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Chaldeans, «till this distinction of time, marked out by that learned man, ought generally to be adopted in the histories of nations. The bards have transmitted to posterity an account of the dif- ferent colonies, who visited Hibernia before the birth of Christ, and, from their character we can judge, if they are worthy of credit. The ancient bards were *' Fileas," or philosophers, who sat, by right of sufirage, in the assemblies of the State. Strabo, Lucan, and O'Flaherty* say, they were poets and philosophers, masters of the arts and sciences according to Newton. + They wrote the annals, genealogies, wars, voyages, transmigrations, of the Milesians, who, according to them, are descended from Japhet and Magog, which made CamdenJ say, " that all other nations were new, when compared to theirs.'* It is certain also that, as persons lived in those days to a very great age, fathers instructed their children in the genealogies of their families — then the chief objects of their studies, — but, in order to be consistent in our history, and to distin- guish, as much as possible, the truth from what may be mixed with falsehood, let us with Varro follow, the three distinctions of time. The Anti-Milesian history, therefore, we look upon as ob- scure and partially fabulous, but, as Lord Ross says, we must not reject it altogether. The origin of the Scoto-Milesiaus, and the voyages of their ancestors, the Gadelians, and the * Ogygia, liber 5, part 3, cap. 27. f Newton Chron. chap. 1, page 44. ^ Camden, page 728. BARDS AND POETS. 27^ circumstances attending tlieir voyage from Spain, until their final establishment in Ireland, we look upon as the tradition of bards, and consequently with it may be incorporated some fable, as with the origin of every primitive people ; but, never- theless, we must take such to our aid in tracing aborigines. There is, however, no reason for contradicting their accounts, until the contrary is established, we will with Camden* give tliem credit for their antiquity. In the mean time let us follow Varro the historian, and treat the Milesian history in the fol- lowing chapter. As to that part of the Milesian history, which we call historical, according to Varro, we date from the reign of OUam-Todla, about 800 years before Christ (more 900 according to others). Since ihen their annals are wortliy, at least, of as much credit as any other ancient history of which you read, if you pay attention to their language, which, being primitive, is derived from no other in Europe. Ross and Camden say that our annals are before those of any other nation. Those who maintain that the Milesians' are from Gaul, say, that the Irish language is derived from the Gallic ; but if you consult Irish monuments, you will find that they are a colony of Scythians,t and that their language is " Galic" from Gaodhal,;]: their chief, and that it was their peculiar language even when they left Egypt ; and when they changed their country they never changed their language. Camden seems to argue from the analogy of many Irish words with the Bretonic or Gallic. Nothing was more apt to cause this mix- ture of languages, than the commerce and trade of one nation with the other, which was evidently the case. Besides, the Britains, Gauls, and Spaniards were often obliged to seek an asylum in Ireland, from the tyranny of the Romans. § Ni- * "That which I cannot refute, or maintain, merits the character of antiquity." — Britan, page 728. t Ogygia, part 2, page 63. \ Gayul. § Camden', Britanica, page 728. 28 HISTORY OP IRELAND. cholas Sanson,* speaking of the mother languages of Europe, says, " they are six, viz. : Irish, Finlandish, Bretonic, or Welsh, Biscayan, Hungarian, and Albanian ;" he also says, "the Irish is spoken, not alone in Ireland, but in the north of Scotland." The Bretonic is the language of Lower Britany in France ; it is also called " Welsh" as being the native lan- guage of the inhabitants of Wales. Here is a fact to vshew that Brittany in France is the parent of Great Britain. Bol- land us was the first who denied the Milesians the use of letters, and says that St. Patrick was the first that introduced the use of characters among them ; his error must have arisen from his false deduction taken from Colgan and Ward, who say, that St. Patrick gave the "^Alphabet" to those he converted. True, he gave them the " Roman Alphabet." Colgan him- self says, that Fiech, a disciple of Dubhtach, composed a hymn in honor of St. Patrick in the Scotic language. Wardf says, that Benignus, a disciple of St. Patrick, wrote a book in Latin and Irish. Now if, according to Bollandus, the use of letters were unknown to the Scoto-Milesians, how could Fiech and Benignus write so well in Irish. Pliny and Caesar say, that the druids of Britain, as well those of Uibernia (according to Ware J), were skilled in the- ology, philosophy, and the sciences; that they never com- mitted their mysteries to writing, but in every other afl*air they used the Greek characters.§ To contradict these two last assertions, it is only necessary to examine the characters used by the Milesians, and their mysterious manner of writing (called the Ogham.) First, in the order of the Greek and Milesian alphabet there is no analogy. The Greek commences * Intro. Geo. part 2, book 3, ch. 5 (of Languages.) \ f Ward, Vita Rumoldi, page 317. \ Antiq. Hib., cap. 5. § Cteiar, Gallic Wars. OKIGIN OF LANGUAGE. 20 with A, B, the Milesian with B, L, N.* In the next place, all the Irish letters are named from trees, a strong presumption that they wrote on boards, called " Taibhle-Fidleah," or philo- sophical tablets.^ As for their mysterious manner of writing, called the " Ogham," it has a greater reference to the cere- monies, and hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptian priests, than to those of the Greeks, which is a very strong proof that the ancient druids came frem Egypt to Spain, and thence to Ire- land, as may be seen in the Introduction to this history. How can Bollandus contradict the works of many authors written in the Scotic language long before Christianity ; Gra- tianus Lucius, in his " Cambrensis Eversus,'' quotes some of them from Amergin, who was poet and judge. KeatingJ says Ethrial Mac Irial Ji'aidh wrote the history of the Voyages of the Milesians, and histories o{ families, medicine, philosophy^ and laws. This subject is amply discussed in our Introduction, in " O'Brennan's Antiquities," and " Essay on Ireland." OTlaherty says, three celebrated poets, Mac Deagh, Mac Aidhna, and Mac Amnos lived under Conchovar, king of Ulster. Jocelyn mentions a celebrated poet, Dubthach, con- verted by St. Patrick.§ Besides we can with truth say that in the time of St. Patrick 180 volumes, concerning the doctrine and discipline of the Druids, were condemned. || The analogy that Caesar discovers between both languages may be probably owing to both being taken from the Phcenicians, who were masters of all Europe in the time of David, and Solomon,^ and of Ireland** too. Now that we have proven that they had the ose of letters, no person will dare affirm, that they had not a taste for history. * " N, was the third letter in ancient times." — Ogygia, part 3, cap. 30. f Kennedy's Preface, page 28. \ Anno Mundi, 3025. § Harris, vol. 2, cap. 30. || Ogygia, part 3, cap. 30, page 219. ^ Chron., page 12. ** Antique Hiber., cap. 1. 30 HISTORY OF IRELAND. 011am Fodla, about 300 years after the establishment of the colony in Ireland, founded the assembly at Tara, created the office of Antiquaries in the different provinces, ordained that their records should be examined in the triennial assembly, and enacted that these examined registers should be inserted in the parliamentary record called the "Psalter of Tara." There are more registries, too, since the time of Paganism. The " Psalter of Cashel," which contains the ** Black Book," and " Book of Conquests j" also the " History of Kings," by Cairbre Liffeachair, king in the third century, kept till the last- century in the Abbey of Icolm-kill, seen there by Sir George M'Kenzie.* The Registries we have since the time of Chris- tianity are, "Leabhar-nag-Ceart," by St. Benignus; "Psalter na rann ;" " Psalters of Cashel, Armagh, Cluain Macnoirk, Cluain Aigneach, the Book of Glendaloch, the " Martyrology" of Marianus Scotus, the Annals of Ulster, in Latin and Irish, finished in the 16th century by Cassidy, Archdeacon of Clogher.f The Annals of Tigernach, in Irish, in the 11th century, the Annals of Innisfail in the I3th century, besides others in the writings of O'Donegan, Mac Egan, O'Doran, Mholing, and, above all, " The Annals of the Four Masters" (lately published by Hodges and Smith), and some that are missing. These historians have transmitted, age after age, a full account of the history of the Milesians, so that if some were lost, burned, taken out of the country, or consumed by time, a good part of the substance is preserved in modern works. Authors of undoubted veracity make frequent references to the Milesian monuments, Gratianus Lucius (Archdeacon Lynch of Tuam), Golgan, Keating, Walsh, O'Flaherty ; Ware quotes " Psalter na rann," and praises the *' Psalter of Cashel," and its author, Cormac Mac Cullinan, who was (he says) learned, and well versed in the antiquities of his country.J These monuments * Defence of the Royal line of Scotland, AD. 1685. f Ware de Scriptoribus Hib. | Antiquities, cap. 2. ORIGINAL HKGISTKIKa. ftj are still preserved in the country, and from these sources, au- thors, who wrote on Ireland for the last two centuries, are supplied with information. The certainty of a history cannot be more than a moral one, founded on the tradition of a people, their ancient monuments, and the testimony of men, worthy of belief ; , these are the characters of the Scoto-Milesian his- tory, as we have already shewn, and» therefore, they are entitled to credit fur their history. Gildas Brittannicus, an English historian of the sixth century, could not shew, that the ancient Brittons left any monuments to prove their origin, and therefore (said the critics) the Scoto- Milesians had no monuments ; what a logical inference ! If you attend to the situation of both countries you will see the folly of the com- parison. Ireland was a free, hidependent country, separated from the rest of the world by its insular situation, and often waged war, and carried away prisoners, from Briton, which was always enslaved and trampled on by other countries. What knowledge can Englishmen have of the language of the country, who, after a sojourn of a few months, return with ample materials (as they say) for the history of the coun- try. See, for instance, Camden's imperfect Sketch of Ireland, in his " Brittannia ;" Spellman, Stillingfleet, Nicholson, &c. follow in the same train. Ware, more judicious than these historians, dates his Antiqnities from king Laogaire ; and the apostleship of St. Patrick, assigning as a reason, for his not taking an earlier epoch, that, what was said of the predeces- sors of that monarch were mixed up with fable and anachro- nisms ; as if, indeed, any history that contained fable, should be rejected altogether. What will be said then to Herodotus, the Father of history, and Father of falsehood ! what to Livy, Quintus Curtius, Camden, Buchanan, Voltaire, &c. Ware, all will admit, was not a competent judge; he had no oppor- tunity of consulting, and was not qualified to consult, the W^f^y-^' J'^.TH^fT^ ■ V ^ •" ■.■■•.-,• - . . --- ■■■.>: \ ;■' • >'-.'-~,,'^*P : '/-r- • ■* .[7-V;:».7*lí- f-'- 8£ HlSrOUY OP IRELAND. Psalter of Tara, and other monuments necessary for his under- taking ; he consequently acted unwisely in prematurely judging of matters far beyond the power of his research. He was not an Irish scholar, yet he was a very learned and respectable writer. These few incontrovertible facts, from very many others equally strong, which could be advanced, will, we trust, be considered sufficiently satisfactory, \o stamp the Scoto-Mile- sian history with the character of antiquity. Meanwhile it will not be deemed irrelevant to lay before the reader the early his- tory of the first colonists that came to Ireland though some fable may be found in it, as will, indeed, in the early accounts of every country. ** CHAPTER V. HISTORY OF THE GADELIANS. No history can lead us to suppose that men discovered the secret of passing from one country to another before the deluge. T/ie ark of Noah is the first vessel of which we have any knowledge. Therefore the story of Caesar, daughtej of Pith, or (as others say) niece of Noath, who saved herself from tlie deluge, by coming to Ireland in a vessel built in the form of an ark (Ware, c. 2) must be looked upon as a fiction. According to some ancient monuments found in Cluain-mac- nois and cited by O'Fiaherty (Og. p. 10). The arrival of Partholau and his followers is dated 1969, A.M., 312 years after the deluge* (Campion and Mac Curtin say 300 years). The colonies, who followed these were the Nemedians, For- morians, Firbolgs. and Tuatha de Danais. Partholan divided the island between his four sons Er, Orpha, Fearon, Ferghna. After 300 years in the country his posterity perished by a plague at Binneaduir, now Howth, near Dublin. • Ware, c. 2. FIRST INHABITANTS. 33 Thirty years after NEMEDIUS, his wife Macha,* and four ^ ^^ soas (2299,* A.M.) Feargus, Annin, Starn, and laubaneal, 2299. embarked in thirty-four transport vessels, carrying each thirty persons. Nemedius fought some successful battles with the Formorians, his successors: the first, at Slieve Bloom; the second, at Bossfraochin, in Connaught, where Gar and Geanan were slain ; the third, at Murbuilg in Dalraida, where Starn his son was killed ; in the fourth, his whole army was cut to pieces, and his son Arthur and grandson lobean were slain.* Nemedius died after of Grief at Oilean Aid Neevy in Cork, lobath, grandson of Nemedius, led a part of the colony into Germany, from whom are descended the Tuatha de Danaans. Briotan Maol, son of Eeargus, grandson of Nemedius, led his tribe into Britain, from him called Britons (according to the Psalter of Cashel). This opinion is supported by Henry of Huntington* — See O'Brennan's Ancient Ireland, page The Formorians, for some time after, were sole possessors of the island. The PIRBOLGS, to the number of 5000 men, with Slain- ^ j^j gey, Eughrui^he, Gan, Gannan, and Sengan, brothers, chil- 2503. dren of Dela, and race of the Nemedians, at their head de- feated the Fomorians, and took possession of the island. They divided the island into five provinces, hence called the pen- tarchy, which continued "till the 12th century. Slaingey, king of Leinster, was chief, and monarch of all Ireland. Their dominion in the island, lasted about 80 years under nine kings, Slaingey, Eory, Gann, Geanan, Sengan, Fiocha, Rio- * Macha was buried at a place called from her name Ardmacha. — A. M'Geoghegan, p. 46. ** As to these dates there is a difiFerence of opinion, which, however,- does not weaken the narration of facts. • Ogygia, part 3, c. 7. ^ *' Britones venemnt in Britaniam, in tertia mundi estate." & 34 HISTORY or IRELAND. nail, Fiobgin, and Eogha, who married Tailta, who gave the j^.jl. name Tailton in Meath' to the place of her burial. 2539*. The TUA.THA DE DANAANS, from Germany, under the conduct of Nuagha-Airgiodlamh,'' attached, ayd defeated in battle the Firbolgs, under their king Eogha, at Moyturey, near Lougli Mask, in Partry, in the County of Mayo." The Tuatha de Danaaus, in passing through Norway and Denmark, took with them the " Lia-Eail," or stone of destiny, whose property, they pretend, was to issue a noise at the coronation of their kings, and that, wherever the stone was preserved, a prince of the race of the Scots should reign there. In order to render the inauguration of Eeargus the Great king of Dalriada in Albania, more solemn, Murtough, the monarch of Ireland in the 13th century, sent over this stone to Eeargus, which was preserved in the Abbey of Scone, till forcibly carried away by Edward 1. king of England, and placed in the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey, where (they say) it is still preserved. The Tuatha de Danaans, descendants of Danan of the race of Nemedius (according to the " Psalter of Cashel,") governed Ireland 197 years under seven kings,' viz., Nuagha Airgiod- lamh, Breas, Luglia-Lam-Fadha, Dagha, Delvioth, Fiagha, and the Eathur, Teahur, and Keahur, who alternately reigned a year each, for thirty years, and took surnames, from idols ; they worshipped Mac-cuill,** Mac-Keacht,® and Mac-Greine.' Mac-cuill married Banba, Mac-Keacht, Eodla, and Mac-Greine, Eire ; the island was called after the different names of the queens, but Eire' was its name when conquered by the Mile- ■■ 'I • Ogygia, part 3, cap. 9. i> " Silver-handed ; he lost one hand in battle and «abstituted a silver one." — Abbe M'Geoghegan, page 47. ' Ogygi»! part 3, cap. 10. <* Cuill Wood. • Keacht, a plough. ' Greine, the sun. « Ogygia, part 3, cap. 15. ■;1 ORIGIN OF THE HUMAN RACE. 88 sians. The first of the human race in Europe, and a part of Asia, were the seven sons of Japhet, son of Noah.* Gomer peopled Gaul and Germany, Magog Scythia, Madai and Javan Greece, Thubal Spain, Mosoch Italy, and Thyras Thrace. Keating, quoting from the "Book of Conquests," and the " White Book," or ** Leavar-drom-Snachta" (written in the time of Paganism), says, that Magog, son of Japhet, had three sons — Baath, Jobath, and Fathoctha ; from the first was de- scended Fenius Farsa, king of Scythia, the ancestor of the Gadelians and Milesians ; the second, chief of the Bactrians and Parthians; the third, ancestor to Partholan, and tlierefore of Nemedius, Firbolgs, and Tuatha de Danaaus. Fenius Farsa, king of Scythia, had two sons — Nenual heir to the crown, and Niul learned in the languages, who went to Egypt, married Scota, the daughter of Pharaoh Cineris, had by her a son called Gaodhal, who was bit by a serpent, and cured by Moses, by the touch of his wand; the place of the wound was always green, hence Gaodhal Glas or Gadelas. Moses foretold, that, whatever land would be inhabited by his pos- terity, Clanna Gaodhal would be free from serpents, which is the case in Ireland and Crete. The descendants of Niul, on account of their numbers, were suspected by the Egyptians, and consequently obliged to leave the country ; they embarked under the conduct of Sur, third in descent from Gaodhal, and landed in Crete where Sur died, succeeded by his son Heber- Scot. The Gadelians, under the command of Heber-Scot, left Crete, and, after passing the Euxine and Mgeaa seas, arrived in Scythia, where they sojourned for some time. The reader is referred to the first chapter for the wanderings of our ancestors until their final arrival in Ireland. Ith, son of Bile, having gone thither in quest of a more genial clime than Spain, was killed by the inhabitants. ' Genesis, chapter 10. 36 HISTORY OF IRELAND. A.M. The GADELIANS (rather the Milesians and Ithians) re- 2636. solved to shed the last drop of their blood in revenge for the death of Ith, set sail in a fleet of sixty ships, with forty chiefs, (the principal were the sons of Milesius, Donn, Aireach, Heber-Fionn, Amergin, Ir, Colpa, Aranaan, Heremon, and their mother Scota). After coasting along Spain, Gaul, and Britain, they at last arrived on tiie southern coast of Ireland, and while preparing to disembark they were scattered by a storm, and all were lost except Heremon who landed at Inver- Calpa," and Heber-Pionn and Amergin who arrived in Invear Skeine, Kenmare Bay in Kerry.'' This account of the Gade- lians is found in the Psalter of Cashel,* also Book of Invasions. Heber Fionn, shortly after his arrival, was attacked by Eire, wife of M'Gréine, who was obliged to fly after losing 1000 men. The Milesians lost 300 men on the occasion, and Scota, widow of Milesius, and Fais, a lady of quality, who were both buried in two valleys, called after them Glean-Scoithin and Glean- Fais. After this victory Heber went in search of some more of his colony ; he found Heremon at Invear-Calpa, who, together with him, resolved to go in quest of the enemy, who was not far off';'* they met them in the plains of Tailton ready to meet them ;* after a bloody and a long time doubtful victory between the three princes of the Tuatha de Danaans and the brothers Heber and Heremon, that day decided the empire in favor of the latter. Heber and Heremon divided the country between tiiem; Heber had Deisiol-Eirioim or Munster, he built a palace there ; Heremon had Leinster, and built Eath- Beothaig at Argidross on the banks of the river Nore, and to *■ Calpa was wrecked at the mouth of the rirer Boyae — hence called laver Calpa. *■ Ogygia» part 3, cap. 10. ' Do. part 20, pages 82, 83. ' Gratianus Lucius, cap. 8, page 58. ' • Walsh,. Prosp. of Ireland, part 1, sect. 1. DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY. 87 please his wife Thea, he also built Teamor.* They gave Ulster to Heber-Doom, whose descendants, the Clann-Rorys, built the palace Eamhain-Macha, at Armagh, which lasted for 700 years, until destroyed by the three brothers called Collas. To Lugadh, son of Ith, tliey gave Corcaluidh; and to the Fir- bolgs, who assisted them in the conquest, they gave the pro- vince of Connaught, which their descendants retained until the third age of Christianity. Amergin, their brother, who was a druid, got no portion of the allotments. At the solicitations of his wife, not content with her possessions, Heber declared war against his brother, •• which proved fatal to himself and his officers who fell on the occasion.* Heremon became sole pos- sessor of the island, which he governed for thirteen years.** The above is a slight sketch of the history of the Milesians, according to the ancient and modern historians. However, there is some difficulty in the way regarding the chronology of Moses and Gaodhal being cotemporaries, the one in the four- teenth generation from Shem, and the other in the sixth from Jap'.iet, both sons of Noah. The difficulty will soon disappear if you but carefully consider the following circumstances : 1st. in the history of ancient times, there are many things difficult and obscure that can hardly be resolved, and, therefore, the error may rest with the copyists of the manuscripts. Next, there are many events recorded about the precise time in which they happened. Chronologists disagree, and are not less cer- tain on that account ; for instance, the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latins differ about the number of years from the Creation to the Deluge, and from the Deluge to the Coming of Christ ; but all agree that these events occurred ; therefore, we should »Tea-mor, or lesideace of Thea. * Ware, Antíq, cap. 2. * Gratianus Lucius, cap. 8, page 58. * Gerald. Camb. Top. of Ireland, c. 7, and Ware's Antiq. and Ogygia page 3, cap. 7. » 88 HISTORY OF IRELAND. not question the truth of the history of the Gadelians, though some errors may be found regarding their chronology. Some more say, that the Qadelians could not come to Ireland, as navigation was not known then, we shall see if there is any truth in the assertion ; navigation was known to the Phoeni- cians,* and history tells us, that Nechao, king of Egypt, sailed from the Bed Sea into the ocean, crossed the Torrid Zone, touched the Cape of Good Hope, entered the straits of Gibralter, and came back again to Egypt by the Mediterranean Sea. Now, if navigation was known then, and that Nechao did this, what could hinder the Gadelians from sailing to Ireland. All authors agree, that they took their origin from the Scythians ; the name " Clauna-Scuit" denotes it.i> Ware, Newton,* OTlahertv,'* Nennius, Walsingham, Harris,* and Camden' admit it. But they differ as to the time of their coming ; Keating and Cambrensis say about 1300 years before Christ ;8 OTlaherty'» places it in the reign of Solomon 1000 years before Christ, which, as being more like the truth, we take as a standard. , CHAPTER VI. ON THE RELIGION OF THE MILESIANS. Some historians inform us, that the ancestors of the Mile- sians had a knowledge of the true God j* but it is more probable that they, in common with other nations, had an inclination to idolatry — a proof of which we ha,ve in their king Tigher- • Herodotus, liber 1 . •• Ware's Antiq. Hib. page 3. » Chron. Dublin, page 10. <> Ogygia, part 2, pages 66 — 82. • Irish Writers, v. 2, cap. 5. ' Do. « Walsh, Prosp. Ireland, page. 393. >> " Irish writers agree that the Scots passed into Ireland in the reign of Solomon." — Ogygia, part 2, page 83. Gratianus Lucius, cap. 8, page 59. • Ogygia, part 3, cap. 21, 22. ORIGIN AND CUSTOMS. 89 mas,* who was struck dead by an invisible hand, while he adored the idol Crom-Cruadh, on " All Saints' Day," in the plains of Magh-Sleachta in the county of Leitrim. No nation was more superstitious than the Milesians afterwards, as they were influenced in all matters relating to religion by the druids their priests ; they were called " Draou -"^ they were philoso- phers, legislators, and judges; they were skilled in the art» and sciences ; they had the instruction of youth, and under their guidance the Milesians adored Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Apollo, the suQ, moon, wind, and other mountain, river and forest gods.*' Ware, quoting the Annals of Ulster, says, that Laogare II. king of Ireland in the time of St. Patrick, swore by the sun and wind ; and Jocelyn, in his life of St. Patrick, says, that he adored an idol called Kean-broithi, or '' Father of all Gods;" The Register of Ciogher makes mention of a stone covered with gold that gave oracles,* hence the town is called Ciogher, or " Golden-stone ;" all these illusions ceased to exist at the birth of Christ ; the druids, among the Greeks were called Sophoi, among the Persians Magi, among the In- dians Gymnosophists, and among the Assyrians Chaldeans. The Germans derive the word from " dru," faithful, the Saxons from " dry," as Magi. The Milesians from '• dair/' oak, the Greeks from " drus," oak, a tree sacred to Jupiter; it is therefore probable that the derivation of the Greeks and Mi- lesians is the true one, as they both mean the same thing, and held in veneration by all. Pliny says, the druids consider the oak and misletoe an antidote against every distemper. God himself appeared to men in woods of oak, and the oak was held in great veneration by the ancients. In the reign of Tuathal-Teachtmar, at the General Assembly of TJisneach in Westmeath, animals were sacrificed to the god Beul to invoke ' Ware's Antiq. Hib. cap. 5. •> Do. cap. 5. « Do. •• Do. AD. 130. 40 HISTORY OF IRELAND. his protection for the fruits of the earth, and it was then or- dained, that two fires should be kindled in every territory in the kingdom, on the first day of May, " Sha-Beul-tinne,"* and that all sort of beasts should pass between these fires to preserve them from distemper the rest of the year. Another meeting was held every year at Hachta in the barony of Clan- dish, in the King's County, where a sacred fire was kindled in order to consume on the 1st of November the sacrifice ofliered to the household gods, and it was forbidden to light a fire in any other place on that night unless taken from the sacred fire. Another deity adored by the Milesians was the golden calf ; when Cormac-Ulfada the king was reproved by the druid Maoilogann, for departing from his worship, he said he adored the one and true God, which declaration cost him his life, for he died that night of an unnatural death. Some writers, con- versant with the antiquities of Ireland,*» assert that the Bound Towers are vestiges of the ancient fire-worship ; it is very pro- bable, as they bear a great likeness to the temples*' in the east, dedicated to the God of fire. The Milesians took their origin and customs from the Scy- thians and Egyptians, then the most polished nations in the world. A spirit of pre-eminence caused many a struggle be- tween them, in which the Scythians were always successful."* According to Justin the historian, they routed Darius king of the Persians, destroyed Cyrus and his army, and heard of the Roman arms but never felt them.* Homer, Plato, Pythagoras Solon, Lycurgus, and great men of Greece, perfected them- selves in the arts and sciences in Egypt. God himself bears testimony to their great knowledge of the sciences, in praising Moses for being instructed among them. The Egyptians • " Day of Beul's fire." — Ogygia, part 2, page 62. k Vallancey, Lanigan, &c. * Vallancey's Voyages, vol. 1, page 85. *Polydoru8, book 1. *Chron. page 12. ORIGIN AND CUSTOMS. 41 traded with the Phoenicians, and the Phoenicians afterwards carried on a trade with the Milesians of Spain, who afterwards became masters of Ireland. It is probable, then, that the Penios Farsa,* from whom they say they are descended, is the same as Phsenix, or Phsenius, the first inventor of letters among the Phoenicians.'' After all these advantages, they are represented as ignorant, and barbarous, by Strabo, who said they eat human flesh ; he contradicts the assertion by saying, that he. had no authority for saying so.' It is true, there is one instance of barbarity, in a nurse feeding a young princess with human flesh in order to give her additional charms.** This one solitary instance ought not to stamp an entire nation with that barbarous cusWm. St. Jerome says, that he saw in Gaul, the Scots, a people of Britain, eat human flesh." Dempster, a Scotch writer, dexterously endeavours to remove from his countrymen the above imputation, by saying that "Scotos" means "Gothos," and that the words "Genteni Britanicam" (according to Erasmus) were never found in Je- rome's works ; he is evidently confuted by Usher' on the very same authoritv. The barbarous custom of sacrificiniy children very generally prevailed amongst the Phoenicians, Carthagini- ans, Gauls, Romans, and Tyrians ;« they were thrown into a burning furnace, or shut up in a statue of Saturn,'' which was set on fire, and mothers were found on these occasions to ap- pease the cries of their children,* lest a crying victim should not be acceptable to the gods. Hamilcar,J the Carthaginian general, in order to make the gods propitious to him, in a ■ Samuel Bochart, oa Ware's Antiq. Hib. cap. 1. ** Ogygia, part 3, cap 30, page 219. ' Camdea, Brit, page 788. d Keating. • Jerome, b. 2, against Jovianus. ' Usher's Ch. Hist cap. 15, page 589. * Philo. ■• Plutarch de Superstitione, page 171. ' Tertullian, Apollog. Quint. Cart. lib. 4, cap. 3. i Herodotus, lib. 7. 42 HISTÓUT OF IRELAND. battle fought with Gelon, tjirant of Sj?racuse, sacrificed a number of human beings, by throwing them into a furnace, into which he threw himself on the eve of the battle, not to survive the shame of defeat. The Carthaginians,* when be- sieged by Agathocles, to appease Saturn, sacrificed 200 chil- dren of the first families, besides 300 citizens, who voluntarily offered themselves as victims to the fury of that God. From all this we infer that Ireland is not the only nation stamped with the character of barbarity. The Milesians took particular precaution, that each successor to the throne should be descended from one of the four fol- lowing tribes — Heber, Heremon, Ir and Ith. Each tribe had its own portion of the island ; its own vassals and farmers to cultivate the land ; its shepherds to conduct the flocks . these tribes usually added to their own names those of their fathers, and not names taken from castles and villages, like the nobles now-a-days. " Mac" with them was the same as " Fitz" with the Saxons (which signifies son) ; they often took the name of some distinguished chief of their party, as " Clanna-Rory," children of Rory. Their forges at Airgiodross,** for manufacturing swords, lances, axes, and other instruments;" their churches and houses built of oakwood, artificially wrought ,<* their chariots built for war and travelling ; their curraglis* and the vessels in which they crossed the Scythian valley ;' their manufacture of cloth and stuff necessary for their external comfort : all these are incontrovertible proofs of their knowledge and skill of trade in every department.* ■ Diodorus, lib. 20. ^ Gratianus Lucius, cap. 8, page 59. ' Ogygia, part 3, cap. 21-28. <* Bede. * Ogygia, part. 3, cap. 34. ' " The Scot moved all Ireland, and the sea foamed with the hostile oar." — Claudianus, Solinus, Cambreusist &c. ' Gratianus Lucius, cap. 12, page 112. TRADK AND DRKSS. 49 The dress of the Irish were trowsers, or "Braies," in com- moD with other nations, viz. Scythians*, Sarmatic,>> Batavians,* and Hebrews. Mela, b. 2. * Lucan ia Grat. hue, c. 13, p. 123. d Don. c. 3, ver. 21. • Grat. hie, c. 13, p. 122, &c. f Grat. c. 13, p. 125. ' Grat. Luc cap. 12, p. 112. ^ Keating. • Grat. Luc. c. 8, p, 59, c. 10, p. 105. J Ogygia, part 3, c. 23. k Ware's Antiq. Hib. c. 22. ' Lombard, cap. 12, page 112. " Eccl. History (de Fleury). » Hayn, do. do. " Bede. 44 HISTORY OF IRELAND. selves in learning under the holy bishops Finan and Colman, went to Ireland, where they received gratis every thing neces- sary for support and study.* The Irish "were remarkable for their hospitality ;•» they had their Hospitaller, or " Biataks/' (from "Biafooa") who were nobles, and lords of seven bo- roughs, feeding seven herds of 120 oxen each. They had the produce of seven ploughs, to afford food in abundance to the guests that would visit them. A taste for music, too, is a particular feature in their cha- racter; the harp was their principal instrument, which, by their performance produced the most harmonious melody.** There was no house without one, both for their own use and that of strangers. The king* had always in Iiis society a gen- tleman companion, a druid, a judge, a doctor, a poet, histo- rian, musician, and three stewards ; the gentleman for his companion, the druid for his rehgion, the judge for the de- cision of the laws, the doctor for his health, the poet to cele- brate his praises, the historian to keep his history and gene- alogy, the musician to amuse him, and the stewards to manage his household. This custom continued till the 11th century. Marriages' were stipulated by fathers and mothers for their children at the general assembly of Tailton in Meath : during this time the young men and women lodged in different quarters. Nursing a child of rank was considered honorary and profitable among. the Irish. The descendants of Fiache Suidhe, brother of Conn Ceadcahagh, got an extensive tract of country to the north of the river Suir, called "Deasia Tuaisgart," or northern Deasia, from Aongus, son of Maod- fraoch, king of Munster, for nursing his wife Eithney-athach daughter of the king of Leinster (this was foretold by the • Ch. His. lib. 3, cap. 1. h Stanihurst's Irish Hist. b. 1, p. 33. ' Grat. Luc. cap. 14, page 130. ^ Geraldus Camb. His. cap. 19. • Ogygia, part 3, c. 63. ' Do. part 3, page 46. CUSTOMS. 45 druids. At the death of any person of distinction, there were feasts prepared for all who attended, aud the wives of their vassals cried in turn while the corpse remained exposed, and on the day of interment the air resounded with the cries of these women as they recited the funeral elegy. This was a custom too among the Jews^ and Romans, as we see by the laws of the twelve tables.'' The Greeks burned their dead, the Hebrews buried some and burned others, the Egyptians burned their dead, the Germans and Eritons burned their dead, and it is probable the ancient Irish did so too.*' That the burning of the dead was the custom in Ireland too, evidently appears from the number of caves and vaults that have been discovered for the last few centuries. A sepul- chre of black marble was found near Dublin in 1646 contain- ing some ashes and bones, and another at Kew-Grange, in the county of Meath, containing two skeletons; all these cus- toms were abolished some time before the birth of Christ, and graves established as more conformable, and more suited to the respect due to the dead.*^ > CHAPTER YII. ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MILESIANS. The first who established monarchical government in the island was Heber, which lasted until the 12th century, that is, about 2000 years. The credit of erecting the provinces of Ireland into kingdoms is due to Eocha IX. This airangement is called the pentarchy ; he left each tribe in possession of his province, on condition of paying a certain tribute.' The Irians, descendants of Ir, held Ulster.' The Heberians, de- • Kings iii. 31. * Ware's Antíq. Hib. cap. 32. e Pomponius Mela Geograp. lib. 3. * Gratianus Lucius, pages 8 — 15. * ^S7i\^» P^t 3> <^^P' ^3' ' Gratíanus Lucius, cap. 8. 4R History of Ireland. scendants of Heber, and the Dergtiues, of the race of Lu- gadh, held the two Monsters. The' Heremonians, descendants of Laogare-Lore, had Leinster, and the Firdomnians,* or Firbolgs, had Connaught; but the dependance of these kings on the monarch exclnded the idea of pentarchy, which implies equality and independance of one another. "^ Cambrensis says, that the Irish kings took possession of the island without any right of succession. Harris, on Ware, contradicts the assertion, by saying, that Ware gave but an imperfect idea of the government of the country, as he too closely copied the calumnies of Cambrensis.*' The succession to the throne was not absolutely hereditary, for the younger son often reigned, and if the children were minors, the brother or uncle capable of governing, was called to the throne ; how- ever, no person was appointed, except one of the descendants of Heber, Heremon, or Ir. During the lifetime of the mo- narch, a successor was elected called " Janiste*'* (from the ring-finger) ; this heir apparent should prove his origin from the public registres, and be a knight of the golden chain, called "Niadh niask." There were no dukes, earls, barons, or marquises in those days, nor among the Eomans or Greeks, to flatter the ambition of favorites. However, there were other candidates who, in their opinion, decided by force of arms their just and regal right to the crown.* We must necessarily acknowledge that the monarchical mark of distinction, the crown, was worn by the Irish kings. Donagh O'Brien, king of Leinster, took with him the crown of his ancestors to Borne." Ward' says, that kings wore them in battle. The crown was fatal to Brien Boru, at the battle I ;•>••- ■ - - ■ . - .-■-,' . ■■■ . ' ^ * Gratianas Lucius, cap. 8. ^ Harris, voL 2, cap. 10. ^ ' Ogygia> P*rt 1, pages 57 — 58. *■ ManemoD, king, instituted this order (A.M. 3271). • Ogygi»» P«rt 1, page 58. ' Ditto, page 47. GOVERN MKNT. ét of Cloutarf. There was a crown found in 1692 in the "Devil's bit," in Tipperary, according to Seldon,* without any mark of Christianity, which is a proof it was made in the time of Paganism. The early government of the Milesians was not founded on certain fixed laws, until the reign of OUamh-Fodla ; these were inconveniencies under which the Athenians and Bomans also labored ; the former had no laws until the tiuie of Draco and Solon, their first lawgivers, nor had the latter for 300 years till they got the laws of the " twelve tribe*" from the Athenians. Ollamh-Fodhla, after collecting the mo- numents of his ancestors, was the first who called a parliament at Tara, in Meath, called " Feis-Feamsach," or, assembly of learned men. It was held in October and November, the most perfect order was observed, each person taking his place ac- cording to rank and dignity. At the firsfc assembly a funda- mentaj law was established, that the king, nobility, and prin- cipal men of the kingdom, under certain penalties, should meet at Tara, every three years, to establish laws, as the exi- gencies of the state required. The princes and lords were to continue in the divisions made to them by Heber and Here- mon, and each lord was to maintain, at his own expense a judge and historian; the judge or "Brehon" to administer justice in his lord's possessions, and the historian to keep an account of his genealogies and noble actions. These accounts to be examined at the general meeting at Tara, by a committee of nine — three princes, three druids, and three historians, and if found correct, to be registered in the Psalter of Tara, and if not, the delinquent to be punished as the crime deserved. This custom continued till the 12th century, with this ex- ception, that when Paganism was abolished, bishops took the place of the druids ; hence we find St. Patrick, after approving of the Psalter of Tara, and other histories, condemning to be •Tit. Hon. part 1, c. 8. . •^litJ^^ :ar.>J^ 4S HISTOllY OF IRELA>ÍD. burned l!^0 volumes as containing saperstitions of paganistn and idolatry.» Several copies of the Psalter of Tara were carefully deposited in some cathedral churches, such as Ar- magh, Cashel, and Cluain-mac-noisk, lest any accident might happen the original. So strict were the laws enacted in this assembly^ that rape, robbery, murder, and other heinous crimes were punished with death, without the monarch having the prerogative of pardoning the guilty. Schools of pljiloso- phy, astronomy, poetry, medicine, history, &c. were founded at Teamor, by OUamh-Fodhla, and protected by his successors. According to the custom of his ancestors, Tuathali* Zeaching convened the general assembly at Tara, and decreed that it should be continued every third year. He held two other as- semblies at Eamhain, in Ulster, and Cruachain in Connaught.' There was a regulation for mechanics instituted (60 of each trade,) to inspect and govern the rest. There was a celebrated work on laws called " Brathaneimh- adh,"* compiled in the eighth century by three brothers — Faranan, Boethgal, and Moeltul, the first a bishop, the second a judge, and the third a poet. The principal contributors to this work were — Forchem and Neid-Mac-Aidnah, authors of " Indicia Celestia," Fearadach* and Monan, his judge. Mo- dain, McTobbain, Cormac and Cairbre, his son, and Fiothal one of the legislators of Tara ; for a number of others see Ogygia, part 3, c. 30, pp. 217, 218. CHAPTER VIII. WARLIKE PRACTICES OP THE MILESIANS. It ought not to appear at all astonishing, that a spirit of discord was the ruling passion among the martial and warlike ' Ogygia, part 3, c. 30, p. 219. ^ Grat. Lac. c. 8, p. 68. Ogygia, part 3, c. 56. d Grat Lac. c. 20, p. 157 & 179. * Ogygia, part 3, cap. 69. IRISH MTLITIA. 49 atícients, whose custom it was to give the crown of the van- quished, as a prize, to the victor, and, bj that means, destroy the monarchy, and lose their hberty. It is, therefore, the height of injustice, to impute to the people of Ireland alone tragical events, of which so many other nations afford such shocking examples, compared with which, our internecine strife sinks into insignificance. Rome, the eternal, and one of the most polished cities in the world, was torn by the factions of the Triumvirs, by those of Caesar, Pompey, Octavius, and An- tony. Henry VIL and Frederick III. perished by conspiracy in Germany. Alphonso III. and Alphonso IV. in Spain, de- prived their own brothers of their eyesight. Count Julian, a Spaniard, betrayed all Spain to the Moors, under Roderick, which caused the murder of 700,000 Spaniards in fourteen months. During the heptarchy in England, twenty-eight Saxon kings were murdered ; in Northumberland alone, four kings were assassinated ; Edward II. was deposed and assas- sinated by order of his wife and son, ; Richard II. and Henry VI. were assassinated, and many thousand men killed in con- sequence of the wars between the houses of York and Lan- caster. If these dreadful occurrences took place in England and other countries, why has Ireland alone been charged with barbarity ? The most celebrated princes, that reigned from the time of Heremon, the first absolute monarch, till the reign of Eogan Mór,about 700 years or more, were — 1st, Tighermas, who in- troduced idolatry, discovered gold and silver mines, and marked the difierence of rank by the number of colors in their clothes. EocHA 11. forced the Picts of Albania to pay the tribute promised by their ancestors. Aongus-Oll-Mucoaqh, after defeating the Picts and Or- cadians in thirty battles, forced them to pay the tribute, and,. on his return to Ireland, was killed at Sliave«Cua, in Munster, 6 50 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Enna-Airgeah gave to the nobles and officers of the kingdom bucklers of silver forged at Airgiodross. MuiNHBAMHOiN instituted the order of the " Golden chain," called *' Niadh-Niask ;" none could be members of it, but those of the Royal Family, who were qualitied, by breaking a certain number of lances on a buckler, fastened to a post in the middle of a plain.^ A.M. Ollamh-Fodhla (3082'' A.M.) convened the general as- 3082 * \ / «^ sembly of the states at Tara, and founded a college called " Mur-OUavan," or " House of the Learned" (see page 44.) TloTHEACHT invented chariots, to hide his deformed legs. Seauhna was the first who paid the troops. Eahna II. was the first who coined money. Conang-Bbgaglach was famed for his bravery, justice, and moderation of his government. Duaoh-Laighrach was famed for his promptitude in ad- ministering justice, and punishing the guilty. As the Milesians were addicted to war, they must be neces- sarily furnished with troops and arms, for these important occasions. Seadna' II. gets credit for the formation of a corps of Militia (called, as some say, " Fionna-Eirionn,'* from Fionn- Mac-Cutiihal, their chief) to defend the country, and keep peace and tranquillity at home. The Militia, in time of peace,"* was composed of three legions, each legion of 3000 men, with a colonel, equal in rank with ours ; a general commanded the three legions ; there were, besides, captains, lieutenants, and other subaltern officers ; they were in garrison during winter, a Gratíanas Lucias^^cap. 13> page 124. •• O'Flaherty makes it 3324. The Pour Masters, 3883, but they make the Birth of Christ 5202. By this latter computation Ollamh OUave reigned 1319 years before Christ. " Ogygia» P«rt 3, cap. 33. «» Walsh, Prosp. of Ireland, sect 2, p. 51. * Keating, O' Halioran, Mac Curtin. IttlSH MILITIA. 51 visited the coasts in summer, and kept the public peace ; they should be of an honest family, correct in their morals, and their parents responsible for their conduct ; they were to be of a certain height, strong, robust, and ready to die sooner than fly from an enemy j they were to qualify themselves, by skil- fully warding off, with their buckler and scimitar, the javelins of nine men, judiciously aimed at them, at the distance of ten paces ; if the perspn was wounded, he was disqualified for ever from entering the corps. The Irish soldiers wore coats of mail which covered their bodies;* their arms were — pike, sabre, axe,'* javelin, lance, cutlass, and slings- j their cavalry used no saddles, their arms M ere — lances and arrows ; they used cljariots,* not only for travelling, but also for war ; the handles of their swords were made of the teeth of marine animals as white as ivory j^ they had the flute and pipe in their armies,* afterwards the tam- bourine, cymbal and harp. According to the Psalter of Cashel, O'Ji'laherty, and Bede, the Picts were the first enemies the Scoto-Milesians had to encounter after their arrival in Ireland ; the Scots compelled them to go to the north of Britain, and settle there. As they had no women they asked some of the Irish, who consented to give some, on condition, that if there was a dispute about the crown, it should be decided in favor of the descendants of the female line, — a custom which ex- isted amongst the Albanian Scots whilst they had a crown, and, it was in virtue of that custom that James I. mounted the throne of England, his mother Mary, "Queen of Scots," being lineally of Irish origin. a Ware's Antiq. Hib. cap. 12 b Camden. Pritchard, page 718, and Stanhurst, lib. 1, pages 40, 41. • Ware's Antiq. Hib. c. 12. * Grat. Luc. 3.8, p. 63 • Idem, c. 8, p. 64. 52 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER IX. THE ERECTION OF PROVINCES INTO KINGDOMS. A.M. We here pass over a great many undistinguished kings, and come to Uganb Mór — so called because he held sway over all the western isles of Europe : on his accession to the throne, he convoked the Assembly at Tara, received hostages and the oath of allegiance from his subjects, and declared the crown hereditary in his family ; he had by his wife, Ceasir, daughter of a king of Gaul, two sons, Laoghare LorCy and Cobhtach, Caol-hreugh^ who reigned successively; Laoghare was murdered by his brother, who seized on the crown. Lavra Loinseach, grandson of Laoghare, took refuge in Gaul with the kindred of his grandmother CJeasir, where he acquitted himself so nobly, that the king gave him 2200 men to assert his right to the crown, which he recovered by the defeat of his rival at Dionriogh in the County of Carlow. ^ j^j The descendants of Ir reigned in Ulster until the time of 3913. "RoRY THE Grea.t,"* who became monarch of Ireland, B.C. 91. EocHA IX.** was the first that divided the kingdom into a Ogygia, Mac Curtin, Keating, O'Halloran, Four Masters. The reader 8 informed that this abridged history is chiefly derived from the above authorities, besides Mac Geoghegan, Book of Invasions, Lecan, Book of Reigns, illustrated with facts from other rare works. Hence, unless an occasional important reference, no other will be given. b In the reign of this king, surnamed " Aireamh" (jiroo) of the grave, the system of burying in graves began ; up to this time the eastern custom prevailed. It was as follows, as all antiquarians are aware, and is, as yet, continued in some Asiatic countries: — A heap of stones or clay was thrown over the corpse with which was buried alive the nearest relative. Virgil gives us an instance of the heaping of clay over the dead, in the case of Polydorus, Priam's son, who was murdered by Polymnestor, king of Thrace, that he might possess the Trojan monarch's wealth which, with the young son, was entrusted to his charge, as he was the husband of Ilione, Priam's daughter. — iEneas is represented by the poet as performing the funeral 3950. DIVISION IXTO PROVINCES. 53 provinces which he erected into petty kingdoms, and, by that means, Eeargus, grandson of " Rory the Greai/'* was the first king of Ulster; he was succeeded by Feargus, who, after he was dispossessed by Concovar (O'Connor) fled to Con- naught, where he had three children, Ciar, Core, and Corraac, by Maude queen of Connaught, and afterwards waged war against his own province, which was ultimately shaken by the war of the CoUas (three brothers) in the fourth century. The descendants of Heberand Itii governed Munster until A.M. Duach-Dalta- Ueaghadh introduced the Eaniochs, of the race of Heremon, who were ultimately deprived of the sovereignty by Modha-Nuagadh, chief of the Heberians in the end of the second century. Sossa Roadh, by the regulation of obsequies at the " tumulus" or mound, in which was the corpse of Poly- dorus. The passage is worth giving, as it shews the concordance or the custom of the east, and the primitive Irish in every particular : — " Ergo instauramus Polydoro iunus, et ingens Aggeritur tumulo, stant Manibus are, Coeruleis mestie vittis, atraque ezpresso." •* We, therefore, renew the funeral rites for Polydorus, and we heap much clay on his ' tumulus^ (or mound) ; we raise, to his Manes, an altar mourn- fully decked with leaden-coloured wreaths, and boughs of mournful cy- press." In this passage we have the tumulus of the ancient pagan Irish ; the alt%r, which was the large stone placed over the dead having the Ogham inscription, having engraven on it the name of the deceased, — and herein also is to be found the custoir , which continued in this country until very lately, namely, that of placing boughs on the graves of young persons with small bits of ribbons. Eocha Airoo enacted, that graves, seven feet long and three deep, should be made, in which tie bodies were stretched on their backs. Over these graves lay lorg, broad stojts, with the names of the dead, engraven thereon, («• Mac Curtin's Antiquity at A.M. 3950). The author says that tae .V i_ lesians used not to bury the frien is with the dead. Until very lately the widows were burned with their Pagan husbands in British India. A close perusal of the Greek and Roman classics will lead a reader to the clear conclusion, that the Pagan Irish custom and those of the east are perfectly identical. 54 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Eocha IX. was the first king of Leinster, which was always governed by the race of Hereraon. The Firdgmhjíians (mi- ners), of the race of the Firbolgs (bagmen) were in possession of Connaught, in tlie time of Eocha IX. ; there were three branches» of them — the Eircraibs, in the south of the pro- vince, Fiacha, their chief, — the Gamanrads, in Irras, in the west, Eocha Allet their chief, — and the Tuatha-Taidheans had the rest of the province. Tinne, their chief, married Maude, queen of Connaoght, and became sole king of the province ; he, having died, she married Olioll Mór, by whom she had seven sons,'> called the seven " Manes ;" Olioll was killed by Conall Cearnagh.* Maude having reigned 98 years, died, leaving the crown to her son Maine Aithreamhal, whose suc- cessor was Sambus, who fell in battle against the monarch A.M. Tuithal :•* then came Eocha IX., who, after ten years, 3964. ^^g succeeded by Euerskeoll j in whose reign, the Book of Lecan says, Christ was boni-« "Conairó, the Great,*' suc- a Ogygia, part 3, cap. 47. ' Do. About this time opens an epoch remarkable for chivalry in Ireland. The bravest and most honorable knighferrants, that ever existed in any country, lived in this island. To enumerate even the names of the works which record their exploits, would occupy pages. Though those books are romantic in much of the details, yet they are in substance true as the ^neid of Virgil and the Iliad of Homer. Keating inserts many interest- ing passages respecting Connor king of Ulster, Deirdre the fair queen^ CucuUin, and some other famous characters. Some of these poems are published by the Ossianic Society ; though much fable is contained in them, still the chief lineaments are truthful, placing before the reader un- questionable chivalrous achievements of illustrious chieftains and eminent princeses. Ncthwitstanding the fascinations which they possess, we are obliged to pass them by, as such a work as this precludes the insertion of any portion of such records which are for the novelist. A most learned essay on the Order of Knighthood in Ireland will be found in vol. II. of O'Hal- lorau at A.M. 3970, after tie reign of O'EderiscoU king of Munster, according to th? Leabhar Lecan. * Ogygia, part 2, page 139. • Lecan, folio 295 35. 39. CIVIL WAR. 55 ceeded him. During his reign the nation was blessed with ^ ^ peace and abundance ; he lived in the time of Augustus and Tiberius. Having vanquished the people of Leinster, to. re- venge the death of his father, EderskeoU, who was killed by Nuadh-Neacht — a prince of that province, — he imposed on them a fine, and, ordered that Ossory should be, for ever, annexed io Munster.* After a reign of 30 years he was burned by robbers in his castle of " Bruinghean-da-Dhearg" in Meath. He was succeeded by Lugha Ri-dearg, who was 33, killed, having fallen on the point of his sword. Connor- Abhroruadh succeeded him ; Crimthan-Niadnair was his suc- cessor, who after returning from Britain with great riches, died ^^ of a fall from his horse. Eearadach, his son, succeeded him, 70 and afterwards died atTara. Fiachah-Fionoluidh, who succeed- ed him, was killed by Kincait, who succeeded to the throne. 73 A civil war, likely to prove fatal to the constitution of the state, broke out in this island. The plebeians, who accom- panied the Milesians to Ireland, and were always kept in a state of servitude and vassalage, resolved at last to shake off the yoke. Joined by the Firbolgs, and with Cairbre-Kincail as their chief, they dared not attack the nobles openly, but treacherously invited them to a magnificent banquet prepared for the occasion at Moy-Cru, in Connaught, which lasted for nine days ; at the termination of which the monarch, princes, and nobles were barbarously murdered,'' A.D. 80, by assassins hired for the purpose, (as the Britons were massacred by the Saxons on the plains of Salisbury). Cairbre Kincait, who was chosen king, reigned only five years, and was succeeded by his son Moran, who abdicated in favor of Elim, whose reign lasted twenty years. The country, during this usurpation, was toru asunder by factions, — all places wasted by fire and sword,— a Kennedy, page 81. b Archdeacon Lynch on Cambrensis Eversus, c. 8, p. 66, (old cop.) 66- HISTORY OF IRKLAND. the fields remained uncultivated, and famine, the dread con- sequence, followed. In this crisis prudence necessitated the recall of the legitimate heir, Tuathal^ who, to save himself from the fury of the plebeians, fled to his grandfather, king of the Picts, in Albania, afterwards called Scotland. They sent a deputation, which was kindly received by Tuathal, who embarked for Ireland, and landed at Irras-Domhroinn in Con- naught, where he was joined by Fiacha Caisin at the htad of a large number of troops, who proceeded' with him to Tara. Here he was hailed king, and " the saviour of his country ;" he set off immediately in search of the rebel king, whom he met at Acaill near Tara. Having defeated him on the first onset, he pursued, every where, the flying rebels, over whom he gained eighty-five victories, and thus crushed a rebellion which lasted twenty-five years. Tuathal had, by his queen Ban, daughter of the king of Finland, two daughters, Dair- inéaud Fithir; the former was married to Eocha-Ainchean, king of Leinster, who confined her in a castle, and repaired to the court of his father-in-law, Tuathal, at Tara, where he appeared inconsolable for the pretended death of his wife ; he acted his part so well, that he got her sister, Fithir in marriage, who, on her return to Leinster, was much surprised to see her sister alive ; both sisters, on discovering the treachery of Eocha, died shortly after of intense grief. Tuathal, in order to avenge the insults he received in the persons of his daughters, with the provin- cial troops entered Leinster, and compelled Eocha to sue for peace, which Tuathal consented to, on condition, that the king and people of Leinster, would pay to him and his succes- sors a tribute every two years, the tribute was, "6,000 ounces of silver, 6,000 cows, 6000 hogs, 6,000 wethers, 6,000 copper cauldrons, and 6,000 mantles ;" (the tribute was called " Boroimhe-Laighean." The payment of this tribute conti- nued until the seventh century, when it was abolished by Fionnach II. at the request of St. Moling. DIVISION BETWEEN CONN AND MODHA. 57 Tuathal, after a reign of thirty years, was killed at the battle ^.D. of Moyline, in Ulster, by Mai, his successor. In Tuathal's ^*'^^" reign was formed the territory known as Meatli, that is, it was made a separate kingdom. It consisted of portions taken from the other provinces. Mai, a descendaritof Ron y the Great, after having reigned four years, was killed by Feilim, son of Tuathal, who, having succeeded him, reigned nine years, and introduced the " Lex Talionis" or " Eric." He had seven sons: — Fiadch-Suidhe, Conn Cead Catha, Each-Fionn, Luagne, and three Connalls. Cathir-M<5r of the race of Heremon, and king of Leinster, who succeeded Feidhlim, had thirty sons, ten of whom were the ancestors of the kings and other nobles of Leinster until the twelfth century. He made a remarkable will, which can be seen in full in O'Flaherty, and a small tract containing it was lately edited by Doctor O' Donovan ; he was killed at the battle of Moyacha in Meath. Conn-Cead-catha, son of Feiljm Reachtmar and Ughna, 14H A.D., daughter of the king of Denmark, succeeded Cathir-Mdr. .This monarch sent 15,000 men to Aongus, of the race of the Earnochs of Ulster, who usurped the crown of Munster. Modha-Nuagat, a prince of the race of Heber, and rightful heir to the crown, met Aongus in the field, defeated him in two successive battles, and com- pelled the Earnochs to quit the country. Modha-Nuagat re- solved to be revenged on Conn for the assistance he afforded Aongus against him; but not finding himself a match for Conn, he returned to Spain where he married Beara, the daugh- ter of Heber Mor, king of a part of Spain. Modha, after some time, having returned with foreign troops, waged war on Conn, and, after having defeated him in the battles of Broisne and elsewhere, in the King's County, Greine in Wa- terford, Athlone in Roscommon, and Gabhran and Usnigh in East and West Meath, compelled him to make a division of the kingdom, called " Leath-Cuinn" and " Leath-Modha." 58 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. Mudha, satisfied with nothiug less than the entire kingdom, met Conn in the plains of Movlena ; a battle was fought, in which Modhai and his brother-in-law fell under the sword of Gall, commander-in-chief of the Connanght militia. This victory left Conn in possession of the whole island. Conn had three daughters, Sarah, who married Couairé, Sabia married to Olioll OUura, son of Modha, and Maoin, who was the mother of the three Fearguses. Sabia had by Olioll OUum three sans — Eogan M4r, ancestor to the Mac Cartjs, Cormac Cas, ancestor to the O'Briens, O'Brennans, O'Grady, &c., and Cian, ancestor to the O'CarroUs. In oar First Volume, " O'Brennan's Antiquities/' will be found all the lineal and collateral offspring of Conn and Eoghan. Conn, after a long reign, was betrayed by his brothers, and assassinated by fifty robbers, disguised in women's clothes, employed by Tio- braide-Tireach for that barbarous purpose, Conairé II.. son-in-law of Conn, and sixth in descent from Conaire the Great, succeeded, and had, by his wife, Sarah, three sons — Carbre Muse, whose descendants in the County of Tip- perary took the name Muskerry. Carbre Baskin, whose de- scendants got Corca-Baskin, in the County of Clare, and Carbre-Boigh-Fada,* chief of the Dalriada of Ireland and Scotland ;* his descendants established themselves in Antrim, in a place called Dalreida from them. Conaire was killed by his brother-in-law Neivy-Mac-Straivetine, and Art, son of Conn succeeded ; on his accession to the throne he banished his uncle Eocha-Fionn-Fethart, for the murder of his brothers and his treachery to his father. Eocha returned to his rela- tions in Leinster, from whom he got estates, in the county of Wexford, called from him " Fatharts," afterwards in the pos- session of the O'Nuallans, his descendants. • Roigh-Fada — long^hand, rather long-wrist. Dalriada : Da^—offupring , roigh — wrist, fada — long. " Bede, lib. 1, cap. 1. « O'Flaherty, p. 3, cap. 64. BATTLE OF MOYMUCROIMHB NEAE ATHENRY. 59 Lugaidhe Mac Conn, sou of Sabia, by her first husband, and nepheVp to Art, wai driven to exile by OlioU Olum; he esta- blished a colony in Albania, with hisson^Foadha Canan* at their head. Mac Conn, formed an alliance with a British prince, and returned with foreign troops, to take revenge for his exile ; he arrived in Galway,and marched to Moymucr&iouhe near Atheury, where he met Art, the monarch, and 19 sons of Olioll Olum, at the head of an army ; the victory was a long time doubtful, but proved fatal to Art, who was killed, with 7 sons of OHoU Olum, and Forgo, king of Connaught; after this Mac Conn was proclaimed monarch of Ireland. Cormac, sou of Art, iu order to secure himself in the crown of his father, invited Fergus, King of Ulster, to his assistance. The latter, acting treacherously towards Cormac, usurped the crown himself: Cormac, in this crisis, having recourse to Thadee, a powerful prince, on the borders of Leinster and Munster, who furnished him with troops to support his right to the throne. They met the three Fearguses at Chrionn-Ciom-Chomar, in Meath; the three brothers were killed in battle, and Cormac was acknow- ledged monarch of the Island. The successors of Feargua in Ulster were, Bosse, Aongus Fionn, and Fergus Fodha, the last of the race of Ir, in Eam- hain. The princes of Deasie, his own relations, declared war against Cormac, who, in the first battle, lost his eye, and his son Keallach was killed; in the second the rebels were cut to pieces and forced to leave the country. They got a territory from Olioll Ollum, in Waterford, which they called *' Deasie ;" this was in possession of the O'Fallons till the l&th century. Cormac defeated the provincial kings in S6 battles, banished them to the Hebrides, off the coast of Scotland, punished the Leinster people for their crimes, and renewed the tribute ; en- larged the colleges of literature at Tara ; and with his fleet, ' O'Flaherty, cap 67 284. 60 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ravaged the country of Albania during three years. Eocha A.D. Gunnait of the race of Heremon, succeeded Cormac. Carbre- ^^•^' Liffeachair succeeded him. During his reign, Aidhee, the 264. last of the race of the Firdomnians, was king of Connaught. Carbré defeated his rebel subjects in 7 battles, but they having Modha Corb at their head, met Carbre, and Aidhé king of Connaught, at Gab ra, near Tara; the battle was bloody, Carbre killed Osgar, son of Oissin, but was killed himself by Simeon; Aidhé, gave battle a second time, and slew Modha Corb, King of Munster, at Spaltroch, in Muscry. Carbre was succeeded by two brothers, Faha Airgeach and Faha Carpeach ; the former killed the latter, who was slain himself at the battle of 285. Ullarbha, in Antrim; Fiacha Streabthuine succeeded these two brothers ; he had one son, Muredeach Fireach, who ascended the throne of Connaught ; his posterity kept it till the 12th century. Fiocha, had a brother who had,three sons called the THREE COLL AS, who, whilst Muirdeach was engaged 315. ^ítl^ ^^^ Munster Kings attacked his father and killed him in battle, and Colla* Uas, the eldest, was proclaimed monarch of Ireland. Muirdeach, hearing of his father's death, gave the usurper battle, and compelled him to take refuge in Albania, with the king of the Picts ; his kinsman then became sole 320. monarch of the island. The monarch granted a general amnesty^ which caused the CoUas to return to Ireland, and ask pardon of the king for the murder of his father, which he easily for- gave, and gave them troops to avenge the death of Conn Cead Caha, on the people of Ulster. They marched to meet the enemy, engaged them in the territory of Fermoy, in Monaghan; the battle continued for 7 days. Fergus Fodha, the king, and his army were cut to pieces; the conquerors pillaged the palace of Eamhain, (which ended the reign of the Clann Rorys,) and » These reigns are given at great length in Keating and O'Halloran, but our plan precludes the iniertion of more than an outline. REIGN OF NJALL OF MNK HOSTAGES. 01 took possession of a large tract of country, called " Uriel," now the counties of Louth, Armagh, Monaghan, Down and Antrim; Muiredeach died in battle, and had for successor Caolvacl; who was assassinated, after a year. Eocha Moy Ueagan, was his A.D. successor, Eochaidh Moighraeodhin,* son of Muirdeach Fireach, was in continual war with Eanna Cinsblbach, King of Lein- ster, and after being defeated in 13 battles, he died at Tara. 360. Criomthau was his successor, who after having returned with great booty, from Albania, Britain, and Gaul, was poisoned by his sister, Mung rionn,'> in order to place her son Brian on the throne, but in this she was disappointed. NiAL OF THE NINE HOSTAGES, the 135th monarch of Ireland, 379. son of Eochaidh Moghmheadhin (Meevin), andCarthanCasdubh, daughterofakingof Britain, wasthesuccessor of Criomthan; he had one son, f iacha, by his first wife, Inne, and 7 by his second wife» Roigneach, Laoghare, Eoghan, Eanna, Cairbre, Maine, Conall Gulban, and Conall Creamthin ; he was valiant in war, and carried away immense booty, and captives from the Picts, Britons, and Gauls. In order to justify his expedition against the Picts, it is necessary to shew the connection between the Irish and Scotch of Albania, called Dalriads, or Dalrendini, to this day. It was during this king's reign that Pelagius the heresiarch, first pro- pagated his false doctrine, respecting baptism. Eocha-Eiada, son of ConaréII.,wasthefirst, that established a colony of Scoto-Mile- sians in Albania, in the year of Christ, 212. Aongus III., or Furnveach, had two sons, Ennius, and Fiachra, A.M., 3870. By the former, who was legitimate, he was the ancestor of the succeeding monarchsj<= by the latter, which was the fruit of in- cest, he was ancestor of the Earnochs, Dalfiatachs, Deagades, and Dalriads, and consequently of some of the Scotch; the Earnochs were the descendants of Fiacha-Fearmar, (or child of shame) ; they settled on the borders of lake Earn, hence called • Ayughee moymayun. *> Lynch, c. 8, ' Book of Lecan, folio 294. 6£ HlSTORT Ot IKtLAND. Earnocks ; they were afterwards governed by Forgo, IV. in descent from Fiacha. This Forgo very probably is the same as Fergus I. of Scotland. The genealogy of both for 20 genera- tions down to Eocha-Riada, being nearly the same in name, and in pronunciation, according to Irish and Scotch monu* inents.* They were called Deagadhes, from Deaga, their chief, 10th in descent from Fiacha ; they were called Dalfiatachs, from Fiathoch, monarch of the 1st century. Dal signifies they were called Dalriads, from Eocha-Riada, who established them in Albania, as you have seen above. These Dalriad s, of Ulster, established there by Fergus-Ulidian, their chief, formed a close connexion and a league of friendship with the Dalriads of Albania, and sent them, from time to time, both men and money to support their independence against the Picts, wlio resolved to check, at once, their increasing power."* It was on this occasion, they appealed to the Irish monarch for aid, as they always acknowledged him as their sovereign. Niall, in order to bring the Picts to a sense of duty, crossed the sea at the head of his army, and forced them to give the territories of Argyle and Cantire, in Scotland, to the Dalriads."' He after- wards entered Britain and ravaged the whole country, whence he embarked for Armorica, there he took great booty and some A.D. captives, children of rank; among them was St. Patrick, tlieu ■log ^ 16 years old, and his sisters Lupida, and Darerca.* The first of the devastations committed by the Scots and Piets on 398 Britain, was in the reign of Niall," who raised a great army and entered Britain, now stripped of her forces and rulers' (it was then **the Scot put all lerné in motion, and the sea foamed with the hostile oars,") and continued his devastation for several ■ John Major Hist, de gest. Scot. ^ Pet. Lomb. de Hib. c. 2, pp. 31-2. ' Walsh, Prosp. of Ireland, part 1, sect 1. <» Usher's Life of St. Patrick, c. 1 7, p. 828. • A,D. 398. ' Lynch, c. 8. INTIIODUCTIQN OK CH11I31IANITY. G'i years." In this extremity, the Britons had recourse to Roine for aid ; Stilhco, the Roman general, sent one legion, which was quickly recalled, in consequence of Alaric, king of the Goths, laying siege to the city. The fleet of Niall, after coasting along the shores of Britain, sailed to Armorica, where, on the banks of the river Loire, he was killed by an arrow, from Eocha, son of Eana-Kinseallach, king of Leinster;'' in his reign, the six sons of Muredueh, king of Ulster, took possession of the north of Britain, and foun- ded a nation there, called Scotia," whose descendants afterwards were called Scotch. DATHY, the J 36th monarch of Ireland, son of Fiachra, brother of Niall, next reigned. He gave the crown of Con- naught, of which he was king, to his brother, Amalgad (O'Malley), who gave his name to a territory in Mayo, Tyr- Amalgad, or Tyrrawley. In his reign Eocha was king of Leinster, and Nadfraoch, king of Munster; in his reign, Gratian** was acknowledged emperor of Britain; he was killed by the militia in four months after. The Picts and Scots made a second dreadful devastation in Britain, which caused the inhabitants to implore relief from Yalentinian III., who sent them one cohorti and built a wall of stone, eight feet thick, and twelve feet high, on the same foundation, laid by Severus two centuries before, to check the incursions of their enemies, and then took a final leave of Britain. During this interval, Dathy entered Britain, at the head of a large army, passed thence to Gaul, and extended his conquests to the Alps, where he was killed by lightning; his body was brought over, and buried in Cruachan in Gonnaught, (the kings' burial ground.) • Usher, c. 15, p. 594. ' Ogygia, part 3, c. 85. e *' In the reign of Niall the six sons of Muredueh seized the North of Britain ; their descendants were called Scotch." — Camb. Topography. ií?*^ú^ c. 76. PRINCIPALITIES OF IRISH FAMILIES. 77 • KINEL COXAL, (Owen,) or Tircouiiel; belonged to the O'DonuoUs, descendants of Coaal-GuUan, son of niallofthk NINE HOSTAGES. KiNEL EoGHiN, now the Co. Tyrone, belonged to the O'Neills, the descendants of Eoghan, (Owen,) son of "Niall of the nine hostages." Moy lnnis,now Lecale in Down, belonged to the Magennises. Mughdorne, now the barony of Mourne, in Down, belonged to the posterity of Colla-Maine. OiLLEAN Magkb, on the coast of Antrim, belonged to the Magees. Orgiel, or Uriel,* now Louth, Monahan, and Armagh, be- longed to the Mac Mahons, of the race of Heremon. Calrie,'' in east Breifne, belonged to the O'Carbhaills, (O'CarroUs.) Ily Neillán, belonging to the O'Nialláns. Kiennachta-Glengemhin, in Derry, belonged to the O'Connors of Ulster. DoNAMAiNE, in Monaghan, belonged to the O'Kennys. Leinstee; Annally, now Longford, belonged to the O'Ferrals, of the race of Ir. O'Farrell, Ferrill, Fearall, and Yirgil, Manly, are the same name. Clan Malugra, in the King and Queen's county, belonged to the O'Dempsies, of the race of Heremon. CoiLLB CuLLUiN, in Wicklow and Kildare, was the property of O'Cuillins, of the race of Heremon. . Crioch Culan,« in Wicklow, belonged to the O'Kellys, of tlie race of Heremon. Elt-0'Carrol, now the baronies of Clonlish and Ballyhit, in the King's county, belonged to the O'CarroUs, of the race of Heber, by OUiol Olum. * Ogygia, p. 3, c 76. ^ Grat. Lucius, c. 3. • Ogygia, p. 3, c 59. <> Keating on Generation of O'CarrolI. , 78 lltsrOIlY OP IRKLAIiD^ Fathart, ill Wexford, belonged to the O'Nuallans, descen- dants of Eoclia-Fionn — Fathart, brother of Conn tHe Gkeat. Hy-Failge/ or Offaly, a part of the King and Queen's county and Kildare, belonged to the O'Connors-Faly of the race of Heremon, by Rossa Failge, son of Cahir Mór. Hy-Kinsballach, in Wexford, belonged to the 0*Kin- seallaghs, O'Murphys, and O'Dowlings, of the race of Heremon» by Cahir Mór. Hy-Mairche, now the barony of Slieve Margie, in the Queen's county, belonged to the Mac Gorinans, of tiie race of Cahir Mor. Hy-Regan, now the barony of Tinnehinch, in the Queen's county, formerly belonged to the O'Eegans, after to the O'Duins,*» of the race of Heremon. Idrone, now a barony in Carlow, belonged to the Mac MorroQghs, of the race of Heremon. Imayle,' in Wicklow, belonged to the O'Tooles, of the race of Heremon. Idough, in Kilkenny, belonged to the O'Brennans, who with the Fitz-Patricks, have descended from Heremon, through Cahir Mór. Leix, now the baronies of Maryborough and CuUinagh, in the Queen's county, belonged to the O'Moores, of the race of Ir, by " RoEY the Great." The O'Moore, in the reign of Elizabeth, nobly upheld Catholicity. O'Moerough, or Mur- row, in Wexford, belonged to the O'Murphys. OssoRY, now a barony in the Queen's county, belonged to the Fitzpatricks, of the race of Heremon, by Aongus Ossory, who settled there in the first century. This must not be mixed up with the diocese, which is much more extensive. Ranilough, in Wicklow, was possessed by the O'Byrnes, of the race of Cahir Mór. • Ogygia, p. 3, c. 59. b Ibid. « Walsh, p. 287. PRINCIPALITIES OP IRISH PAMILIES. 79 FiNGALL, in the Co. Dublin, was in the possession of a colony of Danes before the 12th century. Munster; Arradh-Cliach (Arroo-cleeugh) in the Co. Tipper- ary, was the inheritance of the O'Briens, of the tribe of Dal-cas. Beabb, now a barony in the Co. Cork, belonged to O'Sul- livan Beare, of the race of OIHol Olum. Car-berry, now two baronies, east and west, in the Co. Cork, belonged to the Macartys-Riaghs, of the race of OUiol Olum. CoiLLNEMONAGH, DOW a barony in the Co. Tipperary, was held by the O'Dwyers, of the race of Heremon. Corco-Baskin, now the barony of Moyarta, in the Co. Clare, bebnged to the Mac Mahons. CoRCUMROE, now a barony in the Co. Clare, belonged to the O'Connors and O'Loughlins, of the race of Ir, by Fei^us- Roigh, and Maude, Queen of Conaught. Desie, or Naudesie, now a barony, but formerly the entire Co. Waterford, belonged to the O'Phelans, of the race of Heremon. DuHALLOw, now a barony, in the Co. Cork, belonged to the O'Keefes, a branch of the Mac Cartys. DuNKERON, now a barony in the Co. Kerry, belonged to the O'SuUivans, of the race of OUiol 01am. Hy-Foqarta, now a barony in the Co. Tipperary, belonged to the O'Fogartys, of the tribe of Eoganachts. Hy Kibna, now a barony in the county Tipperary, be- longed to the O'Meaghers, of the race of OlioU Olum. IvREAGH, now a barony in the county Kerry, belonged to the MacCarthy Mor, chief of the Eoganachts ; this is the country of the illustrious emancipator of Catholics, Daniel O'Connell, whose death cast such a gloom over his countrymen, KiBRRIGiA — Luachra, in the county Kerry, (some think it comprises all Kerry,) belonged to the O'Connors- Kerry, of the race of Ir. The Chevalier Daniell O'Connell • a> í HO HISrOItY OP IltteLAND. O'Connor-Kerry, brother of the Rev. 0. J. O'Condof, of Sandyford, county Dublin, is at present coinmandante of Mantua, the most important fortress in the Austrian Empire, a fit post for one of that royal race. . . Kinbl-Mbathy, now a barony in the county Cork, belonejed to the O'Mahonys. MuscRAiGHB, now a barony in the county Cork, was held by the MacCartys, descendants of OUiol-Olum. MusCRAiGHB-TiRE, now the two baronies of Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, belonged to the O'Kennedys from Olliol Olum. OWNY, now a barony in county Tipperary, was the inheri- tance of the Maol-Ryans, of the race of Cahir-Mor. PoBLB Hy Brign, now a barony in the county Limerick, Avas the patrimony of the O'Briens. Thomond Hy Brien, the greater part of the counties Clare Ana JAmenck, belonffed to ihe O'BrienSf chiefs of the Dakassians. Aghhado, in the county Kerry, was possessed by the 0*Con- nells. Balli MacEliood, in Kerry, belonged to the MacEligods. EooANACHT, in Tipperary, was occupied by the descendants of Eogan (Owen) son of Olliol Olum. Glinn, near Lake Lane (Killarney) belonged to the O'Do- noghues. MuiGHAGHAiR,in Thomond, belonged to the Mac Namaras. O'Gbarny belonged to the O'Kearnys. PoPLE Hy Callaqhan, was inherited by the O'Callaghans. CONN AUGHT— AiDHNB, now the barony of Kiltortan, in the county Galway, belonged to the O'Shaughnessy of the race of the Hy-Fiachras by Dathi. Brelfné now the county Leitrim, belonged to the tribe of the O'Rourkes of the race of the Hy Briens. Colngia, (many of the name in Connaught,) Calrigiá Luirc t'lllNClPALlTIES OF IRISH FAMILIES. 8l Calraighé loche a gilé, in the County of Sligo ; and Calaighe Muigh-Murisk, in the Barony of Tyrawley, Mayo. Clann FíiEGAiL, now the Barony of Clare, in the County of Gal way, belonged to the O'Hallorans. Clann-Maelbrianá,n, or Sleeve-Hy-Flionn, near Ballin- lough, was the O'Flionns» Conmacne, in the County Leitrim, belonged to the Mac Rannills, of the race of Ir ; there are also Conmacne, of Dun- more, Conmacne-Mhora, in the Barony of Ballinahinch, County Galway, and Conraacne-Cuiitolla, in Kllmain, Mayo. COOLAVIN, now a Barony in the County Sligo, belonged since the fourth cenlury, to the CVGaras, (from Heber,) but at one time was the inheritance of Mac Dermott, prince of Coolavin. CoRANN, now a Barony in the County Sligo, belonged to the Mac Donoughs, of the race of Hy-Brunes. Corcachlann, in the County Roscommon, was the rightful in- heritance of the O'Hanlys and O'Brennans, (from the Hy- Brunes.) A note in A — ^ Masters says it was Branan^s. DARTRY, in the Barony of Carbury, in the County Sligo, belonged to the Mac Clancys, of the race of Ith. DEALBHNA-FEADHA, nowthe Barony of Moycullen, Co. Galway, belonged to the posterity of Gnomár andGnobeg.'CCon- roi), till the ninth century, but since, to the O'Flaherfcys, of the race of the Hy-Bruines, (so called from H-Bran, or Brain, son of Eugha, king of Connaught.) HY-ONACH, in the County Roscommon, was the patrimony of the illustrious O'Connors, the eldest branch of the Hy- Brunes. HY-MAINE, or Mainech,'' in the County Gralway, belonged to the O'Kellys, of Aughrim, of the race of Heremon, by Maine-Mór. ■ " Gnomor and Gaobeg were of the tribe of O'Dalcaiss, from whom the Mac Conrys descended. '* i> Ogygia, part 3, c. 76. 82 HISTORYOF IRKLAND. Hj-Malia/ now tlie barony of Murrisk, in the County of Mayo, belonged to the O'Malleys, of the tribe of the Hy- Brunes. LUIGNE, now the Barony of Leny, in the County Sligo, belonged to the O'Haras, (from OUiol Olum.) Moyburg, now the Barony of Boyle, County Roscommon, was the Mac Derraotts, (from the Hy-Brunes.) MAGHERA CONNAUGHT,» now the Baronies of Ros- common and Ballintubber, in the County Roscommon, was possessed by the O'Connors Don, cliiefs of the Hy-Brunes. PARTRY-KIARA, now the Barony of Kilmain, belonged to the Mac Allins, (of the race of Ith.) SIOLNAMACHAD, now the barony of Longford, on the banks of the Shannon, belonged to the O'Maddens, of the race of Heremon. SIOL-MURRAY, now the Barony of Carbury, in the County Sligo, was the territory of the O'Connor-Sligo, of the same race as the O'Connor-Don. Tir-Amalgad, now the Barony of Tyrawley, Mayo, was the O'Haras, of the race of OUiol Olum. Clanncathil, near Elphin, belonged to the O'Flannagans. CLANN Fearumoigh,* in Western Breifné, belonged to the Mac Eagans, of the race of Colla-da-crioch. DUNAMON, now the Barony of Ballymoe, in Galway, was the O'Einaghty's, of the race of Hy-Brunes. HvBH-Sen, on the borders of Lough Corrib, Hy-Bruin-Ratha, in the Barony of Athenry, County Galway, Diarmada (HY-FIACHRA- AIDHNA, (eena,) now the barony of Erris, Mayo, belonged formerly to the Firbolgs. Diarmamada, belonged to the O'Concaunons. Kierrige, of Lough an iayn, now baiony of Costello, in County Mayo,) was the CJostellos. MAEN-MOGE, since called Clanricard, includes the Baronies of Clare, Dunkellin, Loughrea, Killartau, Athenry, and Leitrim, — was OTally's and O'Nachtan's. • Ogyeia, part .3, c. 79. *" O'SuIlivan's Hist. Hib. Tome 3, lib 1, c. 1. . * These facts are taken chiefly from 'OFlaherty s Ogygia. JPRINCIPALITIES OF IRISH FAMILIES. 83 I^ARTRY, now the Barony of Carra, in Mayo, belonged to the Joyces and others. Tir-da-loch, now the Barony of Moycullen, in Galway, be- tween Lough Corrib, and the Bay of Galway. MEATH, (Clan-Colman,) belonged to the O'Melaghlins, of the race of Niall of the nine Hostages. HY-LEOGHAR, {Lhaym,) on the Banks of the Boyne, from Trim to Tara, belonged to the O'Kindellans, descendants of Laoghare, Monarch of Ireland. Cuircne, in West Meath, was the lordship of O'Tolarg. DELVIN, now a barony in West Meath, belonged to the O'Finellans of the race of Heber, dispossessed by Henry U. Dealbhna {^Z> j^ jj After this the saint set ofl' to Cloueboy, in Dalraidhe, 438, in 433. Ulster, where his old master Milcho lived, in order to convert him. But he would not be converted by one who was once his slave, and in a rage threw himself into a fire that accidentally broke out in the house. He was burnt with all his family ex- cept his son Gassact (who was after Bishop of Granard in the county Longford*) and his two daughters, called " Emerias," who became nuns in the monastery of Cluain-Broin : he visited Dichu on his return, and thence having sailed for Meath,*' he landed near Drogheda at the mouth of the river Boyne, where * This ialand is handsomely situated opposite the coast of the viU^e of Skerries. •* Usher Prim. c. 17, page 846. • Vita Trip. St. Patrick, lib. 2, c. 137. * Usher Prim c. 17, p. 847. MISSION OP ST. PATRICK. 89 having left his ship jn care of his nephew, Loman, he went to the general assembly of the kingdom, at Tara, in order to preach the doctrine of Christ to the princes» nobles, and dmids assem- bled on the occasion. On his way he met the lord of a territory in Meath, who was baptised with all his family, and whose son Benignus, was, afterwards. Archbishop of Ardmach. The saint, on his arri- val at Slane, near Tara, the day before Easter, kindled the Pas- chal fire, which alarmed the dmids, who told the king that unless that fire was extingaished the person who kindled it would be master of the island. The saint was, accordingly summoned before the king to account for his conduct* with strict orders that none of the assembly should salute him. Ere, son of Dega, disregarding the king's orders, saluted him and was bi^tised, and afterwards became Bishop of Slane. The saint preached to the assembly which had the eifect of con- verting Dubhthach, (Buffyy) the king's arch poet and lord, who afterwards employed his talents in praising God and his saints.^ Eiech,his disciple, followed his example and afterwards became Bishop of Sletty. The queen and some nobles embraced Chris- tianity, and the king himself received baptism in the course of some time.<^ The saint after leaving Tara, proceeded to Tailton, to attend the military games, where he preached to the king's brothers, Cairbre and Oonall, the latter of whom become a convert. Among the number of his converts for the rest of the year were Ethne and Fedeline, the king's daughters, and Mael and Caphait, their tutors.^ St. Loman, on his way to meet St. Patrick, after his long absence, converted Feidhlim, son of Laoghare, and Ids son Fortchern, who was afterwards Bishop of Ath-Furnn.' St. Patrick, on his way from Tara, visited the Southern and Northern Hy-Nialls; he converted Enda and all his family; his son, Cormac, was afterwards. Bishop of Athruiné K Usher Prim. e. 17, page 849 hjocelin, Vita St. Patrick. • Vita St. Patrick. "* Vita apud Colgan, c. 55. 00 HISTORT OP IRKLAXD. and Archbishop of Armagh j he then converged Maiiie> a prince in Meath, and built a church atArdagh with St Mel, his nephevr at its head.* The princes of the Northern Hy-Niall, the sons of Cairbró, were among the number of his converts. ^ From them he got the territory of Granwd, and in it he built a church over which he placed Quasact as bishop. He ■^•^- then visited Brefny, comprising most of Leitrim and part of Cavan — he destroyed the idol, Crom Cruach^ which was in the plain of Moy-Slecht in Leitrim. Here he built the church Domnach-M6r, and appointed St. Mauran as its pastor. The Saint, after leaving Brefny, having crossed the Shannon, entered Connaught.>> Ona, a lord in Magheré Connaugbt, gave him Imleach, or Elphin, on which he raised a church, and placed over it Asicns as bishop. He thence proceeded to the Co. Sligo, where he baptised Maine of Eoyal descent (who was afterwards bishop), and founded in it two churches, Seucheall- Dumhaige and Simnach. There is within one mile of Bally- haunis, Mayo, a well, and by it a small reliq. These being called after him is an evidence that the apostle visited that place. To this day it is resorted to by pilgrims, as i» Holycross between Dunmore and Cloonfad. From this place he travelled to the barony of Clare, in the Co. Galway, and baptised Duach, son of Brian, and founded the church Domnach-Pkadrig, near Lough Hacket. He proceeded through Partry and Umalie, in Mayo, where he founded the church Achadh Fobhiur, of which St. Senach was the bishop. Affer this he spent the Lent in contemplation and prayer on Croagh-Phadrig, the former name of which was " Cruaehan Aichlt^' or Mount Eagle, in the same county, and having celebrated Easter at the church just named, he went to Tir-Amalgaidh (Tirawley) where he converted the seven sons of Amalgaidh and 1200 persons. He erected a church ; of this he made Mansuerius' bishop. » Ware d» Presul. Hib. " VitaTrip. St. Pat. b. 2, c. 3. Con. Pat. p. 19 441 MISSION OF ST PATllICK. 91 Ou the bank of the river Moy he built a church called KiU- Aladh (Killala), to preside over which he consecrated Murea- doch bishop. A.D. Having founded 47 churches in Connaught, the Saint returned to Sligo, passed through the territories of Cairbre, who opposed him, as did Gonall, though one of his converts. However, he arrived at Inis Eoghan (Iniih Owen) where he baptised Eoghan* — the prince — and all his family, and founded two churches, Bomnach-Mót Muigh Tochuir (of which Mac Carthan was first bishop) and Bomnach Bile. Having thence crossed Lough Foyle, he passed through Kineacta, where he baptised Seadhna»» (Sheana) and his family ; his son Kienau was bishop of Duleik in Meath. Having left this place the Apostle journeyed to Coleraine in Dalraida, in Down, where he met the twelve brothers, sons of Caolbach, of the race of the Clanna Bory ; of these the chief were Saran, who opposed him, and Conla, who was converted by him. Here he built a church Cummuir for Canons Regu- lar, also the churches, Bcmnach-Mor, Rath-Lithe, lulchaiu, Faspic-InniCf Gleann, Gluaire^ Imleach^ Cluana. The Saint preached on the borders of Lough Neagh, where having raised some churches, he established the bishopric of " O'Cane's chieftaincy," which he gave to Killian, and another in Tyrone over which he set St. Columb. He founded the see of Clogher,' of which he was bishop. Thereupon he went to Brum-Saileach, where he organised a city, and made it the metropolitan see, at the request of Daire,** who was the prince of the territory. The Saint, in order the more easily to supply the want of ministers, introduced the Roman Alphabet to those who were to enter holy orders. Some obscure writers assert that he, at 447. this time, went to Britain to resist the Pelagian heresy. But » Vita Tri. 2, 118. »> Joce. Vita, p. 748. Ware de Presul. Heb. •» Usher Prim, c 17, p. 841. 445. A.D. 92 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. the fact is that he attended St. German of Auxerre in a crusade against Pelagius some time before he was consecrated bishop 448. for the mission of Ireland. This appears from Lanigan and other distinguished authorities. Having held a synod in Armagh,* he started for Leinster, built the church of Bile- Tortan in Meath ; whence he travelled to Baile atha cliath (Bally aha cleeaj, where he baptised all the inhabitants, with Alpin,* their king, and near the fountain, in which he baptised them, he built a church, named after himself. The Saint having converted the two princes, sons of Dunlang, built two churches Kill-Auxil (over which be placed Auxilius) , and Kill-Cuillinf whose first bishop was Issernin ; he then visited Leix, Ossory, and Hy-Kinseallach. In these places he raised 70 churches, and baptised Criomthan (Creevan), king of Leinster, who gave land on which to build a church, over which was placed Fiech as bishop of Sletty, who acted in the capacity of Archbishop of Leinster, though not such. After preaching with effect in Leinster, he then proceeded to Munster, where he baptised King Aongus and all his house- hold; during the baptism of the king, the saint's staff pierced his foot, but l>e never complained, as he thought it belonged to the ceremony. He held a synod at Cashel and confirmed in the possession of the churches they had founded, Sts. Ailbe, De- clan, Kieran, and Ibar. He then took leave of Aongus and passed through Aradha, Tamneach, and the Shannon, into Thomond, where he converted the inhabitants with Carthan Fionn, their prince ; he preached in Kerry, returned by Desie to Cashel. After a space of seven years, devoted to the conversion of the province, the inhabitants, in gratitude for his services, un- dertook to pay him an annual tribute, called Cain Phadrig. The saint having discharged his mission in Munster returned to Ulster, where, having spent six years in visiting churches, » Camden Britta. p. 750. •• Usher Prim. c. 17. p. 806, &c. MISSION OF ST. PATKICK. 9B confirming Christians in their faith, and converting those who persevered in idolatry, he resigned the See of Armagh to Benignus, and withdrew to SabhaiUPhadroig, in Down, to prepare for death, as he foresaw bis end was approaching. Here he died in the Lord, attended by St. Tassagh and other holy persons. His body was interred in Down. The reader who would know more of this extraordinary saint is referred to the first volume of this work which contains several authentic short narratives of his life. Lauigan, with whom we agree, says he was born, A. D. 387, died A. D. 4.65, aged 78, and was 33 years in Ireland as Apostle. It has been already remarked that Laoghare (O'Leary) was monarch when St. Patrick commenced his mission, which tended so much to refine the warlike manners of the people, that the government of the country was easily managed by the monarch, one of whose first acts was to hold the assembly at Tara, in order to reform the laws of the countrv, and to abolish the scandals of Paganism. This was done by a committee of nine, which was thus constituted — three kings, those of Ulster, Munster, and the monarch; three bishops, St. Patrick, St. Benignus and Gairnach; three antiquarians, Dubtach, Eeargus, and Eosa. After this inquiry those manuscripts which were condemned were burned, and several copies of the Milesian monuments were ordered to be carefully deposited in the different churches in the kingdom, to guard against any future accident. Intruders, and not the Milesians, were they who introduced and practised idolatry. The only war we read of in this reign was that between Laoghare and Criorathan, King of Leinster, about the Boroimhe (Borivey) or tribute, imposed in the second century on the people of Leinster, by Tuathal Teachmar. The two kings met at Athdara, in the county Kildare and Laoghare was taken prisoner, but after released on condition of relinquishing his claim, which he afterwards violated. He was afterwards killed by a thunder- A.D. 04- HlSTOllY OF IRELAND. bolt at Greallach Dabhuill, near the Liffey. OIliol-Molt, son of Dathy, succeeded Laoghare. This monarch renewed his claim to the tribute in A. D. 463, in consequence of which a battle was fought at Tama-Achar which did not prove decisive. His next epgagemeut was with Lugha, son of Laoghare, who questioned his right to the crown. Lugha, afjsisted by Crioin- than, King of Leinster, Murtough-Mac-Ena, Fergus-Kerbhoil, and Feachra-Loun, gave them battle at Acha in Meath, which proved fatal to Olioll-Molt, and left Lugha in possession of the crown. Lugha, son of Laoghare (Leary) succeeded Olioll- 483. Molt. In his reign, the different provinces in the kingdom were engaged in war. Aongus, King of Munster, and his Queen, Eithne-Vatach, daughter of the King of Leinster was killed at the battle of Kill-Osnach, near Leighlin in the county Carlow. Duach-Galach, King of Counaught, was killed at the battle of Leaghra ; Fraoch, King of Leinster, was killed at the battle of Grawe. There was also a great battle between the Hy-Nialls and the people of Leinster, at Loch-Muighe, (Mee) where a great many lives were lost. In this reign the six sons of Ere, the two Laornes, two Aonguses, and two Fearguses 503. conducted the last expedition of the Dalriads of Ulster to Albania, as can be seen by Usher's Chronological Index. In this reign died St. Patrick. The miraculous cure of Lugha (Loui) who was suddenly taken ill at dinner on St. Michael's day, is attributed to St. Patrick, and, in gratitude for the interference of Providence, the queen, his mother, ordered that part of the provisions, daily served at table, should be given to the poor. Hence the custom of killing a sheep at Michaelmas for the benefit of the poor, called in Irish " Cuid Michel. In the fifth century thirteen orders of religious persons prevailed — viz.,of St. Ailhe, St. Deehlan, St. Patrick, St. Columb, St. Carthack, St. Molua, St. Moctee, St. Finian, St Kiaran, and St. Brendan, St. Bridget for females ; these joined the canons regular of Si. A.i) MISSION OF ST. PATRICK. 95 » Augustine, and the order of St Columbanus joined the Bene- dictines in the seventh century. In the fifth century there were many abbots in Ireland ; the principal were St. Endee, St. Moctee, St. Senan, St. Roiche, St. Canoe, and St. Bridget, abbess. Monks were also established in Ireland as early as the christian religion. Camden says their piety was neither affected nor disguised. Bede, Usher, Colgau, and Ware say that Ire- land was the seminary of learning, sanctity, and every other (?) Christian virtue, and according to Allemand, the Baioe of the west.* Murtough-raac-Earca, succeeded Lugha VII. This monarch was remarkable for his piety and for his valor. He routed the enemy in 17 battles. Notwithstanding his warlike dispo- sition, he afforded the greatest protection to religion. In his reign lived Saint Einian, or Finbar, of the race of the Clann- Rory, first bishop of Clonard. He spent 30 years in Britain, and founded three churches therein. On his return, he established the see of Clonard, near the river Boyne, in Meath. He also founded a university there, attended, oft^ii, by 3,000 students ; ^'^ among the number were two Saint Kiarans, two Brendans, two Columbs, Laserian, Cainsech, Movens and Ruadan. The saint died in the year 548. The bishoprics of Duleek, Kells, Trim, Ardbrecca», Donseaghlin, Slane, Fore and, others, were united to Clonard about the 12th century. The sees of Ross, Tuara, Ardfert, Achonry, and Clonfert, were founded iu the beginning of the sixth century. Saint Kiaran-Saighir, in his old age, read the divine writings in the school of Saint Finian, in Clonard; he is, therefore, called his disciple. Saint Colurab-Kille, the fourth in descent from niall the GUKAT, founded more than 100 churclies. He was called the apostle of the Picts, from the fact that he was the agent in the conversion of that nation, who, in gratitude for his services, gave • These fact» are from Usher, Ware, Colgan, Bede, A rcbdeacon Lynch; Camber, Echard and four Masters. A.D. Do HISTORY OF IRELAND. him the island Hy, in theHebrides, in which to build a monastery for himself and his fellovr-labourers, who were remarkable for their chastity and good conduct. The saint died in the Abbey of Hy, A.D., 597, aged 77 years. Saint Jarlath, of the race of the Clanna-Eory, a native of Gonmacne, of Kinel- Dubhain, (Duan,) or Dunmore, in the County Galway, a disciple of Saint Benignua, successor of Saint Patrick in Arinagh, remarkable for his learning and piety, retired to Cluainfois, near Tuam, where he founded a monastery and school, celebrated for the numbers which were educated there, among the rest, Saint Brendan of Clonfert, and Saint Colman, bishop of Cloyne. Saint Bridget was daughter of Dubtach, (CyDaffy,) of the race of Eocha Fionn, brother of " Con cead CatAa." She received the veil from Mac AUeeus, (Mac Hale,) a bishop and disciple of Saint Patrick's. She founded a I monastery in a forest of oak in Leinster, called since Kill-dare, which was the origin of the town and county of that name. She was celebrated for the performance of miracles. Temples were dedicated to her in Ireland, France and England ; there is still a church bearing her name in London. A.D. Her remains were at Kildare, whence they were removed to Down. Tuathal-Maolgarbh, succeeded Mortough; in his reign Prince Earc, son of OlioU-Molt, lost his life in a battle fought at Portan, against the people of Leinster. Some time afterwards, Eoghan-Beal, (Oven Bayul), king of Oonnanght, was slain at the battle of Sligo, fought between himself and the princes, Feargus and Domhnall — sons of Mortough-Mac Earca, Tuathal, having reigned eleven years, was killed by Maolmar, foster brother of Dermod. A.D. Dermot, of the race of "Niall the greats'' having succeeded ^*^- this monarch, in the beginning of his reign, made donations of land, for the erection of churches, and frequently convened the states at Tara, at which he got passed useful laws, which he MISSION Ot' ÍT. PATRICK. 97 executed with rigor. He condetniied to death his own son for violating them. Olioll, son of Mortough, ruled Leinster, and Cormac, descended in the eight degree from OUiol-OIum, ruled Munster in his reign. The monarch, through a great love of justice, was necessarily obliged to engage in war, with Guaire, king of the Hy-Fiachras, in Connaught. The armies encamped on the banks of the Shannon, and disputed its passage; but Guaie and his troops being defeated with great slaughter, were obliged to submit, which put an end to the war. In the battle of Cuildreimne, fought between him and tlie two princes, Feargus and Dorahnall, he lost the best part of his army, and saved himself by flight. The cause of the battle was: — these princes, together with Columb-Kill, afforded protection to a murderer, whose name was Corman- Mac-Hugh, who killed a nobleman at the parliament of Tara, but Dermot had him arrested and condemned to death. Dermot, said to be the greatest, the handsomest, and most powerful Christian prince that ever ruled the country, died in A-D. a house, which accidentally took fire at Rathbeg. Feargus and Domhnall, of the race of Niall, were the successors. These princes were always engaged in war with the kings of Connaught, and likewise with the monarch. After their accession to the throne, they defeated the people of Leinster in a great battle at Oabhra Liffe, in the County W'icklow» 566. shortly after which they died. Eocha, 13th son of Domhnal I., succeeded. This monarch, and his uncle Baoden, having reigned three years, were killed at the battle of Glingevin, by Cronan, son of Tigheruach, (Theeuniagh.) 56g AINMIRE, 4th in descent from Niall, who succeeded, was a very religious prince, and after a reign of three years was killed by Fergus Mac Neill, at Carag-Leime-an-Eich, on the banks of the lower Shannon. BAODAN, son of Nineadha, who succeeded, after one 570 year's reign, died a violent death. 9 98 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. ji^jy AODH 2nd, fUeJ sou of Ainmire, wlio succeeded, 572. being a great benefactor to the church, gave St. Columbkille the territory of Derry, on which he built a church and estab- lished a monastery. He convened a general assembly at Drom-ceat, in Derry, in order to put a stop to those strolling Lampooners who arrogantly assumed the name of bards, and to enforce that tribute due by the Dalriads of Albania to the monarch of Ireland. Themonarch3Criomthan,kingofLeinster, Finghin, king of Munster, Aidan, king of the Dalriads of Albania, and Columbkille, abbot of Hy, with several bishops, attended the sessions. The assemb.ly limited the number of poets. The Dalriads of Ulster were to pay the same taxes and imposts as any of the natural subjects of the monarch, but to be subject to the king of Albania as far as the (Lex Talionis) was concerned. Notwithstanding the interference of St. Columbkille in favor of Scanlan Mor, prince of Ossory, he was still detained by the monarch in a dungeon, for refusing to pay the tribute due by his people to the king. During the reign of Brandubh, king of Leinster,the monarch, endeavouring to exact the tribute from those people, gave them battle at Beallach-duin^ near Wexford, and lost his life on the occasion. 595 HUGH SLAINE, son of Dermod, and Colman Rimidh, having succeeded, were killed in battle near Lochseimdighe after a reign of six years. 605. HUGH UIROIDNACH, son of Domhnal, succeeded. Hewaa remarkable for his justice and bravery. He engaged in war with prince Aongus, who, with his army, were utterly defeated at the battle of Odbha ( Owa), where Conall-Laoghbreagh [Leebra) lost his life. Hugh died at Tara, after a reign of seven years. MAOLCHABHA, ( Meeulcowa) son of Hugh 2nd, suc- ceeded, and haying reigned three years, abdicated the throne SAINTS WHO FOUNDED MONASTKRIEa. 09 and áied bishop of Clogher, as the author of " Cambrensis Eversus" relates. SUIBHNE MEAN — from whom the Mac Swiney — A.D. 615. succeeded, who, after holding the reins of government 13 years, was killed at the battle of Eraighbrene, by Congal, son of Scanlan, king of Ulster. The principal saints who founded monasteries in the 6th century are, Sts. ColumbjtwoFinians, two Brennans, Colman, Golman Eile, Brogan, Coman, Edan, Congal, Eachnan, Carthach, Cronan, Laserian, Sinell, &c. In the sixth century the sees of Dromore, Cloyne, Ferns, Kilmacduagh, Limerick, and Cork, were established. St. Edan was descended in the 8th degree from CoUa-Huas, monarch of Ireland, by the father, and from Amalgaid, king of Gonnaught, by the mother ; he was born in Brefne. Having gone to Britain to perfect himself with St. David, on his return he was kindly received by Brandubh, king of Leinster, who gave him the city of Ferns to found a bishopric in, which was to be the metropolitan see of Leinster ; he died 31st Jan., 632. Colman, sumamed Mac Duagh, was descended in the 8ih degree from Eocha, monarch of Ireland. He built the cathedral of Kilmacduagh. St. Laserian was the son of Blitha, daughter of the king of the Picts. He studied 14 years in Rome, under Pope Gregory. On his return he became abbot of the monastery of Leighlin, which, under him, at one time, contained 1500 monks ; he brought the Southern Scots to the true observance of the Paschal Festival j he died 18th April, 638. St. Finian, of the race of Dalfiathochs of Ulster, was founder of the most ancient order of the Canons-Regular of St. Augustin, called " The Congregation of St. Frigidian of Lucca," of which he was bishop. He also reformed the Regular Canons of St. John Lateran, and founded some abbeys, as will be seen in the course of this book. 100 HISTOUY OF IHKI.AND. A.D. DOMHNALL (Donnell) 2nd, son of Hugh 2nd, ascended ^'^^- the throne ; being a good Christian and a wise king, lie governed his subjects with great prudence, and obtained several victories over his enemies. He humbly submitted to the penance imposed on him by St. Fechin, for rashly and unjustly invading the territories of the Southern Hy-Nialls in Meath ; at the instigation of the Saint, he withdrew his army and made peace with the Hy-Nialls. He endowed the mon- astery of Cong, founded by St. Fechin, and ended liis days in virtue and penance at Eath-Dombnall, in Tyrconnel. 642. CONALL-CLAON, son of Maolchabha of the race of Niall, being successor, divided the government with his brother, Keallach, who died a natural death at Buigh,on the river Boyne, but Conall was slain in a battle with Dermot. g54^ BLATHMaC and Dermod Ruaidhnaigh succeeded, who, after a reign of ten years, died of a plague which wasted the whole country. 665. SEACHNUSACH, son of Blathmac, succeeded to the crown, who, after a reign of six years, was killed by Dubh-Duin. KIONFOLA, brother of Seachnusach, having succeeded, reigned four years, and was killed at the battle of Keabtroch, in the territory of Thomond. 675 FIONACHTA-FLEADHACH, grandson of Hugh-Slainé, succeeded. This pious prince, in the 12th year of his reign, retired to a convent, but was after obliged to resume the reins of government owing to the disturbances of the state. He afterwards engaged in battle with the people of Leinster, at Lochgabhair, in Meath, where great numbers of them lost their lives. He suppressed the Boroimhe, or tribute, at the request of St. Moling. The tribute was first imposed on- those people by Tuathal-Teach-Mar about 108, A.D. In this reign Egfrid, king of Northumbria, sent General Berte with an army to plunder the unoffending people of Ireland. They spared 671 684. 704. DEFEAT OF THE BKIIONS AND SAXONS. 101 iieitlier churches nor monasteries, but they were vigorously repelled by the people of the Island. In this reign Cumasgach, king of the Picts, invaded Ireland, but was killed at the battle of Rathmore, in Meath, and his army cut to pieces. After a reign of 20 years Fionachta lost his life at the battle of Greal- lagh Dolling, A.D. 695. Loingseach, (Lynch) grandson of Domhnall II. succeeded g^^^ to the crown. He repelled the Britons and Saxons, who laid waste the plains of Muirkenne, in Louth, but they were totally defeated by tlie Ulster troops, at Moigh-Cuillin, in lar (or west) Connaught, Having reigned nine years, this Monarch and his three sons, Ardgall, Consac, and flann, were killed at the battle of Cormin, by Keallach, son of Raghallach, king of Connag. CONN ALL KIONMA.GHAIR,of the race of Niall, suc- ceeded. He was ever at war with the people of Leinster, in order to revenge the death of Hugh II. ; he then became a persecutor of the clergy, which brought on him, the signal vengeance of the Almighty, who put an end to bis career by a sudden death. * Fearghall, (Farrell) great-grandson of Hugh Uairvidneach, ^^^' succeeded, and in his reign the Britons, for the sake of plun- der, made attacks on Ireland, but were totally routed by the tribes of Ulster. This monarch, enraged with the people of Leinster, entered their country with an army of 21,000 men. Morrough M'Broin, the king of the province^ was prepared to meet him, with an army of only 9,000 men. They fought at Allen in the Co. Kildare, in which battle the Monarch lost his life, the victory, and 160 of his lords. The numbers killed on both sides, were about 7,000 men. Fogartach^ of the race of Niall, succeeded, and after one ^^^' year's reign, was killed at the battle of Kildelgin. KIONATH, of the race of Niall, was the next monarch ; 722 102 HISTORY OF IRELAND. he fell in the battle of Dromorcain, fought between him and prince riahertach. A.D. FLAHERTACH, son of Loinseach, succeeded, and having "^ reigned seven years, withdrew to a monastery at Armagh, where he spent the last 30 years of his life, in the practice of the monastic discipline. In his reign Hugh OUan having declared war against Hugh Roin, King of Ulster, for sacrilegiously pillaging the churches of the diocess of Armagh, a battle was ' fought at Eotharta in Louth, and Hugh Roin lost his life. 734. HUGH OLLAN, son of Feargall, (Farrell) succeeded to the throne ; he was learned, wise, and a severe avenger of wrongs committed against the church. He held an assembly at Tir- daglass (Terryglass) in Ormond to enforce the payment of St. Patrick's tribute ; having fought a battle with the people of Jieinster at Athseanuigh ; where Hugh, son of Colmain, their King, with 9,000 of their men, were killed, he died after at the battle of Keannamus (Kells) in Meath, gained over him by his successor. In this King's reign, a most disastrous battle was fought, at BaHaghfeile in the King's county, between Cathal, (Cahil) King of Munster, and Keallach, prince of Ossory, who was found among the slain. HUGH BAL\iE, king of Connaught, and Cathal, king of Munster, died in this reign. Domhnall III. (O'Donnell) son of Morrough, who succeeded to the crown, after a long and peaceful reign of twenty years, was induced, from motives of piety, to make a pilgrimage to Hy-Columbkill, where he died. In his reign, the Picts were totally defeated by the Leinster troops, at Rath Beathach in Ossory, where their King, Cahasach, (O'Casey) was slain. NIALL FRASSACH, son of Feargall, ascended the throne j his reign was embittered by a general famine, and frequent earthquakes ; after a reign of seven years he abdicated, and 743. 763. RELIGION IN IRELAND. 3 03 passed the last eight years of liis life, in the practice of penance, A. D. in the Island of Hy. DONCHADA, son of Domhnall III., succeeded, and reigned 779. twenty-seven years in peace and in the practice of good works, after which he died a natural death in his palace : in his reign the Danes first landed in Ireland. CHAPTER XII. ON THE STATE OF RELIGION IN IRELAND, FROM THE APOSTLESHIP OF ST. PATRICK, DOWN TO THE INVASION OF THE DANES. Though authors diflfer widely respecting the characteristic features of Ireland in every other respect, yet all admit that the Christian religion was well established in this country, by St. Patrick, and that it continued so until the invasion of the Danes, and we might say (without fear of correction) until the 12th century, when the English arrived in this country, at which period Wright, a bigoted English Protestant historian, states that the state of religion in Ireland was such as that it re- quired no reformation The precursors of St. Patrick in this Island, were, S.S. Ailbe, Declan, Ibar, and Kieran, who con- verted many districts in the country, and founded several abbeys and churches, of which they were themselves Bishops. Usher, in his eclesiastical history, says " that there were in Ireland, three different classes of religious persons, the first consisted of 350 Bishops, all of whom, founded churches, had the same mass, the same office, the same liturgy, and the same ob- servance of Easter." " The second consisted of 300 Priests, with some Bishops, who acknowledged the same head, Jesus Christ, had the same observance of Easter, but different liturgies and masses ; the principal saints of this order were, the two Finians, two Brendans, Jarlath of Tuam, Congall, Coemgin, Kieran, Columb, Cannech, 104 HISTORY OP IRELAND. Lasren, Cormac, Colman, Nessan, Conan, Ende, Aide, Berchan, &c. The third class consisted of 100 Priests who inhabited the woods and deserts, and lived on herbs ; they had different rules and liturgies ; thej had some bishops among them, the principal of whom were, Petran, Colman, Edan, Loman, Senach, TJltan, &c. " Usher (according to this monument, says), *' that the first class was as brilliant as the sun, the second like the moon, and the third like the stars/'" The liturgy introduced into Ireland by St. Patrick, and so scrupulously observed by his disciples, owes its origin to St. Mark,*" however, it under- went some changes until the 11th century, when Gilbert, Bishop of Limerick, and apostolic legate, reduced it to the Roman ritual and comdemued all others* However, there was some error, among the Scoto Milesians, Picts, and some Britains, respecting the celebration of Easter. They were mostly quarto-deciinans, (according to the Romaus),and differed about the weeh^ and not the day ; for they, always, celebrated Easter on Sunday .«• Adamman, a Priest of Ireland, and Abbot of Hy, was the person who brought the Northern Scots to the true observance of Easter.» The Southern Scots long before conformed to the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff. ' Adamman was not successful in reclaiming the Monks of Hy of their error regarding the celebration of Easter, which was afterwards re- served for Egbert a priest, who had tlie happiness to effect so desirabte a purpose.* A great number of ancient and modern authors bear honourable testimony to the preeminence of Ireland over any other nation in Europe, in religion and learning, which has been truly verified in the great number of missionaries who announced the doctrine of Christ to foreign nations and reduced it to practice « Ugh. &c. b Id. c. 17, p. 916. ' Gilbert's Syllogisms, No. 30, p. 54. « Bede, Ch. Hist. b. 3, 4. • Hist. Eccles. lib. 3, c. 16. ' lb. b. 3, c. 3. ' lb. Ch. Hist. lib. 5, c. 23. LITURGY OP THE IRISH CHURCH. lU5 by virtue and example ; justly has Camden called it the "Lland of Saints."» Among the numbers^ particularly remarkable for their sanctity and learning, were the following : — S.S. Cataldus, Sedulius, Fridoliii, Columb Kill, Gall, Columbanus, Fiacre, Pursey, Arbogast, Aidau, Maoldulphus, Colman, Ultan, Foilan> Killian, &c. Cataldus, (according to an ancient record of the church of Tarentum),* was born in Ireland, studied at Lismore, where he delighted the Gauls, English, Scots, and Teutones, who came there to hear him." • He was Bishop of Ratheny, in Muuster for some time ; he then went to Jerusalem to visit the Holy Sepulchre and returned by Tarentum, where he re- vived the Christian religion ;* he foretold the destruction of Naples,* which was verified 1,000 years afterwards in the reign of Ferdinand 1st, and his son Alphonso. Sedulius, (according to Thritemius,' and the language of his own epistles, "Sedulius Scotigena,") was a native of Ireland, a disciple of Hildebert, Archbishop of the Scots ; being learned in sacred and profane literature, he went to France, to perfect his studies, and thence to Borne, Achaia, and Asia, where he distinguished himself by his erudition; he wrote a great many works, among which are ]4bookson the epistles of Paul, and 2 books on the miracles of Christ. A council, held under Galasius, the Pope, approved of his works; he flourished about the year 430 A. D. Fridolinus, (according to Gaspard Bruschius,' and others) was the son of an Irish King, who entered the monastic state, travelled through Germany, and France, became superior of the monastery of St. Hilary, at Poictiers, founded religious houses, in Alsace, Strasbourg, and Switzerland, and a house for Nuns, in Seeking, an island on the Ehine, where he was interred in tlie year 614, A. D. St. Columb Kill, (see page of » Cam. p. 730. b Ush. Ch. His. c 16, p. 751. • Id. &c. «> Joannes . Juveusis in Ush. • Ware de Scrip. Hib. ' Thritemius, in Us. c. 16, p. 769. ' Bruschius, on German monasteries. 106 HISTOIIY OF IRELAND. this work), Si. Columbanus, who was a native of Leinster, was a disciple^ first of Sinell, and, after of St. Congall, in the abbe/ of Bangor, whence he*departed with St. Gall to Britain, and thence to Burgundy, where he was kindly received by Sigebert, king of that place.* He founded a monastery at Loxen, and another at Fontaine ; after being twenty years in Laxen, he was expelled through the influence of Brunchard, the Queen, who shared the government with her grandson Thierry II., who was severely reproached by Columbanus, for the shameful life he led ; through the instrumentality of his grandmother the queen, the saint was kindly received by Glothaire II. who, he foretold, would be in possession of the French Crown before three years, which was verified, as Thierry died of dysentery, and Brunechard was put to death by order of Clothaire.'» The saint founded the abbey of Bobbio, near Milan where he died in 615, A. D. St. Gall, (according to Wallafridus,*) was born of noble parents in Ireland ; he was a disciple of Columbanus, with whom he travelled through Britain, France, and Germany. From his great zeal for the Christian Religion, he set fire to a pagan temple, near Lake Zurich, in Switzerland; the Pagans resolved to put him to death, but he and Columbanus escaped to the Castle of Arbona, near the Lake Constance, where they were kindly treated by Willimar, a Priest. These saints repaired the church, dedicated to St. Aurelia, in Bregent, in the country of the Grisons, and converted some of the inhabitants. St. Columbanus went to Italy afterwards, and St. Gall to the Priest Willimar ; he was pressed to receive the bishopric of Constance, but having refused from humility, he recommended his Deacon, John, who was consecrated. He died after with Priest Willimar, in the year 635 or 625, aged 95 years. Fiacre, born of noble parents in Ireland,** left his country, » Cam. Brit. p. 730. ^ Hist, de France. " Wallafridus, in his life of St. Gal. * Ware de senit. Hib , c. 3. • LEARNED AND HOLT MEN OF IllEL\ND. ]07 and went to France, where he was kindly received by Faron, Bishop of Meaux/ who, after asking his name and his country, gave him the forest of Brodole, to settle in, in which he became celebrated for the austerity of his life, and the many miracles wrought by God through his intercession.'» St. Ardan, a monk of the abbey of Hy, was an Irishman, and according to Colgan and others, he went, at the request of King Oswald, to preach the gospel to the Northumbrians,* which he did with very great success ; he founded an episcopal see at Lindisfarm, of which he was the first bishop. Bede says, his hfe was an example of charity, chastity, humiHty, and every other virtue ; after being Bishop of Lindisfarm, for 17 years, he died in the year 651. St. Finian, a native of Ireland, and a monk of the abbey of Hy, succeeded St. Aidan, in the see of Lin- disfarm ; he baptized Penda and Sigebert, Kings, with the lords of their retinue, and sent priests to baptize their subjects ;"^ he died, being bishop of Lindisfarm for ten years. St. Colman suc- ceeded Finian in the see of Lindisfarm,he was a native of Ireland. These three saints were the apostles of the Northern Saxons, and the persons who instructed them in the knowledge of the true God, was St. Colman, who retired to Inis-Bofiu in the west of Ireland, where he built a monastery.* St. Fursey was descended of Irish parents ; his father was Finton, son of Finloge, prince in southern Munster; his mother was Gilgesia, daughter of Hugh Finn, prince of the Hy-Brunes in Connaught.' He was educated by his uncle Brennan of Clonfert ; he founded the church of Kill-Fursey in the diocess of Tuam ; after sometime he went to England, where he was kindly received by Sigebert, King of the East Saxons,» who afterwards abdicated the throne, and became a Monk. He founded the abbey of Burgh Castle, in Suffolk, the » Capgrove. *> Bede, Ch. Hist ' Id., lib. 3, c. 3. <» Id., c. 22. • Id., c. 25. ' Ware de senit. Hib., c. 3. « Bede, Ch. His. lib 3, c. 19. 108 HISrORY OP IRELAND. liianagemeut of which he left to his brother Foilan, and Gobban and Dicul, priests, and went to France, where he re- ceived fiom Clevis, the second territory on the river Marne, six leagues from Paris, in which he built tliree chapels, one dedi- cated to our Saviour, another to St. Peter, and the third was called after his own name after his death. After some time he left the government of the monastery of Lagnv to Emelianus his disciple, and set out for England ; he died on his way, at Mesiess, in 648, and was interred at Peronne. St. Arbogast, a native of Ireland, went to Alsace,' where he built a chapel ; he was appointed by King Dagobert to succeed St. Amand, in the see of Strasbourg, in 646 ; after governing the see ] 2 years, he died and was interred, in Mount Michael, tlie public place of execution, where there was a monastery founded dedi- cated to his name. Maildulphus, a Monk of Ireland, of the deepest erudition, and peculiar sanctity of life, went to England, in 676, and established a school at Inglebome, called after him, Maildul- fesburg, now Malmsbury ;•» he was succeeded by St. Aldelra, who was the first Saxon that wrote in theLatin tongue.* Having written some works on the observance of Easter, the tonsure and celibacy of the clergy, and on natural philosophy, he died at Malmsbury and was interred there. St. Cuthbert was the son of an Irish prince, bom at Eells, in Meath ; his mother ^ Sabina, undertook a pilgrimage to Kome, on her way left him at the Abbey of Mailross, of which he became superior ;* he was appointed Bishop of Lindisfarm, at the solicitations of • King Egelfrid, in 684; having remained two years in the diocess, he retired to his monastery in the Isle of Fume, where he died A.D. 686. St. Killian, a native of Ireland,» went to Rome, with two • Ware de senit. Hib., c. 3. •> Idem. * Cam. p. 176. <> Bede, Ch. His., lib. 4, c. 27. • Morian. Scot. UFB OF ST. VIRGILIUS. 100 companions, where after a short time he was appointed bv Pope Conon to preach the Gospel to the infidels of Franconia ; he converted Duke Gosbert and a great many of his subjects, and fixed his seat at Wirtzburg, of which he was first bishop.' Gosbert, while a pagan, married Geilana, the wife of his brother, for which marriage he was severely reproached by St. JKillian, who, together with his companions, were basely assassinated, by orders of Geilana, in 689. St. Yirgilius was descended of a noble family in Ireland,*» and was a man of extraordinary erudition and piety j he was skilled in philosophy and the sciences ; he went to rrance,where he was complimented by Pepin the King, and recommended by him to Otello, Duke of Bavaria, who appointed him Bishop of Sals- burg,*^ where he rebuilt the monastery of St. Peter ; he set out, at the request of Chetimar, Duke of the Carinthians, to preach the gospel to his subjects, which he did with great success, as far as the boundaries of the Huns, where the Drave joins the Danube. Boniface, Archbishop of Mayence, and he differed about the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism. Boniface maintained, that the baptism of a country priest who corrupted the form, from ignorance of the Latin tongue, was invalid ; Virgin us supported the contrary opinion, and said that, the corruption of the language did not affect the validity of the sacrament. The matter was referred to Pope Zachary, who decided in favour of Virgilius, and declared Boniface guilty of error. Virgilius was after that summoned to Rome, on account of a treatise he wrote on the Antipodes, and the spherical form of the earth, which doctrine was represented as heretical to Zachary, by Boniface. Pope Zachary said, if Virgilius main- tained, that there was another world, another sun and moon, be • Ware de senit Hib.' c. 3. ' Gaspard Brusch. oa Ger. Monasteries. « Ware de senit Hib., c.4. 110 . msTORV OF IRELAND. should be suspended from the church and priesthood.' The Sditit died in the year 785, and was canonised in the'year 1233. St. Donatus, a native of Ireland, travelled through France and Italy, and settled in Etruria, where he became Bishop of Fiesole;*» he was remarkable for his piety and learning. He wrote a description of Ireland,'^ and some commentaries on the scriptures ; he flourished in the ninth century ; his feast is ob- served the 22nd of October. St. JTindan, a native of Ireland,* the son of a prince in Leinster, was carried away a captive by the Danes, from whom he escaped and went to Eome, and thence to Germany where he remained 27 years, and built the abbey of Richnaw near the Rhine, where he died in 827. St. Bao, an Irishman,* and Ernalphus, went to Iceland where they converted the Islanders to Christianity and dedicated a church to St. Columb, in the city of Esinberg. The follow- ing sees were established in the seventh century, viz., Lismore, Killaloe. Ireland, before the invasion of the Danes, was celebrated for its schools of literature and science, which attracted many students from foreign nations to a country, where they re- ceived gratuitously everything they required for maintenance and study. The principal schools were, Ardmach, Lismore, Ross, Carbery, Clonard, Mayo, &c. Camden says, " that the Anglo-Saxons went to Ireland, as to a fair, to purchase know- ledge, and that they learned the use of characters from the Irish f among the persons who studied there, the principal are Alfred,*» King of Northumbria; Edilvines, Bishop of Liudisse; Willibrordus, Bishop of Utrecht, who converted the • Us. ep. lib. 16, 17. »> Ware de sen. Hib., c. 6. c Demp. Scot- His b. 4, a. 366. * Melcboir, Goldastus, Reum AUem., Tom. p. 318. • Arri- grim, His. Iceland. ' Bade, Ch, His', b. 3, c. 27. « Cam. Brit., p. 730 " Bede, Ch. Hist., b. 3, c. 27. FOREIGNERS EDUCATED IN IRELAND. Ill Batavians, Frieslanders and people of Antwerp to the faith of Christ." Petrocus, King of Cumberland, and 60 compftnions, studied 20 years in Ireland,b Dagobert son of Sighbert III.," St. Sampson, Bishop of York, St. Maclo, Bishop of St. Malo, Petranus and his son Paterniss from Armorica, Mark, the philo- sopher, and two English priests, by name Evaldus,* and many others." Besides those that were instructed in Ireland, Fleury and Camden say, " that Irish scholars were employed to educate the Saxon youth ;'" we see also that two eminent Irish scholars,'^ Clement and John Scot, or Albianus, went to France, where they gained the esteem of Charlemagne, the Solomon of his age, and by his orders founded two universities, one in Paris, and the other in Pavia,** in which all young men of rank and station received their education. This Clement is not to be con- founded with Clement, a Scotchman, who was condemned at the council of Soissons, and after at the council of Rome, held in 745 ; nor with Clement, Bishop of Auxerre. Though others would have it so.* The school of the abbey of St. Gall was also celebrated, under the management of Moengal and Grimeald, Irishmen.l Among the learned men we have spoken of, we should not omit the name of John Scotus Erigina, an Irishman,^ a man of strong and eloquent mind, well skilled in the Greek, Chaldaic, and Arabic lan- guages, and a most able logician, and mathematician. Having studied in his own country, he went to France, where he gained the esteem of Charles the Bald,' and wrote two works on predestination, which, according to Prudentius, Bishop of Troyes, savoured of the errors of Celestius, Pelagius, and » Fleury, Ch. Hist. I. p. 40. ■> Do. c. 14, p. 563. « Fleu. Ch. Hist. « Us. SyU • Fleu. Ch. Hist., b. 41. * Bade, Ch. Hist of En. b. 3, c. 3- • Ware on Irish writers, c. 6, p. 15. •■ Hist. Anglic, b. 5, p. 264. ' Us. Syl. ep. lib. 15. i Notker, le Beguo. '' Ware de scrip Hib., 1 De Gest. regum Ang.f lib. 2, c. 4. \\l HISTORY OF laF.LAND. Julian. He wrate a work on the real presence in which he was considered to err; and was the author of five books on nature: one on visions ; the translation of the works of St. Denis the Areopagite, are attributed to him, which works and its author, were sent to Pope Nicholas I./ in order to examine them, but £rigina having not gone, retired to Ireland, at the request of Charles the Bald, where he died in Sles} After all these advantages which the Irish enjoyed in the first ages of Christianity, we must naturally suppose, that they passessed cultivated minds, and that they were polished in their manners, which must necessarily have been the result of an acquaintance with the sciences. They were celebrated for their Christian morality, and the sanctity of their lives ; they were scrupulously attached to their religion, which has been proved by ages of persecution ; they were noble in their sentiments, humane, hospitable, and sincere friends, but implacable foes *, they considered it dishonorable to seek redress by law, and therefore, a spirit of revenge was the cause of their incessant and continual wars, which brings us to treat of the continued succession of their kings. CHAPTER XIII. ON THE INVASION OF THE DANES. From this era we can date the decline of the brightest days of the Irish church; for now commenced the incursions of the barbarians, marked with blood and slaughter, burning towns, churches, and monasteries, putting the clergy and people to death, and spreading terror and devastation every where. But the Irish, aided by that Providence, who sometimes visits His people with afflictions, tenaciously clung to the religion of their forefathers, of which centuries of repeated persecutions could never deprive them. • DupÍD, Hiit. Eccl. cent, 9, p. 82. i> Id., p. 83. INVASION OF THE DANES. 113 The Danes* were so called from Dan, son of Humlb, their king. They were called Danes and Lochlannings by the Irish, Nor- mans, by the French, and Ostmen, by the English, by which names they will be indiscriminately called during the course of this history. They were the inhabitants of Denmark and Norway, anciently called Scandinavia; they made incursions on France, England, and Ireland; piracy was considered an honorable employment among them ; the bravest and strongest of their men were always engaged in it. Their first appear- ance in Ireland was in the year 798, in the reign of Hugh- Dorndighe. _^ Hugh Dorndighe, sonofNiall-Freasach, succeeded Donuogh. 798. On their first arrival in this country, they laid waste the coasts of Ireland, and pillaged the Isle of Eathlin, in the County of Antrim. Saint Findan was taken captive, but miraculously escaped from them ; they plundered Holm Patrick and the 798. Hebrides; they pillaged the abbey of Hy, and massacred 900 802. monks, with Blathmac, son of an Irish king. Kellach, the abbot, escaped, and took refuge in the abbey of Saint Columb, at Kells, in Meath. The Normans made an attack on Munster, where Airtre was king, who gave them battle, and obliged them to retreat to their ships, after leaving 416 men dead on the field. They 807. plundered Roscommon, and made a second attack on Munster, killing the inhabitants without distinction of age or sex, bur- ning churches and monasteries, until they were repulsed by Feidhlime, king of Munster. At the same period, a fleet of 812. Normans landed on the eastern coast, and pillaged the abbey of Banchor, and killed the abbot and 900 monks. Another body landed at Wexford, and plundered the country as far as Ossory, where the inhabitants gave them battle, and killed oa the spof» seven hundred and seven. They shortly after arrived > The /air- kaired foreigners weie from Norway and Denmark, the dm-Jk' haired from Germany. b Ware, de Anti., Heb., c 4. 10 114 HISTORY OF IRELAND. in Liiuerick, and renewed their devastation, i)ut were vigorou. Gratianus Lwciue, c. 9. • In the uarration of these facts there is a doubt as to dates. The Four Masters and O'Halloran agree on this date, but Keating and others differ from them. In matters of such antiquity there will ever be a variation of dates with authors. 124 HISTORY OP IRELAND. the fealty of Cathal (Cahil) O'Connor, king of Connaught, and the other princes of the other provinces ; he entered Ulster, with an army of 20,000 men, and was kindly receivedby Moal- murray. Archbishop of Armagh, to whom he gave a large sum of money, for the repairs of the church. During his stay in Ulster, he received the homage of Hugh O'Neill, king of that province, and the kings of the other provinces. Having settled atfairs in Ulster, he proceeded to Tara, and convened an assem- bly of bishops and nobles, beforewhom he wassolemuly crowned. Several useful laws which were enacted, were rigorously enfor- ced during his reign. The Danes were obliged to restore all the church property, and rebuild the churches and monasteries they destroyed. He liberally endowed universities and public schools, and encouraged professors of the arts and sciences, so that religion and literature flourished again in their greatest splendor under the benign influence of this celebrated monarch. Properties were restored to their rightful possessors, fortresses raised for the public safety, bridges built and roads repaired which were hitherto impassible. The monarch decreed that each branch of the Milesian race should take a particular surname, from some illustrious chief of their ancestors, in order to ^jreserve with correctness, the genealogies of their families. Mac, or 0, before the surnama pointed out the chief of the blood, and the Irish nobles pre- ferred it to English titles. Hence the O'Briens, from Brien Boroimhe,(Borivy) the O'Neills from Niall the great, the Cartys or Mac Carthys from Carthach, the O'Connors from Connor, the O'Byrnes, O'Beirnes, O'Brennans from Brann, the Mac Mahons from Mahon, brother of Brian, the O'Garas from Guara, the Mac Donaghs from Donagh, the O'Donnells from Domhnali, &c. After the assembly at Tara was over, Brian repaired to his palace at Kean Coradh, (Kinkora) near Kil- aloe, which had been frequently visited by a concourse of DEFJiAT OF THE DANES AT TAllA. 1^6 princes and the nobles of the kingdom. Among them was Maolmorha Mac Murchadh, who visited Brian's Queen, his sister ; and during his stay at court, he imagined he received an insult from Morrogh, the monarch's eldest son, whilst a game of chess was being played. In order to revenge the affront, he formed an alliance with Sitrick, king of the Danes of Dublin, who expressly sent to the king of Denmark for succor against the Monarch. Sitrick sent 12,000 men, com* manded by his sons, Carroll and Anrud, with 400 men from the Hebrides, and Norway, and allies from the Orkneys, and Shetland Isles, and from Wales and Cornwall; these, together with the Danes of Dublin and the Leinster^ troops, formed a powerful army. The Monarch, alarmed at these preparations, assembled his array, consisting of the Munster troops, his alhes from Con naught, and the Meath forces uTider Malachi, their prince ; all numbering about 30,000 men. The first division of the Danes was commanded by Carroll and Anrud, Xorwe- gian princes, the second by Maolmorha, king of Leinster, and the third by Brudair, and Loder, Earl of the Orkney Isles. The right wing of the Monarch's army, was commanded by Morrogh, his eldest son, the centre by Brian and Thadeus O'Kelly, a prince of Connaught, and the left wing by Malachi, king of Meath," who, through jealousy, as is asserted, deserted his post. Whereupon O'Connor, king of Connaught, took charge of it, and affected that Malachi had but gone to attack the enemy on another quarter. This O'Connor did to count- eract the injury, that might result to the national cause, if the Heath king's defection were known by the Irish, but the Annals of the Four Masters record that Malachi assisted in the fight and routed the Danes to Dublin. We will not under- take to settle the disputed point. O'Halloran and other Munstet historians attribute treachery to Malachi. , » Ogygia, part 3, c. 93. 126 HISTORY OF IRELAND. XD_ Both armies met on the plains of Clontarf, where a most 1014. desperate and bloody battle took place ; victory at length turned \h favor of Brien Boroimhe, who, whilst he was at prayer in his tent, thanking God for the blessing that attended his arms, was killed by Bruadar, a Danish admiral, who after- wards met the like fate himself. Malachi, who, at first, com- manded the left wing of the national army, remained, it is said, a passive spectator during the battle. This memorable battle was fought on Good^Friday, 23rd April, 1014; 13,000 of the Danes, and 7,000 of the Royal army fell by the sword ; the bodies of Brien and his son Morrogh were de- posited at Swords for some time, and afterwards removed to Armagh, where they were honorably interred, by order of Maolraurray, Archbishop of that see. Sitrick, king of the Danes of Dublin, took refuge with his army in the city. Donogh, Brien's son, having dismissed the Connaught forces, after the expression of his gratitude for their services, fell into a dispute, that nearly proved fatal to him and his army. The inhabitants of Southern Munster proposed that " their chief, according to the will of Olliol Olum, sliould receive the sceptre of the province, and that Donogh should resign; he firmly replied, he would not renounce a right he held from his father; and he, therefore, gave orders to the tribe of Dal-cas, to defend his cause, and to remove the wounded, in order to be unencumbered for battle : but the latter requested to be placed in the ranks, fastened to stakes with sabres in their hands, saying, they would shed the last drop of their blood in the service of their prince, which resolution so terrified the enemy, that Donogh was left in quiet possession of the crown of Munster. We here pass over some scenes of internecine strife between the Munster princes, as, so far from beiug in- teresting, the narration of them would be painful to the reader. We must not omit a remarkable event in Irish history which happened A.D. 977. The annals of Innisfallen inform us that BATTLR OF CLONTARF. 127 Donovan, a dynast of South Munster, having leagued with Aulav, and the Danes, was cut to pieces by Brien, whilst yet he was only King of Thomond. CoUins, a Munster writer, gives an incident, connected with this battle that cannot be omitted. For, whilst it presents an act of chivalry, unequalled in the pages of any hiatory— considering the age of the young prince, who is the subject of the record-^it places before the consider- ation of youth an honorable model for imitation. Maolmu- aidh (Mweeulmooee) king of Desmond, having united to his provincial forces several thousands of the Danes, met Brien at Bealach Leachta in Muskerry, near Macroom, Brien having challenged him as a traitor to his country. At this place was fought, with mutual consent, a battle, bloody and furious. In this battle Morrogh, Brien's son, a youth of only 13 years, made his first campaign ; his mother Was More, daughter of O'Heyne (Hynes or Hyne) of Galway in Gonnaught. This glorious youth, being reminded by his illustrious father, that Maohnuaidh was the enemy of his native land, and the mur- derer of his valiant uncle, Mahon, longed to meet so per- iUHous an enemy. Tiie work of death commenced, national honor, and just revenge had fired the minds of all, especially of the young Caesar. Morrogh, having aimed a fiery glance of the eye at the murderer of his uncle, flew at, and engaged him, hand to hand, sword to sword, and slew the cowardly treacherous king of Desmond. Brien was born A. D. 926, began his reign of Munster 965 in the 39th year of his age, commenced to rule as arch- king of all Ireland, in 1,002, and was killed in the battle of Clontarf 1014; such is the computation, founded on the dates in the Annals of the Four Masters. IRISH WRITERS OF THE NINTH AND TENTH CENTURY. The numerous writers of the previous centuries were given in the history of those times, but as the ninth and tenth centuries are 128 HISTORY Of 1RELAÍÍD. usually called " the dark ages," it may not be out of place to enumerate, in this place, some of the many writers that shed a lustre on our island, and which stand as imperishable monuments of Ireland's uninterrupted renown in sacred and profane literature. It is our just boast, that whilst all Europe was sunk in barbarity and a dark clond of ignorance overcast its horizon, the green isle hung out her burning lamp of effulgence, whose benign rays irradiated distant lands, and thus preserved the sacred deposit of learning. It was then pre-eminently proven of what immense advantage to mankind were the monastic institutions; whilst kings, princes and nobles were engaged in scenes of blood, Irish prelates, monks, and even princes, exercised their pen preserving to posterity tacts which would have been, otherwise, lost for ever. " From the transactions of " The Iberno Celtic Society" for 1820, drawn up by Edward O'Reilly Esq., the secretary, is taken the annexed list. Angus Céilé Dé died in the ninth century, he wrote a hierology in Irish verse, enumerating the festivals of the Irish church ; he is also the author of " Psalter na Rann," which is an epitome of the history of the children of Abraham from the birth of Isaac to the death of Moses; a copy of the hier- ology is preserved in " the Speckled Book." About 850 A.D. Pineen flourished ; be wrote an Irish hymn of 180 versesin honor of the Trinity; 876, fatiia.dh na carmi, wrote several poems, one of which was giving counsel to the Monarch Fionnliath how to rule, and admonishing him to pay due respect to the ministers of religion ; another was composed on the death of the King. Flannagan was a poet of some fame at this time; 880, flourished Laitheog, who was daughter of Flann Mac Lonan, chief poet of Ireland; she wrote Irish poems of much merit; 884, Maolmuire wrote a historical poem of 248 verses which is alluded to in O'Flaherti's Ogygia, His death is recor- ded by The Four Masters. He traces the Milesians from Japhet, and records their voyages until their arrival in Ireland. He com* Pr-- •! IRISH MRITEIIS. 129 posed many other poems which are still preserved. His death is recorded in the Book of Invasions at A.D. SS-l'. The an- nals of Inisfallen mention the death of Flan mac Lonan, at 896. His poems, which were works of great erudition,were many and some of them are still extant. His poetic composition oa Brian Borivy is very beautiful. Cormac Mac Cullinan, King and Bishop of Cashel, wrote a glossary of the difficult Irish words, also a work entitled " The Psalter of Cashel/' besides many other prose and poetic compositions. In 908, SEAL- BHAGH, Cormac's secretary, composed a poem on hagiology. In 941 Coremacan Eigeas was an eminent poet ; 958 O'Cuill, chief poet of Munster died ; the death of O'Hartigan, a distin- guished poet, is given by the annalist, Tighernagh at 975. His poems (a great many extant) are learned and beautiful. The following were the brilliant writers of the end of this century and the beginning of the next — Mac Giollu Caoimh (Keeiv), Eochaidh O'Floinn (Aynghee O'Flinn) (these last names were as brilliant poets as ever existed, their poetry is historic, exhibiting vast research and profound erudition,) Urard Mac Coise (called by Tighernach, the annalist, " the first learned of the Gathelians,") the Four Masters record another of the same name at A.D. 1023. They were plainly different poets; Cloth NEK Maol Suthan O'Carroll, a monk of Inisfallen, Mac Liagh, secretary to Brian Boroimhe, was a writer of the first erudition and has left many splendid works. The Monarch, Donogh, son of Brian, wrote poetry, remarkable for beauty and vigor. An eminent writer named Probus in the nirith century wrote a learned work on St Patrick. O'Haliorau gives the following writers of the same age. Archbishop Forannan, St. Cadro, also Flann, and an anonymous writer, who continued the Psalter of Cashel. This writer is said to be an ecclesiastic ; likewise there was an anonymous biographer of O'Callaghan, King of Cashel. This is an importaiit work II t 130 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. as narrating many transactions of tliose days, and the system of strategy. There were also at the same time St. Coluraba, St. Malbrigid, Mac Dornán, Archbishop of Armagh, and St. Adnmnan. These are of recognized merit. Rumuld bishop of Clonard, Manchas, abbot of Beanchor, in Down, Carbre, the anchorite, the abbots, Paulinus, Colman,Cormac,also Joseph tbe recluse, who was raised to the see of Armagh, are all celebrated in the Annals of the Four Masters for learning and piety ; St. Columbanus,an Irishman, abbot and anchorite, having being perfected in learning and piety in Ireland, withdrew to the Continent and died A.D. 959. His writings, still extant, are an evidence of profound learning and eminent sanctity In the Annals of the Four Masters and other books are to be seen the names of many other Irish writers of the ninth and tenth centuries To recount the writers and writings of after times would occupy volumes.' A book, exclusively devoted to the task is a great desideratum, and it is to be hoped that some able pen may undertake the duty. Throughout this abridged history some of them will be pointed out, as occasion may require. We have seen that the Danes were a terror not alone to Ireland but even to France and England, from the dread- ful devastations committed by them in France, as may be seen in Fleury's Ecclesiastical History. Charles " the simple" was obliged to enter into a treaty with their chief, RoUo, and give him the territory, called Normandy, and his daughter Gisle, in marriage. The Danes so infested England in the reign of Ethelred, that he gave orders to have them all massacred in one night, which was faithfully executed in the year 1002. This act was revenged by Sweyne, King of Denmark, who at- tacked Ethelred's army, commanded by his son-in-law. Earl Edrick, who betrayed him. The Danes, the year after, put 43,200 ' Tyranny destroyed our writers and their works. What we have is only the evidence of what we could have. DEFEAT OP THE DANES AT PODVAY AND DKLONE. 131 persons to death, among whom was Alphegus, Archbishop of Canterbury, and 900 monks. Swejne obliged Ethelred, his two sons, and Queen Emma, to take refuge with his brother- in-law, the Duke of Normandy. After Sweyne's death, his son Canute disputed the sovereignty of England with Ethelred, and after his death, with his son, Edmond Ironside who was assassinated. Thus did Canute become sole Monarch of England. He married Emma, the widow of Ethelred, by whom he had a son called Hardicanute, who succeeded to the crown, after the death of his brother Harold. Here we have AD 1014. three Danish Kings wielding the sceptre of England, while Ireland never acknowledged a king of Danish extraction. Malachi, after the death of Brien Boroimhe having resumed the government of the island, defeated the Danes that remained after the battle of Clontarf. The City of Dublin was plundered, and Donogh Mac GioUa Phadrig banished for having assas- sinated the King of Leinster, Donegau, and his lords. About this time 6,000 Danes were killed at the battle of Delgne or Dundalk, and Ugaire punished, as was Sifrick, chief 1022. of the Danes of Dublin, for putting out the eyes of Bran, King of Leinster. Malachi, after a reign of eight years, three months and twelve days, died on the 2nd September, 1022, being 73 years old ; at his death he was attended by the abbots of lona and Saigar. Donogh, son of Brian Boroimhe,* obtruded himself as monarch of Ireland, though Teige was an elder brother, whom he got assassinated by the chief of Eile in Ormond. He forced the people of Meath, Leinster and Connaught to give him hostages. At an assembly of the Munster chiefs held in Cashel,0'Halloran tells us he enacted wise laws to correct the abuses that crept in among the people. His second queen was Driella, daugh- ter of Earl Godwin, of England, by whom he had a sou called • Borivy. AD. 1063. 132 IIISTOIIY OF IRKLAND. Donald. Donogh furnished Harold, brother to the Earl, with troops to effect a reconciliation with Edward the Con- fessor, by whom he had been banished to Ireland, and whom he afterwards succeeded on the throne of England. Donogh being Suspected of being accessary to the death of his brother Teige was dethroned, and thereby induced to make a pilgrim- age to Rome, where he presented the crown of Ireland to the Pope, which was an act of treason on his part, and which the Pope should have censured, and ought to have the crown re- stored to Ireland. Donogh died in Rome aged 88 years.* Turlogh, son of Thadeus or Teige, ascended the throne under the guardianship of Dermod, king of Leinster, who, in order to secure Turlogh on the throne, plundered the city of 1065. Waterford, burned Glanusen, took 500 prisoners, and killed 100 men on the spot. He pillaged Limerick and Inis-catha, and gave his enemy battle at Mount Grat, now Mongret, where I'e defeated his whole army, he banished Murchadh O'Brien, son of Donogh, from the province, lest he might enforce his claim to the crown ; having obliged Hugh O'Connor, king of Connaughtjto do him homage he laid waste the territory of Fin- gall and Dublin, and defeated the Danes, near the city. He was • O'Halloran, in page 381, vol. 3» Octayo edition, strongly argues that Donogh did not take away, nor present to the Pope, the monarchial crown as he never got it, being only an usurper, and that the crown of Munster he peaceably resigned to his nephew Turlough — O Hfdloran further maintains, that granting he possessed the imperial crown, and that he was rightfully elected which, he says, was not the case — yet his death put an end to the delegation according to the laws of Ireland which enacted that the states, upon the death of the monarch, should assemble atTara, to elect a successor, to whom the White Wand, straight, without knots, was presented by the grand Marshal of the nation. O'Halloran dso shews that three distinguished families, the Plunkets, Powers, and Eustaces were the ofifspiing of Donald son of Donough by Driella, that Donald and his children went to England, where they acquired position and rank, and, that in course of time their children returned to Ireland. He assigns his reasons why he conceived Keating had erred in this point of genealogy. CONQUEST OP ENGLAND. 138 killed at the battle of Adhbba, (aw vaw)by Connor O'Maolacb- lin, king of Meath. Turloííh, who followed the example of his illustrioas ancestors, in the government of the country, died at Kinnkora, aged 77 years. A.D. At this time happened the conquest of England by William ■ " the Conqueror," natural son of Robert Duke of Normandy. England was governed by a race of Saxon kings, from the 5th to the beginning of the 11th century, when three successful kings of Danish extraction filled the throne, the last of whom, Ilardicanute, died without issue, which caused the crown to revert to the Saxon line, in the person of Edward " the Con- fessor," who was succeeded by Harold, son of Earl Godwin, who was the uncle of Donald, son of king Donagh. William the Conqueror, claimed the crown relying on a pro- mise, made to him, by Edward the Confessor, of making him his heir ; he communicated the intelligence to Harold, who denied his pretensions. The " consequence'^ was, the famous battle of Hastings, where the Duke of Normandy,, with suc- cor from Baldwin, Count of Flanders, and the Counts of Poitou, Anjou, Maine, and Boulogne, gained a complete victory over Harold, who was defeated with a loss of 6,000 men on the side of William, and 60,000 on that of Harold. He was therefore declared King of England, which he ruled with a rod of tyranny, granting lands and lordships to persons who had no right but that of conquest. Thus did the boasted power of England fall under foreign sway in a single fight by a petty illegitimate foreign duke. It may not be out of order, to mention here, that William Eufus got permission from Torlogh O'Brien, King of Ireland, to cut timber in the forests of Ireland* 1089. Moriertack O'Brien succeeded Torlogh, in 1089; he was with all due ceremony, crowned at Tara; Donald MacLoughlira disputed with him the title of monarch. With the consent of 134) HISTORY OF IRELAND. A..D, Paschal II., Moriertach convoked a national úouucil in the 1110. ygar 1110 or 1112. It consisted of 50 bishops, 300 priests, and 8,000 clercs of inferior order, the Monarch, and princes and lords of the kingdom ; canons for the wise administration of spiritual and temporal affairs were enacted ; the bishoprics were reduced to 24, with the two Archbishoprics; 12 in Leath Conn, and 12 in Leath Modha : Armagh and Cashel were the Archbishoprics. This monarch defeated the Danes, three times banished Godfred, their chief, and was proclaimed their King *' himself." The annals of the country say, that Magnus, King of Norway, sent commissioners to the king of Ireland, with orders to carry his shoes on the birth day of the Lord, in token of submission. The king had the ears of the commissioners cut off and sent back to the King of Norway, who resolved to be revenged by subjugating Ireland. He ar- rived in the north, where he and all his attendants were put to the sword except those who were on board who fled to Norway. Moriertach consulted Henry I. on every occassion, gave one of his daughters in marriage to Amulph de Montgomery Earl of Arundel, and another to Sicard, son of Magnus, king of Norway, and after a long reign, retired to the monastery of St. Carthagh at Lismore, where he died on the 3rd of March, 1119. 1119; he was interred with great pomp at I^illaloe. 1120. Murty or Murcheartach, whom Anselm, Archbishop of Can- terbury, addressed as mighty monarch of Ireland, resigned the crown in favor of his brother Dermod. Donnald MacLoughlin did not long survive his' rival ; he was charitable to the poor, and liberal to the rich. He died at the Abbey of Columb Kill, in Derry, aged 73 years. Torlogh O'Connor, son of Eoderick, King of Connaught, of the race of Heremon, succeeded to the crown of Ireland and was proclaimed monarch by his own adherents. He COUNCIL OP KKLI5 UNDER CARDINAL PAPARO. 135 entered pinaster twice with an army, to force them to pay him homage ; he was defeated on the first occasion with great loss of troops, including CFlaherty, prince of lar-Connaught. He afterwards defeated the Munster forces, at the battle of Moinmor ; they afterwards submitted to him, when he divided the province between Torlough O'Brien and Dermod MacCarthy ; he then proceeded to the north where he com- pelled the O'Neills, the O'Donnells, and other princes of Ulster to pay him homage. On his return, he re-established the Tailton games, built two bridges over the Shannon, one at Athlone, and another at Athrochta, and had money coined at Clonmacnoise. He was inflexible in punishing crime, and had his son loaded with irons, in prison for a year, but he was afterwards released at the solicitation of the Archbishops of Armagh and Cashel ; he died, according to Ware in 1157, and x,j), was interred at Clonmacuoise (aged 63). 1157. Moricrtach O'Brien, a warlike prince, and an able pohtician, assumed the government of the island. He exacted hostages from all the provincial princes, he was a steady protector of the clergy, and a strict observer of the disciphne of the Catholic church. During the reign of this monarch, was held the national council of Kells, where cardinal John Paparo, presented four pallia to the Archbishops of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin, and Tuam, sent to them by Pope Eugene III., in consequence of an appeal made to Pope Innocent II., by Saint Malachi, for that exact purpose. The council was 1152. held in March, 1152. Cardinal Paparo, and Christian O'Condarchy, bishop of Lismore, and Apostolical legate, pre- sided. The bishops present, were Gelasius, primate of Ireland, Donold O'Lonorgain, Ab. of Cashel, Hugh O'Hession, Ab. of Tuam, Gregory, Ab. of Dublin, GioUa-na-Naorah, B. of Glendaloch, Dungal O'Cellaich, B. ofLeighlin, Tuistius, B. of Waterford, Donnald O'Forgarty, B. of * Ossory, Finan Mac A.D. 136 HISTORY OP lEEIAND. Tircain, B. of Kildare, Giolla-Ancomdeli O'Aidmail^* B. of Emly, GioUa-oedha-Meeghin, B. of Cork, MacRonan, B. of Kerry, Turgesus, B. of Limerick, Muriertach O'Meyler, B. of Cluan Mic Noise ; Maoliosa O'Conachtain, B. of Roscommon, O'Roan, B. of Achonry, Macraith O'Moran, B. of Ardagh, Ethree O'Miadochain, B. of Clonard, Tuathal O'Conachty, B. of Enaghdune, Mairedeach O'Cotfey, B. of Derry, Mao-Padric O'Benain, B. of Connor, and Me- oliosa Mac Incleric, B. of Down. The bislioprics of Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam, were made metropolitans in this conncil, and regulations were made against simony and usury; and 1157. the payment of tithes decreed by Apostolical authority. There was a synod held at MeUifout, in 1157, when the abbey was consecrated ; as a donation, the monarch gave 140 oxen, 60 ounces of gold, and some land, at Donore, near Drogheda ; J O'Carroll gave 60 ounces of gold, and the princesa of Breffny gave 60 ounces of gold, a gold chalice, and other ornaments for the altars. . ' There was another svnod convened bv Gelasius, the Primate, County of Clare, when it was decreed, that none, but a pupil of Armagh university, should be admitted as professor of theology in any school. There was another synod convoked by the same prelate, at Athboy, for the spiritual government of the church, and the tranquiUity of the State. As we are speaking of ecclesiastical affairs, it is pertinent to intro- duce here the celebrated Bull of Adrian IV., granting, (as is su])posed,) the sovereignty of Ireland to Henry II. — if such were the case, you can judge from the sequel. "Adrian, servant of God, &c., to the illustrious king of England, &c. Thy greattiéss, as is becoming a Catholic prince, is laudably employed in intention, to propagate a glorious name on earth, and lay up the rewards of a happy eternity in heaven, by extending the boundaries of the church, and making known to nations uninstructed and still ignorant of the Christian * Deicola. \ • J, -^ f ■ BULL OP ADRIAN IV. 137 faith, its truths and doctrines, by rooting up the seeds of vice from the land of the Lord : and to do so njore effectuailv, you seek the apostoh'cal counsel, in order that a happy issue may result from what you have undertaken, from yoxw ardour of faith, and love of religion^ *' Ireland, and every island that has received the principles of the Christian faith, belongs of right to Saint Peter, and to the Komau Church. As you are desirous of entering that Island, for the purpose of subjecting them to laws, and eradicating vice, we, after minute investigation, consent to your petition, as your intentions are, to exact a tribute of a penny from every house, for Saint Peter, to extend the bounds of the church, to eradicate vice, to improve the morals of the people, to continue the privileges of the church pure and unrestrained, and to appoint persons competent from their faith, words, and actions, to advance the honour of the Irish church, which will merit for yourself an everlasiiog name." The above is the contents (as near as possible) of the edict, which can scarcely be conceived to be the act of the vipar of Christ under a pretext of religious zeal,* overturning an entire nation, dispossessing the rightful owners of their patrimonies, the cause of shedding so much blood, and destroying religion in the island. It must have been a fictitious bull, under the name of Adrian'> IV. There are many circumstances connected with it that strengthen our suspicions with regard to its authority. It remained 17 years unpublished, from 1155 till 1J72. Nu- brigius, an English author, makes no mention of it, though he says Henry II. entered Ireland in a warlike manner.* John of Salisbury, in the 6th and 8th books of his tieatise " de nugis curialibus," where he speaks of his visit to the Pope Adrian, at Benvento, and his most minute conversations with him, a Cambrensis Eversiis, c. 22. •> Propugnatio CathoL verit, lib. 5, c. 17. * Nubriguis, de Rebus Anglic, b. 2, c. 26. ■ í^v 138 HISTORY OF IRKLAXD. never makes the slightest allusion to the bull. Besides, the Pope had no temporal jurisdiction in Ireland ; it was never subject to a foreigner, which we can prove from the continued succession of its kings, from IriaU to the time of St. Patrick, and from that time to the invasion of the island by the English,** and finally, Sanders is no authority in favor of the jurisdiction of the Pope, as he says, ''that Henry II. and bis followers became masters of a portion of the island; the bishops and people supplicated Adrian to grant the sovereignty of Ireland ^j^* to Henry," which could not be the case, for Adrian died 12 1192. years before Henry arrived in Ireland. Adrian died in 1159, and Henry arrived 1172. It is not at all likely that Adrian granted Henry II. the sovereignty of the island, 12 years after his death. We may here take notice of the Bull of Alexander III. confirming that of Adrian I^. (and hoping ** that the barbarous nation, Ireland, through the instrumentality of Henry II., would assume the comeliness of morality, and attain the benefits of Christianity.") This is something like the style of the " Expugnatio Hiberuse," by Cambrensis ; he may nol be the author, but, however, he gives the motives of the bull : he says that the " Archbishops of Dublin, Gashel, and Tuam, the bishop of Lismore, and the other suffragan bishops, held a council in Cashel, in order to present an address to the Pope to grant the sovereignty of the island to Henry, on condition that he would correct the morals of the people, propagate the faith, and establish ecclesiastical discipline." What an apostle and reformer of the Irish church has the Holy See found in Henry 11. ! a man who (according to Cambrensis") " was an open violater of the marriage contract, a ready breaker of his promise, a monopolizer of justice, and who usurped sacred things, * Giraldas Cambrensis, Top. of Ireland, c. 31. *> Ranulphus Ibigden " Polychroncon." * Expugnatio, Hib., b< 45. • '^:- ..y:TW- BULLS OF ADRIAN IV. AND ALEXANDER III. FORGERIES. lo9 converted the revenues of the church to the purposes of the state." This is not all ; he married Eleanor of Aquitaine, famous for her debaucheries, and divorced from Louis VII. ; be seduced the young Alice, the betrothed spouse of his son, Eicbard. Can it be supposed that the Pope would grant to such a character the above-mentioned bull ? Look at his conduct towards the Pope, and then say, ought Alexander to grant such a bull. Henry supported Octavianus and Guido> Anti- popes ; he pronounced a harsh edict against Alexander,* enacted laws that forbade obedience to the Roman Pontiff; he meditated the overthrow of the whole Catholic Church, and caused his subjects to abuse their obedience to the Pope.*» If Henry II. did possess these bulls, would he endeavour, by a large sum of money, to tempt Pope Lucius III. to grant one.*' Alexander was well nigh excommunicating him in person for being accessory to the death of Thomas á Becket. From all these circumstances it is not very likely that these Bulls were granted by the Holy See, and there- fore they must have been forgeries. Let us examine the matter more narrowly, and see if the state of the church required this unwarrantable interference of the Popes — if they did, at all, interfere. Ireland from its conversion to Christianity, to the incursions of the Danes, was the theatre of learning and the seminary of virtue and sanctity. Hence called " Island of Saints." For two centuries it suffered much from the devastations of the Danes, until their total overthrow at the battle of Clontarf. After this period the inhabitants built churches, and schools for literature ; and religion recovered its former splendor. Several councils were convened, consisting of the monarch, the princes of the kingdom, and Prelates of the highest celebrity for their virtues and doctrine, and ornaments to the church • HoTedea, p. 518, 4c. ^ West, Flor. Hi«t. in US8. ' Cam. Bver. c. 24. liO HISTORY OF iiii;t>an'd. over which they presided. Among these are the following : — Gelasiiis, Archbishop of Armagh, whom Colgan* numbers among the saints. Malchus, bishop of Lismore, was a man eminent for virtue and wisdom, and celebrated for his miracles (according to St. Bernard*»). St. Christian (according to Colgan) was bishop of Clogher, an eminent doctor in wisdom and religion, and a lamp that shone by his preaching and enlightened the people. Gilbert, bishop of Limerick and Apostolical legate, was celebrated for his zeal in the government of the church," and for his ritual, addressed to the bishops of Ireland. Maurice, bishop of Cashel (according to C&mbrensis) was a learned and discreet man.^ All these before mentioned, together with St. Malachi, St. Gelasius, and St. Laurence, and other prelates, were edu- cated in Ireland. So convinced of the erudition of the Irish bishops were the Eomau pontiffs, that they appointed five of them, in those time?, Apostolieal legates, viz. Gilbert, bishop of Limerick, St. Malachi, St. Christian, bishop of Lismore, St. Laurence, bishop of Dublin, and Matthew O'Heny, abbot of Cashel. In those (so called) barbarous and ignorant times, Ireland can boast of having sent missioners to foreign countries,* viz. Murchertach, Marianus, Clement, John, Isaac, Candidas, Magnaldus, and others, all Scots from Ireland, preached with effect to the inhabitants of Ratisbon.' Gregory, a native of Ireland, and eminent for his virtues, became abbot of Ratisbon, and Marianus, a celebrated Irish scholar, and professor of the li- beral arts in Paris, where he had for his disciple Nicholas Break- spear, afterwards Pope Adrian IV., became abbot of Ratisbon. About this time flourished the celebrated chrono legist, Marianus Scotus, who went to Germany, and afterwards to » Acta Sanct. Hib. •> St. Bernard, Life of St. Malachi. • Usher Syllo. Epis. Hib, 30. <> Top. Hib. Dist. 3, c. 32. • Cambr. Eversub, c. 21, 22. ' Raderi in Bavaria. . V-; V-^^- LEARNING AND PIETY OF THE IRISH. 141 Mayence, where he died. He was the most learned man of the age in which he lived, a distinguished historian, an excellent mathematician, and a profound theologian.* Besides all these truly pious and learned men, we have many illustrious examples of piety ill the monarchs of Ireland. Donogh, son of Brian Boroimhe, went on a pilgrimage to Eome. Flachertach O'Neill, a prince of Ulster, followed his noble example. Teige-Mac- Lorgan, king of Kinseallach, ended bis life in penance at Glendaloch. Cahill Mac BorysO'Conney, king of Connaught, and Moriertach O'Brien, king of Monster, ended their days in penancfi, one at Armagh, the other at Lismore. After so many illustrious examples of piety and learning, so many councils held for the regulation of morals and discipline, so many missionaries sent to preach the doctrine of Christ, by word and example, in foreign countries, so many schools established for the instruction of the people, and so many glorious examples of piety in the monarchs and princes, can it be imagined that the people were so degenerate in morals and religion as to call forth such bulls from the Roman poiitiflV, and such apostolic missionaries as Henry II. and Lis Anglo-Norman followers, who had not as yet divested them- selves of the barbarous manners of their ancestors ? Yet, such were the missionaries appointed (it is said) by the Eoman Pontiff to reform the church of Ireland, who instead of con» verting souls to God, converted church revenues and other private property to their own purpose?. Notwithstanding the knowledge the Irish had of literature and piety, they are represented as " a barbarous people ;" Stanihurst says, " that their priests are dignified and give wholesome admonitions to the people, the majority of whom are religious," Cambrensis says, " that the priests are to be praised for their religion, and that chastity is a peculiar feature ,Sigobert, de Gembliars de Scrip. Eccles., p. 172. >*■■ V ■■ ■■•• > ", l4Si filSTORt OF lUEtATfD. * in their clmracter, and that they are very temperate in theii* food." And yet (according to him) the people instructed by tliose teachers are " barbarous." Why ? Because indeed they did not conform to the English fashions ; they are barbarous because they wore long garments,' hair on the upper lip, shoes without heels, called " brogues," and because their names had a barbarous sound. >> If these be reasons why a nation should be called barbarous, we leave the reader to determine. Wright, a bigoted Protestant of the present day, states in his work on Ireland, that at the era of the English invasion the state of religion required no reform." * Top. Dist. 3> c. 10. ^ Camden, p. 74. • THE BULLS OF ADRIAN AND ALEXANDER. After a mÍDute and careful examination of the arguments of the author of "Cambrensis Eversus, against the authority of the alleged bulls," and the strange writings of the Rev. Mr. Kelly, of Maynooth, asserting their validity and genuineness, we have to say, that the honor of religion, the purity of the Roman Pontiff, the universally received opinion of their common sense, the necessary consistency that should mark the conduct of the successors of Saint Peter, the skill requisite for the helmsmen to guide the vessel clear of rocks and quicksands, the sanctity of their own lives, their certain knowledge of Henry's profligate life, in having lived in open adultery, having aggressed the rights, and seized the property, and trampled under foot the sacred ordinances of the church, and having procured the assassination of Saint Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, added to the fact, that the Pontiff placed England under an interdict, which never happened to Ireland, which was ever obedient to Rome — all these things considered, lead to the irresistible conclusion that the docuiftents were forgerie|^ We hesitate to give even qualified credence to an assertion, that one of them is to be found in the Bullarium in Rome. Archdeacon Lynch, author of " Cam- brensis," on the subject, uses the following language, which is extracted from the Rev. Mr. Kelly's eloquent translation, cap. 22. " When the Pope had resolved to introduce solid reformation into Ireland, could he have so far forgotten the rules of prudence, as to entrust the estab- lishment of religious rites to a layman, rather than to some member of the ecclesiastical body, whum he could select for the task ? Is the helm of the jjtf- "T»' THE BULLS OF ADRIAN AND ALEXANDER. 143 We will now resume the thread of the History. Moriertach, the monarch of Ireland, was a pious and religious prince, and a great protector of the church and its privileges. His «hip entrnsted to a ploughman, or the plough to the cobbler ? No, let all men work in their own trade. It is the excellent advice of Horatius : — * The landsman fears (he helm to guide ; health's rules Physicians teach ; each trade knows its own tools.' " He, forsooth, is to prescribe the best rules for celebrating or hearing mass, who even daring the short hour of the sacrifice of the sacred host, was so oppressed by cares of state and of his crown, that even that short time was spent more in conversatíon and in deliberation, than in devotion. Surely, he was not sufficiently grounded in piety, to undertake the religious reformation of others. I have clearly proved that he was so deeply tainted with vice, that you might as well expect to gather grapes from thorns, or figs from briers, as learn virtue from him. It is not my intention now, to return to that subject, because stale repetition is always disagreeable. But if the Irish were delivered over to his care to be cleansed from their iniqui- ties, it would be, to use a common saying, only throwing them from the lime kiln into the coal pit. " There is no cleansing Giraldus from the guilt of flattery, when he said ' that the church of Ireland owed to Henry alone, whatever perfection it had attained.' But more outrageous still was his assertion, ' that what- ever peace Ireland enjoyed, was to be attributed to that king ;' fot what is this but to say plainly, that a man who convxdsed a kingdom oy the blast or rather the tempest of war, had breathed over it the gentle zephyrs of peace. t " Dermod, king of Leinster, being guilty of adultery and of rebellion, the Irish, in order to enforce the legal penalties of those crimes, took up arms against him, when all other means of repressing his audacity had failed, • " King Henry then came forward as the determined patron of adultery and rebellion, and did not only not crush the insolence of a man who trampled on the laws, and spurned bis lawful superiors, but even goaded him on in his career of vice, by sending an army to his support. Is it not, then, plain that Henry inculcated no virtue in Ireland, bat rather sowed vice broadcast, he established no new laws, but laboured with all his might to abolish the good old laws of the land. Truly, it amazes me, that any man could hftre ever imagined Henry had the pope's authority for such proceedings. •' ' ' ^ 144 HISTORY OF IHKLAKD. raling passion was anger, which afterwardá drovtí him to madness. One of these fits of passion was his attack on the principality of Eochadh, prince of Dalrida, in Antrim, where " Though the proofs already advanced are more than sufficient to show that the bulls of Adrian and Alexander are spurious, there remains yet one argument, which, in my humble judgmeut, places the question beyond the possibility of doubt. ' Now, John De Courcey,' says Newbrigensis, ' gathering a valiant band of horse and foot, resolved to invade that pro- vince of Ireland, which was separated from Scotland by a narrow channel, from what is called Ulster. But it so happened that Vivian, a very eloquent man, and legate of the Apostolic see, had landed there from Scotland, and was received with every mark of respect by the king and bishops of that pro- vince. While he was stopping at Dun (Down), a city on the sea shore, news came to the Irish of the advance of the hostile army. They consulted the legate as to what they should do in such a conjuncture, and he told them, ' that they should Aght for their country,and he gave them his blessing, with hearty prayers for their success.* Can any man imagine that such a minister either knew not or despised the orders of his master ? Would he have come to Ireland without the order of the Pope, and utterly ignorant of the duties he was bound to inculcate among the Irish ? If the Pope had appointed Henry, Lord of Ireland, as the papal letter had ordered the Irish to obey Henry, why were not the Irish ordered to obey the words of his legate ? especially as Cardinal Vivian was the first papal legate that came to Ireland, after the supreme dominion of Ireland had been conferred on Henry by the Pope, It was notorious that the Irish not only did not ac- knowledge, but ^opposed, by arms, Henry's claims to their kingdom ; and hence the principal duty of the legate should have been to produce the Pope's bull, and to restrain them within the bounds of duty, and curb their impetuosity by his exhortations. " Now if King Henry had known that Vivian was going to Ireland, to pub- lish the bull of ^Pope Alexander, he certainly wcfhlJ have treated him with more kindness. His soldiers in Ireland would either have been informed by himself, or informed by public report, that the legate was commissioned by the papal authority to confirm the title of their king to the Irish crown, and would not have dared to lay violent hands on him. Whoever dispas- sionately examines the conflicting narratives, must adopt that which is founded on the testimony of two writers, both as violent enemies of the Irish, and as zealous partisans of their own countrymen,as Giraldus himself. Be it observed, moreover, that Cambrensis praises Vivian, though be is BULLS OF ADRIAN AND ALEXANDER. 145 he liad been comraitting dreadful devastations until a recon- ciliation was effected between thera through the interference of Gelasius, the Primate, and Donogh O'Carroli, prince generally attacked by others, and accused of avarice by Baronius. He ought not to have been assailed and maligned by them at least, to whose king he strove with all his might to confirm the right to the Irish crown." " It is certain that King Henry either did not believe the authenticity of the bulls of Adrian and Alexander, or the validity of the claim which they purported to the sovereignty of Ireland. .For we find him distrusting them, and labouring to extort from Pope Lucius the Third, successor of Alexander, a grant similar to the preceding. Yet though he had deserved well of Pope Lucius, and sent him a large sum of money in 1188, he was disappointed in his expectations. The Pope refused the request, probably, as well as we can conjecture, because, after an attentive examination of the whole affair, he discovered either that the bulls bad never been issued, or that they were fraudulently obtained. Hence we find Henry still restless, from the conviction, perhaps, that the preceding bulls had been unjustly procured, and were therefore invalid. Again, he applies to Urban III., the successor of Pope Lucius, and begs a new grant of the kingdom of Ireland. " In the year 1185, Henry, King of England, sent his ambassadors to Urban, and obtained many favors which had been sternly refused by Pope Lucius. One of the concessions was, that he was empowered to have any of his sons crowned King of Ireland, and the Pope confirmed that right to him by a bull, and sent to him, as a token of his will and approbation, a crown of peacocks' feathers, wreathed with gold." — (Barry's words.) As merchants of slender means cannot get goods on credit, but must pay down ready money, even so this writer has no more claims to the assent of his readers than what his authorities can command. Would it, I ask, have been more troublesome to give a copy of that bull, than to make this passing notice of it ? Can there be any possible reason for suppressing it, but the conviction that it had not ixally been' granted by the Pope, in the very first year of his pontificate, before he was under the least obligation to Henry ? Could Urban be so indecorous, so flexible as to grant, thus readily, what neither the most pressing solicitation nor the choicest favors could extract from his predecessors ? Surely he could not take such liberty with the property of others, as to make a present of a whole kingdom to a foreigner without eveu communicating his design to the inhabitants, or hearing their defence. Surely he would send some more respectable pledge of his libera- lity than a hunting cap of peacocks' teathers, which would gird, with more 12 146 HISTORY OF IRBLAKD. of Oriel, who were guarantees for its continuance. How- ever, the peace was not of long duration, for the monarch, from some motive, caused the ejres of Eochadh to be put out, propriety, the temples of some stage king in a theatre, than the head of a tnie and real monarch. " But what is the substance of this grant of the Pope ? Henry is autho- rised to select any of his sons, and have him crowned King of Ireland. Now the author himself assures us that Henry had already actually usurped that power. In the year 1177, " the king came to Oxford, and in a general assembly appointed his son John King of Ireland, with permission and authority of Pope Alexander." When the business was concluded, it was an odd time to ask permission to have it done. It was a mockery of autho> rity. But such was Henry's habit, first to seize upon a territory, and then to beg a grant of the same from the Pope. Thus be lands in Ireland at the head of an army, before he published the bull of Adrian, or obtained the bull of Alexander ; proceeding in an inverted order, beginning where he should end. When war is over, succour is too late and useless ; when a possession is secured, a grant of it is needless ; a petition for the grant is a mockery. What crime more revolting than to make another man bear the infamy of your crime, while you enjoy its fruits, to ask another to staunch the wound which your own hands have torn open, and load him with the execration due to your own guilt ?" One of the most powerful arguments, perhaps, against the authenticity of these bulls of Adrian and Alexander, is, that the editors, who have used all possible diligence to give a complete edition of the bulls, passed them over with contempt and never inserted them in their collections. They could not dream of registering such spurious bantlings, so unbecoming the solemn dignity of the pope, among the legitimate emanations from the apostolical see. These editors were like the eagles which are said to know their young by the following ordeal : the parent bird takes the fledging in its talons, and holds it against the rays of the sun. If the eaglet gazes at it steadily it is acknowledged legitimate, but if the eye blenches, " the talon opens and the spurious pretender is dropped to the earth.'* Another excellent reason for doubting the authenticity of the same bulls, is the confession of Giraldus himself, who appears to doubt their validity, by introducing other princes to make good by their assent the papal grant of the sovereignty of Ireland to Henry II. '• There was, moreover," he falsely says, " the authoritative sanction of the Popes, and of all the princes and primates of Christentom.'' Thus, the power of giving a ruler to Ireland» feULLS Oí ADBlAN AND ALKXANDER. 147 I and the hostages in his possession to be put to death. This violation of the treaty so much annoyed the prince of Oriel that he collected all his forces, to the number of 9,000 armed which Giraldus, had at first represented as the exclusive prerogative of the Pope, is now divided among the emperor and foreign kings and primates. Wretched, indeed, must have been the condition of the Irish, who had as many masters to obey as there were princes and primates in Europe, though " no man can serve two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other, or sustain the one and despise the other." " But what friendship could foreign princes have for Henry, when his own sons hated and took up arms against him ; and if they had no friendship for him how could they delegate to him their authority over Ireland ? I am at loss to know what inducement primates could have to bestow any favor on a man who had murdered one of theii* own order, the Primate of England, St. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury. Could foreigners expect favors from him who was savagely cruel to his countrymen ? " Maurice Regan, retainer and interpreter of Diarmaid, king of Leinster, who first brought the English to Ireland, has left us a detailed account of the events of his own time, but never makes an allusion to those supposed bulls of Adrian and Alexander. Now, a man of ordinary judgment must find it very difficult to believe that a writer who has given minute details of comparatively trifling matters would have passed over in silence an affair of momentous interest, when the intrinsic importance of the documents, and even the very name of the Popes , should have been a powerful inducement to bring their bulls from their obscurity into the light of day. Such docu- ments could not escape the notice of a writer even of ordinary diligence, who undertook to record the current events of Irish history. The forgery of the two bulls was considerably facilitated by the previous exploits of others in the same work of deception. Thus, the bull of Pope Honorius purporting to be a grant made to Cambridge, is considered by many to be apocryphal. Harpsfield gives the following opinion regarding it. " With- out presuming to pronounce a positive decision, or dispute the wiser judg- ment of others, I cannot extricate myself fully from doubts of various kinds, arising from chronological difficulties. It is, if not impossible, at least exceedingly difficult to reconcile these statements with a history of undoubted authority, and composed nearly at the same time by the venerable Bede, who states that after this period a school for boys was founded by Sigebert in east Auglia on the Kentish model, and that masters and professors were brought from Kent ; but above all, I cannot reconcile it with the chronology 148 HISTORY OF IllKLAND. men, and attacked, unexpectedly, the monarch in Tyrone, where he, with a great many of his nobles, were killed. He and events of the reign of Honorius, for can any one believe that theologi- cal studies were so flourishing, or that either archbishops or bishops had any authority in a territory then governed by pagan Saxons ? or that Hono- rius himself and the said son of Petronius, of consular rank, could have studied in Cambridge in those days ? I need not observe, moreover, that the words, when I was in the university, in minor orders, were, if I do not mistake, unknown in that sense during that century. I omit other ques- tions which perplex me on this intricate and slippery, topic. Others, I fervently hope, may at length perhaps succeed in clearing them up. " This bull is published in the Antiquities of Cambridge, lib. 1, p. 75 ; but it is impugned by Brienne Irvine, and completely refuted. The bulls of Eugene IV. and Sergius I. to the same Cam-bridge are admitted to be spurious also. Irvine refutes both of them. Spelman also proves, conclusively, that a bull purporting to be a grant of certain privileges to the monks of Canter- bury by St. Augustine of Canterbury, is spurious. Again, Gervase, at the year 1181, writes, " that the Augustinian monks brought forward several rare and suspicious documents." Thus, if the author of the forged bulls of Adrian and Alexander can be defended by precedent, it were easy to collect and scrape together a great number of forged and surreptitious bulls to mitigate, in some measure, the pain of his guilt." Now, if my mental vision be not so dimmed by national prejudice as that I cannot draw a logical conclusion from as clear premises as have ever been laid down, I must, from all I have read about the notorious Bulls, (John) say that the Irish, who allowed themselves to be awed by their invisible horns, were not the same as the present race. The notes of the Rev. learned translator of Doctor Lynch, though replete with most important information, surprised us much. It is painful to be obliged to animadvert on so amiable and erudite a scholar. Some of his notes defend the lying Barry, and are an attempt to answer the match- less writer. Lynch, at whom he occasionally sneers. The Rev. Mr. Kelly has labored to advantage to vindicate the Irish prelates against the charge of having confused the independence of Ireland. However, his argument on that head is rather weak. If Rome had the power, of transferring the crown of Ireland to a man of even upright, pure, and holy life, (the contrary of which Henry was) the bishops were the parties to whom His Holiness would have delagated the power of executing his will in this respect. The pope would have entrusted to a Cardinal the Bull of Transfer, to bring THE ENGLISH INVASION. 149 was the last monarch of the Hy-Niall tribe in Ireland. From him are descended the O'N^eills, of the houses of Tyrone, the Fews, and Claneboy. CHAPTER XV. . THE INVASION OF THE ENGLISH. ^B' Roderick O'Connor, king of Connaught, Was now pro- claimed monarch, as can be seen in the 34 chap., third part of the Ogygia. Having overcome the opposition he met with, from Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick, Dermod M'Morrogh, king of Leinster, and Dermod-Mac-Cormac Mac Carty/king of Desmond, he received hostages from every prince, and governed the kingdom with wisdom and prudence. He convened a synod at Athboy, in Meath, which consisted of the archbishops and bishops, and many of the inferior clergy, the princes and nobles of the kingdom, to the number of 1300 persons. 1167. The bishops that attended were. Saint Gelasius, Ab. of Armagh, Saint Laurence, Ab. of Dublin, Catholicus O'Duffy, Ab. of Tuam. The princes were, the monarch, O'Rourke of Brefny, Donogh of Oriel, Eochadh of Dalriada, Dermod O'Melachlin of Tara, Asculph of the Danes of Dublin, and it to the Irish prelates. Such would have been an act becoming the wisdom of the Pope. This was not done, and therefore, as Lynch clearly proves, there never existed such a thing as an authentic bull, transferring Ireland to England. It is most strange that the infamous and libellous writer Campion, and others not much better, are given as authorities on Irish morality by the Rev. Mr. Kelly. We confess we cannot understand his motive. It is to be regretted that such profound erudition has not been • more openly exercised to sustain the national honor, rather than employed in carping at seeming faults or apparently weak points in the works of such men as Archdeacon Lynchi whose name will be ever venerated by every Irishman, and every lover of truth and honor. However, it must be admit- ted that the published translation of Lynch has done signal service to Irish literature, as his work is of the first importance, and ought to be in the library of every man who can afford to purchase it. 150 , HISTORY OF IRELAND. O'Faolan, prince of the DesieSi In this assembly, several wise laws and regulations were made; and so strictly enforced, that person and property enjoyed the greatest security.' This ^D monarch revived the Tailton games, and founded a professor's 1 168. chair for strangers at Armagh. But unfortunately for ill-fated 1169. Ireland, she beheld, (through the debaucheries and boundless ambition of Mac Morrogh,) in the person of Roderick, the total overthrow of a monarchy, which lasted more than 2,000 years. And now commences the fatal era of the English in- vasion. What true Irish heart does not bleed at the bare re- cital of her after history ? What eye can check its tears at the sanguinary consequences of the unholy invasion of the rights of so ancient, so pious, and so learned a people ? Tieghernan O'Rourke, prince of Brefné, got married to Dervorgail,'* daughter of Morrogh 0*Melaghhn, prince of Meath, against hei; will.' This princess concealed a secret passion for Dermod Mac Morrough, king of Leinster, whom she entreated, (in the absence of her husband,) to release her from a man she disliked. He, accordingly, on an appointed day, with a body of armed men, carried away the princess to his castle at Ferns. O'Rourke, on his return, deeply feeling the insult he had received, appealed to the monarch for redress. Roderick, having collected all his forces, entered Leinster, to vindicate the ends of justice which were outraged by Dermod, who, in this critical juncture, assembled the nobles of his king- dom, but, instead of supporting him, they renounced their allegiance, and joined the monarch, who, having no other enemy to contend with, destroyed the city of Ferns and the castle, and confined the unfortunate Dervorgail in the mo- nastery of Saint Bridget, in Kildare. Dermod, now driven from his dominions, and excommuni- a Mae Geofhegan, p. 250. *> " She was at this time 93 years old" — A. Four Masters. * Stanihurst t. Reb. Hib., lib. 8, c. 59. INVASION BT THE ENGLISH. 151 cated by the clergy, breathed vengeance against the nation at large. He, therefore, earnestly solicited the aid of Henry II., great grandson of William the Conqueror, who was then en- gaged in war in France. He met Henry at Aquitaine, and promised to place his kingdom under his protection, if he assisted him to recover his throne. This proposal was highly flattering to Henry, who sent orders to his ministry in England, to forward the enterprise of this fugitive prince. On the arrival of Dermod in England, the king's orders were published. Richard, surnamed Strongbow, son to the earl of Pembroke, a man of no fortune, and who was in disgrace with his prince,' volunteered his services, on condition of getting Dermod's daughter, Eva, in marriage, and the throne of Leinster after his death. Stanihurst, book third, chapter 67, relates this occurrence. Robert Fitzstephen, a state prisoner for four years, and an outlaw, and his half brother, Mauri/je Fitzgerald, meS who had nothing at home, promised their services, on condition of getting Wexford and its environs. •^■P* After these arrangements, Dermod returned to Leinster, where heconcealed himself, until the arrival of Robert Fitzstephen with 400 men, in Wexford. The king of Leinster, at the head of 500 horsemen, joined the English, and laid siege to the city of Wexford, which having surrendered, and given hostages, was given to Fitzstephen, where he established a colony. Maurice Prendergast was the next that arrived in Wexford with reinforcements, which increased the confederate armv to 3,000 men. Dermod, having such a force under his command, resolved to punish Dounogh Mac Giolla Phadruig, king of Ossory, for abandoning him in his misfortune. He accordingly attacked, and obliged that prince to give him hostages, and agree to pay an annual tribute to the crown of Leinster. The princes and nobles of the kingdom, alarmed at the progress of * Stanihurst, b. 2, c. tí7. 152 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. the king of Leiuster, liad recourse to the monarch, to delibe- rate on what was best to be done ; the result was, that their united forces, commanded by Roderick, marched to Leinster, to give the enemy brittle. Dermod, dreading the suj)erior forces of King O'Connor, retreated to the marshes. Roderick sent word to Fitzstephen to quit the country with his English- men. The English chief returned this haughty reply, "that he would defend the cause of his benefactor while a single man remained with him." The monarch, exasperated at this an- swer, was dispatching his ofBcers and men to pursue the re- bels, when tlie bishops of the province remonstrated and said, that it was better to reconcile an irritated prince, vho was capable of any act, particularly when supported by a nation, whose interest it was to sow discord among the princes of the island. A treaty was therefore entered into, the conditions of which were, 1st: — "that Dermod should possess the kingdom of Leinster, 2nd: — that he should pay homage to the monarch, 3rd : — that he should bind himself by an oath, not to call the English to his aid, 4th : — that Fitzstephen be left in posses- sion of Wexford." As a guarantee for this treaty, his son Arthur, was given as an hostage to the monarch. The treaty was no sooner concluded, than violated by Dermod, through the perfidy of the English chiefs. The King of Leinster, after the arrival of Maurice Fitzgerald, in Wexford, with rein- forcements, marched to Dublin, and in his progress laid waste Fingal, besieged Dublin, and obliged Asculph, commander of the city, to give him large sums of gold and silver, and hos- tages, as pledges of his obedience. Richard Strongbow, before his departure for Ireland, sent Raymond le Gros, to reconnoitre and facilitate his descent in- A.D. to the country. This party arrived in Dun-Domhnail in Wa- terford, where they were attacked by 200 men, of the unarmed and undisciplined natives, who drove them back to their en- 1170 PF:.' CONQUEST OF THK CITY OF DUBLIN. 158 trenchments, but they, excited by despair, having rallied, turned on the unprepared natives and committed dreadful slaughter. After the victory, by orders of Herveius de Monte Maurisco, they broke the legs and arms of 70 prisoners of the first citi- zens of Waterford, whom they brought to a height on the sea shore, and tumbled into the sea. This atrocity is well described in " O'Brennan's Antiquities." Strongbow with 1,200 chosen men, landed in Waterford, on the 24th of August, 1170. Being joined by the king of Leinster, he took that city by assault, and put the garrison to the sword, and made O'Faolan, prince of Desie, prisoner So pleased was the king of Leinster, with the first success of Strongbow, that having sent for his daughter, Eva, he had the marriage celebrated between them with great pomp and splendor. The treaty concluded by Asculph, commander of the Danes of Dublin, with the king of Leinster, was no obstacle in his way to lay seige to that city a second time, and while Laurence O'Toole, Archbishop of Dublin, was negociating a peace with the king of Leinster, Raymond le Gros, Maurice Fitzgerald, and Milo de Cogan, with their troops, entered the city, putting all they met to the sword, sparing neither age nor sex. Are these the Apostolical missionaries, contemplated in Pope Adrian's Bull, who are "^to refine manners, correct morals, and extend the benefits of Christianity to the ignorant and barbarous Irish." Had not St. Laurence through mistaken notions of religion interfered, and obtained a truce of a night from O'Connor who was encamped at Castleknock, Ireland had been spared centu- ries of unequalled persecution. Dermod having taken the city of Dublin, and placed a garrison in it, under the command of Milo de Cogan, proceeded to chastise the prince of Brefne. Roderick, the monarch, alarmed at the 154 . HISTORT OF IRBLAlfD. progress the king of Leinster was making in his conquests, sent an officer to reproach him for his perfidy, and the viola- tion of the treaty, concluded between them, the year before, and to tell him if he persisted in his warfare, that his son Arthur, who was a hostage in his possession, would answer for it. The haughty king said, that he valued not his son's fate, but that if anything happened him, the monarch and his entire race would mark the consequence. Dermod, however, did not live long enough to execute his malicious designs, for he died the May following at Ferns, in the year 1171, a monster, ab- 1171.* ^orred and detested by his country, which, through him, had received a yoke, the galling influence of which she has ever since felt. Strongbow, after the death of his father-in-law, endeavoured to become master of the crown of Leinster, but he was defeated on several occasions by Roderick O'Connor, particularly at the battle of Thurles, where 1,700 English were killed on the spot. In the mean time, Henry II., look- ing on Strongbow as an intriguing character, and desirous of possessing the kingdom of Ireland himself, published an edict commanding all bis subjects in this island to repair to England immediately, on pain of being considered as traitors and rebels. In this dilemma, Raymond le Gros was deputed to tell his majesty, that Strongbow and his followers were acting in the name of Henry in Ireland ; Raymond returned with orders for the Earl to make his appearance immediately in England to account for his conduct. About this time, Asculph, chief of the Danes of Dublin, who escaped the last seige, returned with a fleet of 60 vessels and attacked the city. He was defeated by Milo de Cogan and his party, with considerable loss, and himself taken pris- oner and beheaded. Some time afterwards Roderick O'Connor, with the assistance of Laurence O'Toole, the Archbishop of Dublin, laid siege to the city, and ^succeeded well in their INVASION OP DUBLIN. 1515 plans, for they had surrounded it by sea and land, but after two months' siege, they became negligent and too confident, as they dreaded nothing from an enemy whom they intended to reduce by famine. It must be here observed in justice to O'Connor, that it was O'Toole, who having gone out to Castle- knock where the monarch was encamped, and robed in his Pontificals, threw himself at O'Connor's feet and asked of him not to burn the city, from which all the English with Strongbow would depart in the morning, quit the Island and never more return. O'Connor having granted the request, allowed his men to lay down their arms and go to rest. Mean- while, Baymond, Maurice Fitzgerald, and the other chiefs of the garrison in the city, hearing that Eobert Fitzstephen was attacked at his fort at Carrick near Wexford, by Domhnall, son of the late king of Leinster, and should fall into the hands of his enemies, unless relieved without delay, rushed out at break of day from the city, and attacked the foe, sword in hand, killing some half asleep and unprepared, and patting others to flight. (Stanihurst, page 117.) In the mean time, the fort was taken by Domhnall, the garrison put to the sword, and Fitzstephen and WiUiam Notton made prisoners of war, and confined in the island of Beg-£rin on the coast of Wexford. Strongbow was contemptuously received by Henry II., who accused him of being a robber, a tyrant, and a usurper of the properties of others, but was afterwards reconciled to the king, when he promised to put him in possession of Dublin, Water- ford, and the other places he held in Ireland. ' In the mean time, there was a dreadful battle fought be- tween Milo de Cogan, and O'Rourke, prince of Brefny, near Dublin, where the son of the latter signalized himself in the thick of the fight, and sold his life dearly.* A great many of the English fell on the occasion. • Stanihurst de Reb. Hib.> lib. 3, c. 123 and 125. 1616 HISTOItY OF IREIAND. AD^ Henry set sail and arrived in Waierford, in October; he re- ' 1172. ceived the homage of his own subjects in Ireland, and of some of the dastardly Irish princes too, who voluntarily submitted to be galled by a foreign power ; amongst the first were, Dermod More MacCarthy, king of Desmond, Donald O'Brien, king of Thomond and Limerick, Donnald MacGilla Phadruig, prince ofOssory, O'Faolan, lord of Dessie, and Morrogh MacEloinn, prince of Meath. Henry, having received the homage of these princes, made them great presents, and promised to maintain them iu the possession of their estates and dignities, — a prom- ise which he took good care not to fulfil. The monarch Eoderick, was obliged to yield to the necessities of the times, and to hold an interview with Henry ; a treaty was concluded between them, through the interference of St. Laurence O'Toole, and O'Dubhay, Ab. of Tuara. The con- ditions were, ** that Roderick should pay a tribute to Henry and still retain the title of monarch, with the provincial kings subject to him as before." The only princes, who nobly sup- ported their independence against Henry, were, the Hy-Nialls of Ulster, and some princes of Connaught, as fiaker and Stanihurst narrate. Henry retired to Dublin, to winter quarters, but shortly after hearing of the revolt of his son, Henry, and his brothers against him, and that Pope Alexander III. sent two cardinals to inquire into the murder of Thomas a Becket, with orders to excommu)iicate the king, and put tho country under an inter- dict, he set sail for England during the feast of Easter. He then sailed for Normandy, to check the rebellion of his three sons, Henry, Richard, and Geoffry, against him, caused by the jea- lousy of his own Queen Eleanor, because of the many concu- bines supported by the king, in violation of conjugal fidelity. "What a monster to undertake the improvement of the morality of any people ! ' . I DIVISION" OF IRISH PATRIMONY. 167 As Henry could not attend to the affairs of Ireiand, he like a skilful and perfidious politician, divided among his English chiefs the lands of the Irish princes,, a direct infringement on the promises he made, "of maintaining them in their wealth and dignities." To Strongbow he gave the entire of the country, with the exception of Dublin, and other maritime towns and strong places which he reserved for himself. Tiiis fact is given in Ware's Antiquities. This donation was afterwards confirmed by a charter, granted by king John to William Marshall, Earl of Peaibroke, a copy of which is in the tower of London. Strongbow, through the liberality of his prince, was generous to his own favourites ; to Kaymond, his brother-in-law, he gave the lands of Idrone, Fethert, and Glascarrig; to Hervey de Monte Marisco, the lands of O'Carthy ; to Maurice Prender- gast the lands of Eernegenelan ; to Meyler Fitzstephen, the district of Carbery ; to Maurice Fitzgerald, Naas, and Wick- low; to Vivian de Cursun, Ratheny, near DubUn ; to Robert Birmingham, the domain of O'Connor Faly ; to Adam of Hereford, the barony of Salt, near the Salmon-leap inKildare, and to Miio Fitzdavid the district of Ovak iu Osspry. Strong- bow, after giving his natural daughter in marriage to Robert de Quincy, whom he made constable of Leinster, set out at the head of 1,000 horse and foot soldiers, to attack the pos- sessions of O'Dempsy of Otl'aly, where after burning and plun- dering some villages, he lost his son-in-law, Quincy, who left one daughter, afterwards the wife of Philip, son of Maurice Prendergast. Henry IL, without the least shadow of right vihatever, granted the extensive territory of Meath, the pos- session of Maurice O'Melaghlin, and the domain of the Irish monarchs, to Hugh de Lacy, who exercised unheard of cruel- ties on the inhabitants of the country, in order to secure him- self in the possession of his uujustly acquired property. 158 HISl'ORY OF IRBLaKD. O'Melaghlin, exasperated at these horrible devastations, agreed to meetDe Lacy, in conference at Tarn* to bring mattes to an issue. At the meeting, the prince of Meath loudly in- •THE PALACES, COURTS, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, AND PARLIAMENT OF TARA. There ii no Irishman whose heart does not beat high at the vérj name of Royal Tara. The song of our own immortal Moore, — translated into IrisK by the distinguished Archbishop of Taam, — " The Harp that once through Tara's Halls," has diarms for every native of the Emerald Isle. Every Irishman, of every phase of creed or policy, is proud of his native land and her ancient fame. Feis Teamhra (Fiss Thevra) or the parliament of Tara, and its great legislator and monarch, Ollamh Fodhla (OUav Fyola) ^orm a noble theme for any pen. He was to Ireland what Solon was to Athens, what Lucurgus — the Spartan lawgiver — was to Lacedemon ; he was tiie eig hthin descent ft-om Milesius, King of Gallicia, or fiiscany, in Spain, and was son of Fiachnadh Fiona Scotagh (Finn Scoagh) son of Seanna, aonof Artrigh, son of Eivric, son of Heber, son of Ir, son of Milesius. Ir's descendants were the most distinguished for renown in arms, literature, and all sciences. Ollav reigned forty years according to O'Flaherti, but thirty according to Mac Cnrtin and Keating. The radices of his name are "0//"a//, and lamh (lawv) hand — that is to say, handy or learned in every refined art. According to a homely but well understood phrase, he was, what is popularly termed, " Jack of oil Trades." He could wear the crown, wield the sceptre, use the sword, act the lawgiver, sit as judge, become the advocate, write poetry, v/ith /airy finger touch the harp, com- pose history, investigate antiquities, and exhibit himself as a monarch of the most profound erudition, the most courtly manners, the most unbound- ed regal munificence and splendor in entertaining the sub-kings, their queens, the nobles, the military, the antiquarians, annalists, poets, bards, and their respective attendants. Mac Ourtin says that he wielded the sceptre of Tara, A.M., 3082, a.c. 922 years. This would be, if we allow the age of the world to have been 4004 when Christ was born ; but, if 4021 be the age, he ruled 939 a c, [but much earlier according to the A. F. Masters. The reader must not value much the variation of dates as long aa all agree on the leading fact. In matters of high antiquity it is not easy to determine a true date. Printing or engraving alone, which did not ^xist until the 15th century, could secure a moral certainty as to dates. TARA AND OLLAV. No more than a hasty description of Ollav and his palace can be here niVlSION OF IRISH PATRIMONY 159 veighed against the injastice of the King of England, who sent robbers to invade his patrimonies, and that of his ancestors in order to enrich libertines and outlaws, who consumed the pro- inserted, thoagh the topic affords an ample and a brilliant theme . The hall, in which the parliament met, was a wooden * building, 300 feet long, 45 high, 75 broad, and having fourteen doors to afford facile entrance to all ; the great state room being built from east to west. It had a stated place for each king, prince, and senator, in provincial order, those of each province sitting next each other. In the centre of the senatorial hall was enthroned the king paramount, and looking to the west, the princes and deputies of Munster on his left, those of Ulster on his right, of Leinster in front, and those of Connaught to the rere, to guard and watch the whole. So writes Rev. Mr. Hansbrow, a Presbyterian. The great court, ' ' Miochuart," the royal palace of the king paramount, was surrounded by four other royal ones for the provincial kings. Not far from these ^ere three spacious courts. One for the queens, the ladies of'rank, and their respective households. This was splendidly fitted up, nor are we to feet surprised that such was the fact, whereas that of Queen Dido is represented by Virgil so gorgeous, though long anterior to the palace of Tara. The second was for state prisoners, who used to be treated with marked atten- tion according to their stations. Some of them used to be loaded with gulden chains to mark their rank. A country that could thus load their captives with the precious metal, must have had it in abundance. The third court resembled our Four Courts, and to it was attached a prison for felons, such as Richmond Bridewell, or Newgate. In this last court were held the assizes. The judges decided all cases brought before them. The judges, poats, Druids, and 53 antiquaries, met in this last place to decide law cases, settle disputes, regulate the customs of the country, and fix punishments for delinquents. In this respect our early courts of law * Up to 1666 almost all the houses of London were made of timber, as can be seen in Tegg's Historian's Guide. In that year, 1666, four hundred streets, and 13,000 houses were burned to the ground, which caused a law to be enacted, requiring that henceforth houses were to be built of stone or bricks. The fire lasted four days and as many nights; the ruins of the city covered 430 acres. Timber was so plentiful in Ireland it was found much cheaper and more convenient to erect houses of that material, especially as Irish oak was so durable ■ But any buildings, which necessarily required to be raised to a great height, as " Round Towers,** were constructed of stone, IGO HlaTORY OF IRELAND. perty of their fathers in profligacy, and debauchei-y. This just rebuke cost him denrly. Having been stabbed by Griffin, brother of Raymond le Gros, with a poignard as he mounted resembled those of England : it was only in the place, or wherever the King of England resided, even for a time, criminal and civil cases were heard and decided. This system was found both inconvenient and injurious to the parties interested. Judges of assize were appointed to go on circuit for the purpose of obviagting the loss of time and money, consequent on bringing persons to one place from the most remote parts of the kingdom. But such a necessity was not in Ireland, as, by the laws of the realm, there were local hereditary judges whose business was to expound the statute and common law — or the written and unwritten law. It is a mistake to say, that these judges decided on their own authority. They referred to prece- dents and the laws of the imperial parliament of Tara, as English judges at the present day in reference to English laws. The Irish £reh>^ls^ decided cases, taking the traditional customs and supreme written laws of the island as their guides. The ladies' court was kept with great splen- dour ; and etiquette of the most refined character was observed ; the parliament sat about the fourth of November. During three days before, and as mtiny after the first of the month, the royal families held three levees, exchanging courtly visits, and exercising the most profuse hospitality with the greatest pomp and elegance, making mutual presents, and thus estab- lishing lasting friendship. Such was the royal grandeur of old Tara in the days of OUav. It is then no wonder, that we look back with regret on the past magnificence of the golden age of that once royal, still rich Meath. Every Irish heart throbs with tearful joy at the bare recital of "The Harp that once through Tara's Hall." The parliament was triennial. The persons of the senators were held sacred ; so much so, that any attempt to injure them during the sessions, was death without a possibility of pardon ; to any man who offered violence to a woman, the like penalty was also awarded. These circumstances are written by eminent scholars of all nations, more so than by native writers. This is but one evidence of their great truthfulness. Before the parlia- mentary session commenced, the whole assembly, kings, chiefs, senators, civil and military oflBcers, bards, annalists, and antiquaries, dined together in a sumptuous way. When dinner had been prepared and all strangers removed, the Grand Marshal ordered the chief trumpeter to sound three times, with a pause between each. At the first signal the shield-bearers of the princes and deputies advanced to the grand entrance, and gave their DIVISION OF IRISH PATRIMONY. 161 liis horse ; he was next beheaded, siid his head brought to England as that of a traitor and rebel. 'De Lacy, like Strongbow, gave extensive possessions to his own favourites. masters' shields in charge of the Marshal, who got them hung up in order of precedence. On the second blast, the shield-bearers of the generals did as the others, and so did the Marshal, but ordering the latter to be placed in a second row. On the third signal the members all gracefuUv entered, and took their seats under their shields, which they knew by their particular crests ; the poets and antiquarians at one end of the table, and teh great officers of court at the other. After dinner the business commenced, soberly and solemnly, remarks, Hansbrow. What a model for our Christian monarchs and senators ! At this sitting they repealed bad laws ; enacted or improved good laws. When the legal business had terminated, the records of the nation, likewise those of the sub-king, the chiefs, and other families, were investigated. Such as had been approved of, were ordered to be copied into the great National Register, the Psalter of Tara ; whilst such as were found to be false, were condemned, and if the falsification was proven to be deliberate, the poet, annalist, or antiquary, was fined and degraded. The sub-kings and the chiefs had each his bard and historian. Each was most jealous of his master's fame and honor, and therefore each was a check on the other ; and when all princes, chiefs, officers, historians, assembled face to face "ioier/y and solemnly, " (as Hansbrow writes) not heated with wine, it was easy to detect and punish any attempt at a falsification of facts. From this course it is quite clear to any unbiassed mind, that there has, never, existed a more authentic work than the Psalter of Tara. Here, again, we have an irrefragable proof of Ireland's early claim to letters. How could records be preserved without characters of some kind ? or how could they be examined ? how could parties be punished for falsifying them? how could the parliament approve of them if they were not placed before them ? and how could they be voted to be inserted into the Psalter of Tara ? It can, therefore, be truly asserted that we had letters of some kind in the days of OUav, be that 900 or only 700 years^ before Christ. But certain it is that the use of letters was ever in Ireland up to the days of OUav. The Druids, who had the tuition of the youth to look after, practised memory rather than writings, that hereby they might the more easily deceive. OUav would have no false records ; he should have an infallible registry of facts. He knew the force of " litera scripta manet." Man might forget or falsify, but the deliberate resolutions of sober men might be relied on, and OUav would have monarch, prince, chiel, 13 162 HISTORY OF IRELAND. To Hugh Tyrrell he gave the territory of Castleknock, to William Pettit, Castlebrick, to Meyler Fitzhenry the lands of Magheran, &c., to Gilbert Nangle, the land of Magherigallen ; and servant eqtiallj bound by them. Many of the Irish Pagan kings made the same searching inquiry into the annals, especially Cormac O'Quinn, and Laoghaire (O'Leary) who ruled when St. Patrick arrived. There is no nation in the world pursued the same plan, and consequently, no country has such ancient and authentic records as we have. What a glorious monarch ! what a grand constitution at so early a period 1 What great minds, what massive intellects, what penetrating genius, what pro- found talents, what erudition and incorruptibility our Pagan ancestors possessed ; we blush at the degeneracy of these Christian days, when such general corruptioUf depravity, and vice, sweep over the land. It would not be so if our great men and monarchs studied the history of the past, and learned from it how to hate vice and appreciate a high sense of honor as practised by even Pagans. If Irishmen will study the history of their own country they will be better fitted for every walk of life, whether artizan, senator, or clergyman THE IRISH COATS OF ARMS. Connected with this subject that of the coats of arms of those days. Up to the reign of Fodhla (Fyola,) there was but one such amongst the Irish. It was a dead serpent. The origin of it was this : Moses and Niol met — the I sraelites in their flight from Egypt had banners, each having a par- ticular device. The tribe of Levi had the ark, that of Judah, a lion, and so on. Now it is recorded that Gadelas, the son of Niul, was cured of the bite of a serpent by the touch of the rod of Moses, and that therefore Sm in selecting a device for banners, adopted as his crest a dead serpent. This account, Keating states, he has taken from the book of (Leath Cuind) Lecan. Until the reign of Fyola there was only one device (the dead serpent) amongst the Irish ; but at the triennial parliament, a coat of arms was assigned to each prince and noble, to be henceforth adopted by him ^ As a distinctive mark of rank. The Irish annalists hand us down an exact description of the coats of arms of almost every nation. For instance, they say that Hercules bore a lion rampant ; Hector, two lions combatant ; the Romans, an eagle. We have the shield of Achilles explained as having delineated on it the motions of the sun, moon, stars, and planets ; a sphere with celestial bodies, the situation of the earth, the flux and reflux of the tide, as well as other uncommon ornamentations, which rendered it an DlVlStON Op IRISH PATRIMONV, 163 to Jdcelin, Navna, and to Robert de Lacy, the district of Eathever; to Adam de Feipo, the territory Skrime ; to Gilbert de Nugent, the district of Delvin, the patrimony of the object of great admiration and contention after his death. The crests of Alexander the Great, Augustus Ccesar, and other men of olden days are given in detail. In fact everything contained in our old documents is apt to make us love still more this old green isle. Adam Smith, and nearly all English writers, admit that nothing for certain is known to them of England Until Caesar's time, and many of them confess that there is no authentic document regarding their country until the reign of William the Conqueror. iTiis is their own confession, and not our charge of their want of early civilisation, which, it is said, they now possess, and which Ireland ever had and yet has, and will have to the end of time. MILITARY WEAPONS AND KNIGHTS. In those early ages, the shield alone was all their defensive armour, for the body, their chief offensive weapons were the swot-d, javelin and arrow.* They never made use of coats of mail, or any other casing, than that of the hel- met which covered the head and shoulders. In latter times, (as Ware judici- ously remarks,) the foot were of two sorts, the heavy and light-armed ; the first were called Galloglachs, armed with an helmet and coat of mail, bound with iron rings. They were also girded with long swords. They fought oc- * In the reign of Crimthan Niadhnár, namely, in the first century, they got the use of the Cran Tabhail, a machine ft-om whence they shot stones on the enemy's intrenchments, or, occasionally, on their ranks, in the day of battle. O'Heosy, contrasting the ancient discipline with that of modem ages, since the conquest, complains of the degeneracy of the natives in hia own times, in the following lines : ^ Ni faicthear Gille a ngeall Tresa. Na trealamh laoich laimh re Cuilt ; Na colg al deol deamaan laimhe. Ni cheanglann reo fáinneFuilt. No more their captured youth, in battle won, Startles the foe : no more his arms beside The soldier sleeps ; nor sucks the sword his palm ; Nor from the field, snow-sheeted, does he spring At battle's call, his tresses bound in frost. 164) HISTORY OF lUtLAND. O'Finellans: and to Ilugli de Hose, a district in Meatii, for- merly the patrimony of Maol Sachlin. These facts are to be found in Mac Geoghegan's history of Ireland. In tlie mean casionally with a most keen axe, after the manner of the Gauls, mentioned bj' Marcellinus. Their light-armed infantry (called Keherns) fought with bearded javelins, and short daggers, called Skeyns. Cambrensis informs us, " that in the days of Henry II. the Irish had three kinds of weapons in use ; short launces, two javelins, and broad battle-axes extremely well tempered, which last they borrowed from the Norwegians. Against the force of these weapons, neither helmet, nor cuirass, was a sufficient defence ; so that, in our days, it is common to see the whole thigh cut oflf at one stroke, though ever so well cased in armour ; that limb dropping down on one side of the horse, and the dying body on the other. They, moreover, gall the enemy extremely with hand-stones, when other weapons fail : and. at this manner of fighting, no nation is more expert." Stanihurst* is more particular and • The Equestrian is the first order. But the Irish Knights differ greatly in manners and customs from those of other nations. For they grasp their pikes or lances, which are very heavy, about the middle, not holding them pendant at their sides, under their arms, but brandishing them above their heads, and launching them with the main force and strength of their arms. Their horses are also docile and of a superior breed, with which they engage the numerous bands of the enemy, or avoid their attack, by bending their bodies, should the contest or fight be unequal. These movements are performed, generally speakine, without any great trouble to the horseman, though he should hold the reins ever so loosely ; for none are more tractable than the Irish horses. They never wear great hats on horseback ; more- over, they raise up their legs so high, and move on the road so lightly, how foul and miry soever, without any succussion, that they do not so much as even soil their boots or shoes. Besides, they do not mount on horseback by means of stirrups, nor allow auxiliaries so trifling, in their opinion, to clivig to their trappings. But they seize with the left band the ears of the horses, or else that part of the mane, which hangs down on the forehead, and while the animals bend their heads quietly down, on one side, the horsemen, though dressed in coats of mail, or great cloaks, spring aloft, and with won- derful agility, vault suddenly astride into the saddles, which bear some re- semblance to pack-saddles. But that mode of getting on horseback is so familiar, and so much the practice among them, that this qualification is less a subject of praise, than a deficiency in it is foul and disgraceful. DKFEAT OF THE ENGLISH. 165 ti'ne Earl Strongbox, after placing garrisons in all the towns and castles in Ireland, in the power of the English, repaired to Normandy, to assist Henry, who was hard pressed by his ene- elegant in describing the military art of the Irish in his time ; with the ad- dition, that the Irish soldiery was, of all others, the most cruel. He con- fined the observation, no doubt, to latter times. It was the consequence of They seldom ride geldings, though gentle as the Spanish Genet, and only feed mares for the purpose of breeding. Nothing degrades the character of a horseman so much as to ride on a mare, nothing so much excites the laughter and scoffs of the spectators. The next order to that of the eques- trian, is the Infantry, which consists of a description of soldiers, whom the natives call Galloglachs. They are dressed in cloaks, and cassocks. They are men of great stature, of more than ordinary strength of limb, powerful swords- men, but, at the same time, altogether sanguinary,and, by no means, inclined to give quarter. A hatred for humanity, in their estimation, is the height of humanity.* Their weapons are one foot in length, resembling double-bladed liatchets, almost sharper than razors, fixed to shafts of more than ordinary length, with which when they strike, they inflict a dreadful wound. Before any one is admitted into their College, he swears, in the most solemn manner, that he never will flinch, or turn his back, when he comes into action. This custom, however, begins to grow obsolete. In every sharp and severe engagement, should they come to close fighting, they either soon kill, or are killed. They are, undoubtedly, men of great courage and strength of body, and constitute the basis and pov^r of the Irish army. The third order comprises likewise another kind of infantry, and light-armed swordsmen, called Kami by the Irish. They whirl about their lances, calculated for attack or defence, so very powerfully, and with such rapidity, that to the eye of the observer, they appear to form a circle. They fight armed with targets, or iron gauntlets. They go to battle in uniform, neither very heavy nor cumbersome. They wound men and horses at a distance, with ' darts and javelins ; and begin the fight, hand to hand, with drawn swords. They are famous slingers ; hut of the scientific use of military weapons, they are entirely ignorant, as well as of the gymnastic art of the gladiators. They seldom attack the enemy with the point, but wound them with frequent strokes. They are wonderfully delighted with sharp-pointed and keen-edged swords, and use all their diligence lest they should contract rust or their points be blunted. — Stan de Ileb. Hibern. p. 41, 42. Thus far, Stanihurst, with the fidelity of a good observer of what passed in his own time ; but what follows, is, in general, false and ridiculous. * This Is the language of an Inveterate libeller. 166 HISTORV OF IRELAND. mies there; after some time he returned by orders of Henry to Ireland, as deputy, with Eaymond le Gros as his colleague. On his return, De Lacy gave him up the city of Dublin ; and Rob- ert Fitzbernard, Robert Fiizstephen, and Maurice Prendergast were ordered to go to England, where they defeated Robert, £arl of Essex, and brought him prisoner to the king to Nor- mandy. Strongbow took the command of the troops from Hervey de Mont Maurisco, and gave it to Raymond le Gros, who led them into the territory of Desié, belonging to the O'Foslans, where they laid waste the whole country, and sent great booty by sea to Waterford, under the command of Adrian de Hereford ; and Raymond proceeded by land with a booty of cattle, to the number of 4,000. Having arrived in Waterford, he heard of his father's death, and retired to the castle of Carew, in Wales, determined to lead a private life. After the retire- ment of Raymond, the command of the army devolved on Hervey, who led them on to make incursions on Limerick, but he was intercepted on his way, by Roderick O'Connor, the monarch, at Thurles, where .1700 of the English lay dead on the field of battle. O'Connor's allies were, the princes of Connaught, O'JMelaghlin and O'Neill, prince of Tyrone. This fact is told by Gerald Barry, c. 9, 687; it is also recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters at 1174 A.D. The monarch animated by this success, laid waste the entire territory of Meath, in possession of the English. Strongbow, alarmed at the fate of his countrymen, sent word to Raymond le Gros that he would give him his sister Basilia, in marriage, if he came to free him from his difficulties. Raymond, well pleased with the a long butchering civil war, wherein extirpation is the object, on both sides. Cruelty becomes familiar, insatiable and boundless. When old Heber Mac Mahon, bishop of Clogher, harangued O'Neil's army at Benburb, he in- Teighed vehemently against the accustomed inhumanity of the soldiery. He conjured them, by the duty they owed to God and man, to give fair quarter to the enemy, if Providence gave success, on that day, to their arms. CELEBRATED IRISH WRITERS. 167 proposal, embarked for Ireland, with his cousin, Milo, and 1 00 horse and 800 foot. On his arrival he facilitated the escape of Strongbow from Waterford, aud left it to be plundered by tlie Danes, who put all the English to the sword. The marriage of Raymond with Basilia, sister of Strongbow, was celebrated at Wexford, with all pomp and splendor. He was then appointed constable of Leinster, and put himself at the head of the army and recovered all the English possessions in Meath. In this year, Hervey married Nesta, cousin of Raymond, and daughter of Maurice Fitzgerald, and Eliva, the daughter of the Earl, was married to William, eldest son of Maurice Fitzgerald. The eminent and celebrated Irish writers immediately before, ándat the arrival of the English, were Cuan O'Lochain (Loftus) alluded to in high terms in "The A. Four Masters," by the emi- nent annalist, Tighernach, and in the annals of Innisfallen ; such were his virtues and talents, that on the death of Malachi of Tara he,with Corcoran, a priest, were appoinited as joint regents of Ire- land ; some of his brilliant poetic compositions exist in several private libraries, Cumarec, a poet, the son of Ainmhireé (ayn viryjis thus mentioned by Tighernach the annalist. '* The son of Aynvirg, chief judge (of Armagh, and flood of knowledge, or science,) of Ireland." Kinfola O'Cuill (Gill,) Dudley, Arch- bishop of Armagh, who wrote the annals of Ireland down to his own time ; they are to be found in the annals of Ulster. Donagh O' Foley ; some of his works are to be seen in the book of Ballymote and Leacan. Morrogh O'Carty of Connaught, Giolla Caomhghin (Kevin) a distinguished poet and historian ; his works are numerous. Tighernach, the annalist, abbot of Clon- macnoise, whose records are looked up as a model. Maol Josa, a divine, whose poetic pen was devoted to religion. Tanad O'Mulconry, Coleman O'Shannon, Abbot Flann, poets ; the poems of the last are polished, learned and numerous. O'Lor- on ; Cuchouacht O'Daly, O'Cassidy (both poets of Meath,) 168 HISTORY OF IRELAND. O'Dunn, chief bard of Leinster, O'Regan, secretary of the king, Mac Morrough ; Gilbert, bishop of Limerick, Celsus, and O'Morgair, archbishops of Armagh, Congaii, a Cistercian Monk. Space does not allow us to mention many other eminent writers of those days. About 1172 A.D., Henry II. sent Nicholas, prior of Wall- ingford, and William Fitz-Aldelm, with a supposed Bull of Alexander III. purporting to confirm that of Adrian IV., and which, it is pretended, was approved of by an assembly of the bishops at Waterford, making Henry lord of Ireland, with other important privileges. Never was a greater fraud than the alleged bull. Henry the Second, who did everything to annoy Pope Alexander III. since 1159 to 1172, and whose own kingdom of England was placed under an interdict in consequence of the king's sinful life, was not such a man to whom it was likely the Pope would grant power over a reli- gious people which was never under an interdict. ' About this time Raymond, joined by Donald Mac Giolla Phadrig, made himself master of the city of Limerick, where Donald O'Brien, its king, had taken shelter, and, after pillaging the city, placed a garrison in it under the command of Meyler de St. David, and returned to Wexford. Roderick O'Connor, finding it impossible to check the disorders of the English, entered into a treaty with Henry through Catholicus, abbot of Tuam, Concord, abbot of St. Brennan of Clonfert, and Laurence, his chancellor. The king received them kindly at Windsor, and granted peace to Roderick, with the title of tributary king. Hervey, jealous of Raymond in consequence of the preference, given to him by the troops, and being deprived of the office of Constable of Leinster, wrote a letter to Henry II. representing him as an intriguing and popular character, and likely to corrupt his majesty's subjects in Ireland.* Henry « W. Annals Hib. c. Reign Henry II. 1 A.D. 1176. DEATH OF STKONGBOW. 169 immediately, sent commissioners with orders to bring Raymond to England. Meanwhile, Limerick was besieged by Donald O'Brien ; and Strongbow and the commissioners thought it prudent to despatch Raymond to Limerick, with a troop of 80 knights, SOO horse, and 300 foot, and Donald, prince of Ossory, and Murrough, prince of Kinsellach, as allies. Donald O'Brien came to meet them to Cashel, where he fell into an ambuscade, and, after a vigorous resistance, was routed. Raymond, at this time, assisted Dermod Mac Carthy, king of Desmond, to quell the revolt of his son, Cormac, who attempted to dethrone him. Raymond, as a requital for this service, got a territory in Kerry, where he established his son Maurice, whose, descendants are called Clann Morris. Richard de Clare, earl of Strigul (Strongbow), after exercising his tyranny for seven years over the inhabitants of Leinster, without sparing the clergy, churches, or monasteries,* died of a cancer at Dublin in June, 1176 (according to Barry 1177), and was interred by St. Laurence O'Toole, Ab. of Dublin, in Christ's church. The Masters say that through the interference of the Irish saints whose churches he destroyed, this miserable death had befallen him. By his wife, Eva, he had one daughter, who was married to William Marshal, an English lord. The issue of such marriage was five sons and five daughters; the sons died without issue, not one surviving to enjoy the ill-got inheritance. As an atonement for his cruelty, and the modes adopted to acquire riches at the risk of his salvation, he founded a priory at Kilmainham, near Dublin, in 1174, which was the grand priory of the Templars in Ireland, with its eight com- manderies. Maurice Fitzgerald died this year at Wexford ; he was the ancestor of all the noble families of that name, by his three sons, William, Gerald, and Alexander, who settled in the town of Ferns. Immediately after the death of Strongbow, * Keating, b. 2. -,"«) I 170 HISTORY OF laELAND. Henry II. appointed William Fitz-Aldelm, deputj of Ireland, with John de Courcy, Milo Cogan, andBobert Fitz8tephen,as his colleagues. He took possession, in the name of the king, of all the places which belonged to Strongbow. Cardinal Vivian being delegated by Pope Alexander III. to visit the churches of Scotland, Ireland, and Norway, happened to be in Down, in Ulster, wheji John Courcy, a warlike and cruel man, entered that town at the head of 400 men, and gave orders to pillage and plunder (notwithstanding the remonstrance of Cardinal Vivian) which orders were faithfully executed by a barbarous soldiery, amidst the tears, groans, lamentations, and murder of the innocent inhabitants. Bx)derick, prince of Ulster, having consulted Vivian how to act, and being told by his Excellency, the Pope's legate, to defend themselves and their property by force of arms, collected, in a hurry, an un- disciplined army, in order to deliver the city from the tyranny of the English. He was met by Courcy, in the plain, and his army put to flight,* and Malachi, bishop of Down, taken prisoner but released at the request of Cardinal Vivian, who himself, at first, was obliged to take shelter in a church. Courcy subsequently made incursions into Tyrone and Dalriada, destroying all before him with fire and sword ; he fancied the prophecy of St. Columb, regarding fhe destruction of Ubter, Applied to himself. This prophecy he kept under his pillow while he slept. That Cardinal Vivian gave the above advice, we are told by the author of " Cambrensis." Now surely if his illustrious master. Pope Alexander, who delegated him to visit the church of Ireland on matters affecting religion, had given him or Henry a bull, confirming the pretended one of Adrian, it is clear as noon, that he weld not have dared to advise the Irish, in violation of such document, to resist Henry's officers, who were only enforcing their king's orders. From ' Stanihurst, de Reb. Hib. page 182. DEVASTATIONS OF JOHN COURCY IN ULSTER. 171 this fact alone the reader can infer that tliere was no bull unless a forged one^ and such a document^ Lynch and MacGeoghegan assert positively, is no where to be found in the Vatican. A.D. Courcy, afterwards, met with a very vigorous attack from ' Mortach 0' Carroll, prince of Oriel, and Boderick, prince of Ulidia, at Glinriy, and next at Dalriada, where his army were totally defeated,* having himself narrowly escaped death. About this time Cardinal Yivian convened a council of the abbots and bishops at Dublin, in which, it is said, he endeavoured to confirm Henry II.'s rights to the throne of Ireland ; he then set off for England. Henry, meanwhile, gave to his son, John the title of Lord of Ireland and Earl of Mortagne, which title his successors retained till the reign of Henry TIIL^ who was the first to assume the title of King of Ireland. 1179. Henry II., by a charter, given at Oxford in 1177, granted to Robert Fitzstephen and Milo Cogau the kingdoms of Cork and Desmond, reserving for himself the city of Cork, the cantred* of the Ostmans, and the county of Waterford ; to Philip de Braos the kingdom of Limerick, reserving for himself the city and the cantred of the Ostmans ; to Robert le Poer he gave the government of the city of Waterford, to WiUiam Fitz Adelm that of Wexford, and to Hugh de Lacy the government of the city of Dublin. It appears from the charters of King John that Robert Fitzstephen gave his nephew, Philip de Barry, three cantreds in the Co. of Cork, Olethan, Muscri Donegan, and Killede ; to Adam de la Roche the cantred of Rosselihir, and to Richard de Yogan the cantred of Muscii O'Millane, with 25 military tenures, &c. Milo Cogan, about this time, entered Connaught, with an army of 40 knights, 200 horsemen, and 800 archers, to assist Connor and Murchard, sons of Roderick O'Connor, to dethrone their father. * Ware, de An. Hib. reg. Hen. II., c. 10. ^ " A cantred contains one hundred villages and townlands." 172 HISTORY OP IRELAND. ' He advanced as far as Tuara, but was obliged to return, as his army «ere perisliing for want of provisioni». After a march^of eiglit days he was attacked by Roderick, and several of^ his men were killed. After this Roderick chastised his rebellious children ; he condemned Murchard to perpetual imprisonment, and confined Connor in an island, in Lochcuan : he was restored the year after to his father's favour. William Fitz Adeltn, the deputy, fell into disgrace, and Hugh de Lacy was appointed in his place, with Robert le Poer as his colleague. MiloCogan and Fitzstephen were recalled to England to account for their conduct ; they returned thefollowingyear, accompanied 1179. by Philip de Braos, with 110 knights, 110 horsemen, and some foot soldiers. They determined to besiege the city of Limerick, but the new troops, disheartened by the difficulty of crossing the river, prevailed on Philip to abandon his enterprise and return to England. About this time Laurence, archbishop of Dublin, Catholicus, archbishop of Tuam, Constantius, bishop of Kilaloe, Felix, bishop of Lismo re, Brice, bishop of Limerick, and Augustine, bishop of Waterford, set out for Rome, to attend the third council of Lateran, convened by Pope Alexander Hi. ■ 1180. In the mean time John Courcy, now Earl of Ulster, married Africa, the daughter of Godfry, king of the Isle of Man, in order to secure the interest of that prince. The church of Artfert, and the priory of Innis- Fallen, in lake Lane, were pillaged this year by Mildurn, who put some of the community to death. De Lacy, in consequence of his marriage with the daughter of Roderick O'Connor, king of Connaught, and the immense estates he acquired by the oppression of others,* being suspected by Henry, was called over to England to account for his conduct, and John Constable, of Chester, and Richard de Pecli, placed as chief justices in his room; he was restored Exjwg. Hib b. , c. 19-20. HENRY II. USURPS SPIRITUAL JURISDICTION. 173 in six months after, with Robert, Earl of Shrewsbury, as his colleague, to watch over his conduct. He continued in office three years, and built a good many castles in Leinster and Meath,viz.Oboney,Norragh, Clonard, Killair.Delvin. liaymond le Gros built the castle of Fort O'Nolan ; the one at Trister Dermod was built by Walter de Riddlesford, that at Leighlin by John de Clohut, and that at Kildroghed by John de Hereford. A.D. Henry II., it appears, haviiig usurped the spiritual, as well 1 1 ft 1 as the temporal government of the island, nominated Cummin, a native of England, to the vacant see of Dublin. John Cummin, an Englishman, was consecrated by Pope Lucius III., who granted him a bull, forbidding any bishop holding assemblies in Dublin, without the consent of the archbishop, or a licence from His Holiness.' Lynch tells us, that Lucius refused Henry's request, asking a bull. In this year, O'Muldory, prince of Tyrconnel, gained a complete victory over the rebel- lious kinsmen of Roderick O'Connor, and 16 persons of the j^ jj royal race of Connaught were killed on the occasion. Courcy 1182. pillaged the whole country of Dalaraida, in Antrim, and be- came master of the episcopal city of Down: in 1183, he changed the title of the church, from the " Holy Trinity," to that of Saint Patrick, acting alternately tjie parts of a robber and a bigot. Meanwhile Milo Cogan, and Ramulpli Fitz- stephen, were killed on the road to Lismore, by a band of men under their Hiader, Mac-Tyre.* Derm od Mac Carthy,king of Desmond, hearing of the news, invested the city of Cork, where Robert Fitzslephen was, but the timely appearrnce of Raymond, with a reinforcement from Wexford, averted the storm. About this year, Philip Barry, and his brother Gerald, (surnamed " Cam6rensiSy')aTnveámlTe\aná,to assist their uncle, Fitzstepheu, to recover the estate of O'Cane of Cork, which he gave them. At this time, Henry, son of Henry II., died at • Mac Geoghegan, p. 284. •> Doctor O'Donovan, in a note to the Four Masters, p. 64, v. 3, chastises Gerald Barry, aad Moore for their slander of Mac-Tyre on this occasion. 174 HISTORY of IRELAND. the castle of Martell, in Oascony, aged IM ; te was interred near the grand altar of the cathedral church of Bouen. Henry II., sent John Gummin, Archbishop of Dublin, to pre- pare the Irish for the reception of his son, John, Earl of Mortagne, and Lord of Ireland. He also removed Hugh de ^j^- Lacy, and appointed Philip de Wigerne, chief justice, in his place; after his appointment he imposed a heavy tribute on the clergy of Armagh, which he obliged them to pay by military execution.» After leaving the city, he got a violent attack of the bowels, which nearly cost him his life. Hugh Tirrel was the accomplice of the Deputy ; he returned his share of the plunder, he was so sensibly affected by the total lose by fire of the house in which he lodged, the stables, horses, and a great part of the city of Down. A.D. John, Lord of Ireland, accompanied by Ralph Glanvill, chief ^*^^* justice of England, Gerald Cambrensis, his tutor, and 400 knights, arrived in Waterford, in the year 1185. The Irish lords of the neighbourhood hastened to greet the prince and his retinue, but they received them with coldness and contempt, which so exasperated the Irish nobles, that they conspired to be revenged of the English. The young lord, and his courtiers, being disturbed in their continual scene of profligacy and de- bauchery, after building the castles of Tibracht, Ardfinan, and Lismore, and granting four cantreds of land, in Louth, to Bertram de Verdon, and Cambrensis his titor, returned to England, leaving the government to De Lacy. In the mean time, Koderick, king of Connaught, by the assistance of Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick, gained a complete victory over his rebellions son, Connor, and being now worn with grief, abdicated the throne in his favor, and retired to the abbey of Cong, where, after 13 years, he died, aged 82. He was interred at Cluain-Mic-Noise ; he left legacies to the churches of Ireland, Rome and Jerusalem. * CambrensÍB, Top. Hib. dis. 2, c. 50. DKATH OF HUGH DE LACY. 175 After the departure of John to England, John de Courcy via» appointed to the Chief Justiceship of Ireland . About this time a provincial council was held by John Cummin, Ab. of Dublin, in which Albin O'MuUoy, abbot of Baltinglass, inveighed so strongly against the impurity of the English clergy, who corrupted the Irish by their example, that he drew on himself the ire of Cambrensis, who was present, and who shortly aftCT retired to Wales, where he completed his history of the conquest of Ireland. AD. 1186. Hugh de Lacy,* after committing the most flagrant acts of injustice on the people of Meath, was killed at Durrow,* by an Irish nobleman, in the disguise of a labourer, and his body was deprived of the right of Christian burial by the people. Henry, on hearing the tragical death of De Lacy, despatched a large army to Ireland, under the command of Philip de Wigerne; meanwhile, his son Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, died, and was buried in the church of Notre Dame, at Paris. In this year died at Eouen, in Normandy, that illustrious lady, Matilda,' daughter of Henry I., king of England, wife of * We find it recorded in " The Annals of the Four Masters," at 1 184, A.D. that De Lacy was killed whilst he was viewing a castle which he got built at Durrow in the King's countr, at the herder of Westmeath. The name of the man who slew him is O'Meyey, The annals of Ulster record the same fact. Doctor O' Donovan, in one of bis notes to the Masters, informs ns that De Lacy's body was interred in Durrow, but tluit afterwards the archbishops of Dublin and Cashel removed it from the Irish territories, and had it buried in the abbey of Bective, in Meath, and the head in Saint Thomas's church, Dublin. In his learned note, O'Donovan nobly de- fends the character of the accomplished Keating, against the unwarranted attack of the poet, Moore, who knew nothing of Irish, and, as a conse- quence, O'Donovan says, was not fit to question or contradict Keating on matters which could be within the reach of Irish scholars alone. The authorities referred to, set down De Lacy as a great monster, as a plun- derer of the people, and a plunderer and spoiler of churches. » Ware de Ant. Hib. c 18. * MaUhew Paris, ad ann. 1196, p. 99. 17G HISTORY OF 1RKL.1ND. Henry IV., emperor of Germany, and mother of Henry II. About this time, the deputy of Ireland, made incursions into Connaught. Connor Maonmuighe, king of that province, joined by Connor O'Dermod, and Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick, gave them battle, and put their army to flight with very great loss, and 16 persons of rank fell on the field of battle. Here we can mention the death of Roderick O'Gavanan, king of Tirconnel, at the bridge of Sligo, by Flahertach O'Maolduin. In this year, a signal victory was gained over the English garrison of the castle of Moycava, by Donald, king of Tyrone, but with the loss of his life. He was buried at Armagh. About this time, Dermod MacCarthy and his retinue, were killed near Cork, by Theobald Walter and his party, while holding a conference with that gentleman for the regulation ofaff'airs. In the meantime, the Irish princes, Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, Roderick, Kingof Ulster, Donald MacCarthy, king of Desmond, O'Melaghlin Beg, king of Meath and O'Rourke, king of Brefny, formed a confederacy under one chief, O'Connor Maonmuighe, to rescue themselves from the slavery of the English, but their project M'as defeated in conse- quence of the death of O'Connor, at Dunlo, in Hy-Many in Galway. O'Connor left a son, Cahal-Carrach, to succeed him. John Courcy, meanwhile, pillaged the counties of Down and 1188. Armagh," and bestowed extensive estates on his followers, viz. the Audleys, Clintons, Gernons, Russels, Savages, Whites, Mandelvills, Jordan», St anions, and Poers. Whilst de Courcy was engaged in his pillaging excursion, the Irish destroyed the castle of Lismore, and that of Dangisdrony, and put the garrison to the sword. Roger Poer, of noble family, was killed on the occasion. Henry II., after witnessing with grief and sorrow the conspi- racy of his sons against him, died in the castle of Chinon, in • Ware, de Autiq. Hib. c. 21. AD. , 't. '-'; OHIGIN OF THB FIIZGEUALDS. 177 Normandj,' and was buried with great pomp in the monastery of Font Everard, which he founded. While we leave John Comin, Ab. of Dublin, A.lbin 0'Molloy,B'Of Ferns, and Connachty, B. of Enaghdune, attend- ing the coronation of Eichard Coeur-de-Lion, in Westminster (which was perforujcd by Baldwin, b. of Canterbury,) we will take a cursory view of the old English families whc estab- lished themselves in Ireland since the 12th century. C ÍI AFTER XVI. THE ORIGIN OF THE ANGLO IRISH. The Irish would have no reason to complain, if the first English settlers, invited by Derraod King of Leinster, for the purpose of aiding him in the recovery of his kingdom, were satisfied with the concessions made to them as a recompence for their valor. But the success of the first tempted otiiersto embark in similar enterprises. Doubtless, the majority cf the English leaders were men of rank, and their descendants in Ireland, men of worth and valor, wlio adopted the language and manners of the country, and who afterwards were taunted by the English, as being more Irish than the Irish themselves, " ipsis Hibernis Hiberniores." The first leaders who joined the king of Leinster, were, Robert Fitzstephen, Henry de Monte Maurisco, Maurice Prendergast, Maurice Fitzgerald, Barry, Cogan, Raymond-le-Gros, &c. Maurice Fitzgerald established himself in Wicklow and in Kildare ; the Fitzgerald family was descended from Otho,* an Italian Baron; Otho's son, Walter, accompanied William the Conqueror to England, by whom he was appointed Baron of Windsor Castle. VVMlter's son, Gerald, went on the King's affairs to Wales, where he got extensive estates for his services, , Baker, Chron. of Eng. in the year 1189. •» Lodge's Peerage. 14 -^? 173 HISTORY OF I1ULAND. He married Nesta, daagbter of Balph Oriffin, prince of that country ; she was at first the concubine of Henry I.» by whom she had a son, called Henry, who was father to Meyler and Robert Fitzhenry, who came with Strongbow to Ireland ; she was, after that, married to Stephen, constable of the castle of Pembroke, by whom she had Robert Fitzstephen, (above men- tioned) and lastly, she was married to Gerald Fitz- Walter, by whom she had Maurice and William Fitzgerald. Maurice left a numerous issue in Leinster and Munster; John, one of his descendants, was created earl of Kildare, in 1316, by Edward II. Maurice, brother of John, was created earl of Desmond, by Edward HI. ; from these houses, are descended the knights of Glynn, Kerry, the White Knight, and many other respectable houses. William, brother of Maurice, was the father of Raymond- le-Gros, who married Basilia, sister to Earl Strongbow.* Raymond established his eldest son, Maurice, in Kerry, from whom are descended the Fitzmaurices ; he had another son, Hamo-le-Gros, from whom are descended the Graces. Edward, one of tlie Fitzmaurices, was created baron of Adorney, and viscount of Kilmaule, by Henry VIII., in 1537. The name of Barry is to be found in a roll at Battle-abbey ;* and William de Barry was the common ancestor of the name in Ireland. He married Angareth, daughter of Nesta, and sister of Robert Fitzstephen, he had by herfour sons, Robert, Piiilip, Walter, and Gerald, (Cambrensis); Philip got from his uncle, Robert Fitzstephen, the lands of Oletham, Muskery and Donegan, on which he built some castles. His grandson, David, was Chief Justiciary of Ireland, and one of the family was created Earl of Barrymore in 1625, by Charles I. The Butlers take their name from Theobald Walter, of the house of Clare, in England, who accompanied Henry II. to ■ Lodge's Peerage. * Ibid. OHlGIÍf OP THK BOUKKES, LACYS, &C. ]7W TrelaDd. Henry appointed him to the office of Grand Butler in Ireland, which office his ancestors filled in England — hence the name of "Butler/' Of this family are the Earls of Ormond. The Boorkes or De Burgos, are descended from William Fitz Aldelm, the fourth in descent from Serlo," the son of a Norman Lord, who married Ailothe, the mother of William the Conqueror. William Fitz Aldelm accompanied Henry II. to Ireland from whom he got extensive estates in Connaught. WiUiam de Burgo, Earl of Ulster, was assassinated in 1 333» and left no male issue. The families M'William Eighter, and M'William Oughter possessed his estates in Connaught. From those are descended Ulic Burke, who was created Earl of Clanrickard, in 1543, by Henry VIII., and Tilbod-ne- Luing, who was created Viscount Mayo, in 1627, by Charles I. The Lacys are descended from Hugh de Lacy, grandson of Walter de Lacy who accompanied William the Conqueror to England, from whom he received 150 Lordships in that country. Hugh de Lacy got from Henry II. the territory of Meath, (the patrimony of Melachlin, prince of that country). Hugh had two sons, Walter and Hugh ; Walter inherited Meath, and Hugh became Earl of Ulster; both died without male issue. The Nugents are descended from Sir Gilbert De Nugent, who accompanied Hugh de Lacy to Ireland in 1172.'' Hugh gave Gilbert his sister, Rosa, in marriage and the territory of Delvin, in Westmeath, as a fortune. They were created Barons of Delvin, in 1486, and Earls of Westmeath, by James I. The De Courcys are descended from Sir John de Courcy, ■ " Serlo de Burgo ;" so called as he was governor of the king's forts. Bourg is the original word, in Latin , de Burgo (of the fort) ; hence the true English word is Bourc, corruptly Bourke. The full pedigrees are given iu our first volume. ''Ware, Antiq. Hib., c. 27. 180 HISTORY OF IRELAKD. Earl of Ulster,* (of the race of Charlemagne) ; lie was difgraced, but his son Milo was created baron of Kinsale, by Henry 111. The Birtningliams are descended from Robert de Birming- ham, grandson of Peter, who possessed a town of that name in England. Eobert accompanied Strongbow to Ireland. John, one of the family, was created baron of Athenry, and Earl of Lonth, for killing in battle Edward Bruce, brother of the king of Scotland. The Prestons are de?rended from Robrrt Preston, Lord of the Manor of Preston, in England ; lie was created Knight of the Garter in 1470, and Viscount Gormanstown, m Meath, in the year 1477. The Roches (" de rupe"J take their origin from Hugh de Id Roche (op thk rock), who accompanied Strongbow to Ireland. Ralph, one of his descendatits, married Elizabeth, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester; one of the f;imily was substquently created Viscount Eermoy in Cork. Hence the title is not new in that family, though only lately revived in the present nobleman. The Barnewalls are originally from Little Brittany, in France; they accompanied Henry II. to Ireland. They were all killed in the loth century by the O'Sullivans (whose property they possessed) except the wife of the chief of them, who was enceinte at the time. Slie was shortly after delivered of a son, who was the ancestor of the Viscounts Kinsland and Barons Trimblestown. Wt.' incline to the opinion that some of the name are Milesian. Tiie oldest Bironet in Ireland is Reginald Barnewall, nephew of Richard Barn wall, Esq., of Meath. They are Catholics. The Flemings are descended from Archibald Fleming,'' one of the descendants of Michael Fleming of Flanders, (who got, from William Rufus in England, extensive estates for his services). Archibald came with Earl Strongbow to Ireland. * Nichol's Rudiments of Honour. "* Ibid. PLC?iKETS, : estates as a reward for his services. The Darcys of Plattin aud Dunmow, in Meath, are descended from Sir John. One of the Darcys of Plattin married the daughter and heiress of O'Duraghy, Lord of Partry, in Mayo, and possessed all the father's property ; from this Darcy are descended all the Darcys of Connaught. [De Burgo, p. 276.] The Jordans, the Nangles of Costello, and the Prendergasts of Clanmorris, are of English descent (according to Camden.) The Aylmers take their origin from Aylmer, Earl of Crcm- wall, in the 1 0th century. Ralph and William Aylmer, brothers, established themselves at Lyons, in Kildare, in tlie 13th century. a Camden, Britta. ^ Dugdale's Baronage of Eng., b. 2, p« 369. *The name is English, but some of the name are of Irish origia, and art called " Banon." 184 HISTOR-Í OP IRELAND. ' The Browns are of English descent. Sir Valentine Brown of Crofts, in Hertford, was tlie first who came to Ireland. Valentine Brown was created Baron of Castlerosse, and Viscount Kenmare, in Kerry, by James II. The principal families of the name are those of the Neal, Westport, Brownstown, &c., in Connaught, and Castlebrown in the County of Kildare. Tlie Wogans are descended from Sir John Wogan, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in the 13th century. In Kildare, we find the Husseys, De la Hides, Boshells, and Snttons; in Wexford, the Devereuxs, Sinnots, Staffords, Cheevers, Furlongs, Filzharris, Mastersons, Hores, Hates, Coddes, Meylers, &c. In Kilkenny are the Graces, Lovels, Foresters, Shortels, Blanclifields, Drilands, Comerfords. The Carews in County Carlow ; the Tyrrels in Castleknock ; the Herberts, Collys, Moors, in the King's County. In the County Dublin, the Talbots, Hollywoods, Lutterls, Burnhills, Fitzwilliams, Goldings, Ushers, Caddels, Finglas, Sarsfields, Purcels, Blakeneys Cruises, Baths, &c. &c. In Westmeath, the Cusacks, Garveys, Petits, Tuites, Nangles, Daltons, (Husseys, Barons of Galtrim.) In Water- ford, the Stranges, descended from Sir Thomas le Strange, In Limerick, are the Hurleys, Chaseys, and Supples. In the County Louth, are found Verdons, Tates, Clintons, Dowdals, Gernons, Hadsors, Wattons, Brandons Moors, and Chamber- lains. In the County Down, were settled, the Russells, Audleys, Savages, Eidells, Mandevills, Jordans, Stantons, Stokes, Levys, Capilands, Martels, Logans, Sandals, and Camerars. Besides the above, the following are to be found in Leinster — the Wolwertons, Peppards, Wallisses, Blacks, Redmonds, Es- monds, Chettens, Tobins, Aliens, Gennits, Wades, Sweetmans, St. Legers, Grants, Archers, Rochfords, Datons, Rothes, Wares, Purfields, Smiths, Cooks, Hooks, Taylors, Dens, and •PJ^-f-' ■ THE CRUSA.DRS. 183 Archdekins. In Murister are the Ijacjs, Cantillons, Mathews, Nagles, Morres, Keatings, Johns, Pierces, Commings, Rices, Mocler?, Cantwells, Stapletons, Mandevills, Lombards, Tallons, Golds, Baggots, Bagnels, Porters, Cappingers, Cosbys, Denys, Terrys, Goughs, Pigotts, Stritches, Dondons, Waters, Skiddys, and Wolfes, &c. &c. In Meath, the Everards, Garlands, Griffins, Betaghs, Dungan?, Ivers, Dardis, Ledwidges, Pallas, Deases, Cheevers, Dowdals, Cruises, Malpas, and Dromgooles, &c. In Galway, the Blakes, Kirwans, Lynchs, Frenches, Bodkins, Martins, Graitons, &c. &c. CHAPTER, XVII. j^ J) Richard I. (Cobur de Lion), being now crowned King of 1190. England, undertook an expedition to the Holy Land, to atone for his rebellion against his father. He sent a deputation to Pope Clement III. requesting him to appoint William Long Champs, Bishop of Ely, and Legate of the British Dominions, and that part of Ireland, subject to his brother John.' It appears the legate never came to Ireland. On Richard's re- turn from Asia to Europe, he was shipwrecked in the Levant sea, and on his way through Germany to England, he was taken by Leopold, the Marquis of Austria, and sold to the Emperor Henry VI. who detained him a prisoner 15 months. His brother, John, in his absence, made some attempts to usurp the crown, but on the return of Richard, he implored his for- giveness, which was readily granted to him.* Richard was continually at war with Philip Augustus, but being at last wounded by an arrow, discharged at him by Bertram de Gordon, he died of the wound, and was buried at Fonteseraud, near the tomb of his father. • Matthew of Paris, oq the year 1 188, part 108. '' Baker's, Chron. of Eng. Reign of Richaid. 186 HIMORY or IRELAND. About this time u ino»t deadly and sanguinarj^ battle was fought at Knock-Mo}', within seven milea of Tuam in the Co. of Galway, between Cahal Carrach, King of Connaught, whose ally was William Fitz Adelm, and Cahal Crovdearg/ his grand-uncle, who was supported by John de Courcy. The victory was various, but it, at length, was declared in favor of Cahal Crovdearg. Carrach and his nobles were killed, Eitz Adelm put to flight, and the castle he built, at Mileach O'Madden, razed to the ground by Crovdearg, who, as an act of thanksgiving for the victory, built an abbey for Bernardine Monks on Knock-Moy,^ wherein repose his remains. This in- ternecine feud was concocted and matured by the usual policy of England, *' divide and conquer/' The O'Connor Don of the County of Rosccmnaon, is lineally descended from Crovdearg. ^jj?* Matthew O'Heney, ab. of Cashel, nominated legate of Ireland, by Celestine III., convened a council in Dublin. Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, destroyed the castle of Dunlus OTogarti, belonging to the English, and they in revenge, pillaged the country of Thomond. Nothing appeared sacred to the English. Gilbert de Nangle pillaged the abbey, and island of Inisclohran, in Lough Eee. The unfortunate Dervorguill, wife of O'Rourke, who brought so much misfortune on her country, died this year at Mellifont Abbey, to which she had been removed from St. Bridget's in Kildare. That valiant and pious prince, Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick, who exerted himself so much to shake off the yoke 1194. of the English, to whom he at first submitted, died this year. Donogh Cairbreach, his son, assumed the reins of government, and the eyes of his second son, Mortough, were put out by the English- The Irish also knew how to gain victories but they had not cun- ning enough to turn them to advantage. Donald M'Carty destroyed the castles of Kilfeacle and Imacalle, and put the » Charlks of thb " Rkd Wrist." ■* Ware de Antiq. Hib., c. 26. DEATH OF DONOGH o'bRIKN, KING OF LIMKUICK. 187 garrisons to the sword, and after defeating the English in several battles he expelled them from Limerick ; they were AD afterwards relieved by reinforcements from England under the ^^^^' command of Philip de Wigorne, which changed the aspect of affairs. Russell, commander of the garrison at Kilsandall, as he car- ried away great booty from the country of Tirconnel, was 1196. killed together with his followers by Elahertach O'Maolduin, prince of that country. This prince after a life so celebrated for military exploits and virtues, died at Inis Samer, and was buried at Drum Tuama. Meanwhile, O'Dogherty, his successor, was slain by John de Courcy, after plundering the entire country of Ulster to revenge the death of his brother, Jordan, who fell by the hand of his own servant. Mortqugh CLoghlin, prince of Tyrone, defeated Roderick, son of Dunlevi, at Armagh, and destroyed a great part of his army ; he was afterwards, himself, put to death by Donogh M'Bloschy O'Cahan, and his body interred at Derry. Hamon de Valoines, Lord Chief Justiciary of Ireland, seized on the castles of Gilbert de Nangle, in Meath, and confiscated his estates ; he was afterwards excommunicated himself for en> croaching on the church property, by John Comin, Ab. of Dublin. He was shortly after recalled, and Meyler Fitzhenry appointed his successor. The castle of Ard Patrick, in Mun- ster, was built this year, and that of Astretin the year after. John, earl of Montaigne, in order to secure himself on the throne of England, put his nephew Arthur to death. He was an avaricious prince ; he sold for 4,000 marks of silver to William, nephew of Philip de Braos, the estates of the O'CarroUs, O'Kenedys, O'Meaghers, O'Eogarty's, O'Ryans, and O'Hefferans, which his father gave to Philip de Worcester, and to Theobald Fitzwalter. Worcester recovered his own by force, and Fitzwalter compounded for his with De Braos, for A.D. 188 HISTORY OF IRELAND. , 50U marka. This king was detested by all, for imbruing his liands in the innocent blood of his nephew; De Courcy openly gave vent to his imprecations against the king. John hear- ing of it gave orders to De Lacy, the Deputy, to have hiia arrested and brought to England. De Lacy'> finding it im- possible to reduce his enemy by force of arms, offered a reward for his apprehension ; he was arrested on Good Frid^, by some of his own {ittendants and brought to the Deputy who, after paying them the reward, had them all hanged, and set off with his prisoner to England, to the king, who gave 1199! him as a reward for this service, all the lands of De Courcy, in Ulster and Connauglit. Meanwhile, the troops of John De Courcy, after plundering Tyrone, and carrying away several herds of cattle, were defeated by Hugh O'Neill at Donogh- more. During this time, the EngHsh laid waste the entire country of Desmond, from the Shannon to the eastern sea, and a castle was built at Granard by Richard Tuite. In the meantime William Fitz Aldelm or De Burgo, received from the king a territory of land, called Loth,* where Castle Connel now stands. He afterwards made incursions into Connaught,' where he committed dreadful devastations; he was excommunicated by the clergy and died without repentance, and his body thrown into a well, where it remained. Cam- brensis"* and Stanihurst* say, tliat he was a man of no honor intent on amassing riches, shameful and sordid in the discharge of his office, and abhorred and detested both by prince and people. De Lacy, the Deputy, with all his troops, marched to Thurles to check a revolt against the English, caused by GeoB'rey M'Morris, an Irish nobleman ; he abandoned his enterprise a Introduction to Life of Duke of Crmond. vol I., p. 18 '' Stanihurst de Reb. Hib. p. 212. * Keating, b. 2. <> Cambrensis Hib. expug. c. 16. • Stanihurst, de Reb. Hib., lib, 4, p. 183. * In Galway. ENGLIí'H COLONIZATION OF DUBLIN. 1 89 after destroying the Castle of Castle Meiler, and returned to Dublin. A.D, Dublin being now nearly depopulated and almost deserted 1218. i^y ^i^g inhabitants, a colony of English were sent for to Bristol to replace thera. These strangers were in the habit of amusing themselves in the country on festival days. They left the city in crowds on Easter Monday, and were attacked at Cullen's wood by the O'Byrnes and O'Tools of Wicklow, 12C9. who killed three hundred of them. They were quickly re- cruited by another colony from Bristol, as England was then inexhaustible in her reinforcements, when fortune in Ireland was principally the question. De Courcy, who was confiued in England, was restored to his liberty and fortune ; he set sail for Ireland, fifteen times, but was driven back by contrary winds (as if by some invisible power); he was at last cast on the coasts of France, where he ended a life, flagrant with crimes and branded with injustice. John with a numerous and well provided army landed at ^Vaierí'ord, in order to put down the Irish, who rebelled in consequence of a heavy tax he imposed on them, and to check the insupportable tyranny that th.e English exercised over them. He marched to Dublin, where he received the homage of most of the princes of the country ; he then seized on the castles and fortified places of the English — all fled before him. William De Braos, his wife and son, William, were confined in Windsor Castle, wliere they were starved to death." The De Lacys, William, Lord of Meath, and Hugh, the Deputy, fled to Normandy, where they concealed themselves in the abbey of Saint Taurin of Evereux, in the disguise of labourers, but at length, making their origin, birth, and country known to the abbot, they were restored, through his means, to the favor of their king, their liberty and fortunes, a Matthew of Paris, ad ann. 1210. rííjjns 190 HISTORY or IltBLARD. The king, in the mean time, appointed John Gray, bishop of Norwich, Lord Deptuy of Ireland, and after dividing that part of Ireland subject to him, into shires, with sheriffs to govern them, according to the laws of England, he set off for Wales, f^Y) where he quelled some disturbances, and took with him 28 1212. young men of rank as hostages, who were hanged in his pres- ence on the first appearance of rebellion in Wales/ John was declared a rebel by the court of France, for not appearing to account for the murder of his nephew, Arthur, within their jurisdiction. After confiscating the property of the church, which drew on him the sentence of excommuncation, and depriving the lords of their liberties and privileges, he, detested by all, and over- whelmed with grief and affliction, died at Newark, and was buried at Worcester, and his son Henry declared king. About ihis time died John Comin, Ab. of Dublin; he was succeeded by Henry Londres, who was Lord Justiciary of Ireland. It was he that built the castle of Dublin, where the Lord Deputy held his court. Henry III. having succeeded his father John, at the age of nine years, was crowned at Gloucester A.D. 1216. The extraordinary ambition of the English adventurers for amassing wealth from the spoils of the Irish, created perpetual jealousies among themselves, and frequently disturbed the public peace. William Marshal and Hugh de Lacy, the younger, caused many troubles in Meath, till the latter built a strong castle at Trim, to secure himself against future attacks. The peace of Leinster and Munster was frequently disturbed by the quarrels of Meyler Fitzhenry and Marshal. The latter, a perpetual firebrand, and confiscator of the property of the church, took possession of the lands of the see of Ferns,'' an act that drew on him the sentence of excommunication, which ■ Baker, chron. Eng. Reign of John. *• Ware de Epise Ferns. QUARRELS OF MKTfLKR KlTZHENRTf AND WM. MARSHAL.. 191 accompanied him to the grave; his five sons, whom he had by Isabella, daughter of Strongbow, and heiress of Leinster, died without issue. That cruel and unrelenting tyrant, Meyler Fitzhenry, who, in order to satisfy his insatiable thirst for plunder, never spared church nor monastery, nor their sacred ornaments and vessels, AD. died in the year 1220. He was natural son of Henry II. 1220. . During the absence of Maurice Fitzgerald, who was engaged in war, the king conferred the chief justiceship on Hubert De Burgo, brother of WiUiam Fitz-Adelm; he was afterwards lord chief justice of England and earl of Kent, butfell into disgrace with the king, who confined him in the Tower of London. Geoft'rey- de-Maurisco, filled the office of chief justice of Ireland, in the room of Hubert de Burgo ; and after filling the highest honors, and accumulating immense wealth in Ireland, fell into disgrace with his monarch, and after hearing of the disgraceful death of his son, who was hanged and quartered for his crimes, died unregretted. •Cornelius Historiciis, a native of Ireland, lived about this time, (as is narrated by Stanihurst and Bale.) At the same time, O'Connor, king of Con naught, made a spirited appeal to Henry HI. to interpose his authority and prevent him being trampled upon by John de Burgo, son of Hubert, " an ignoble adventurer (as he called him) who laid waste his territories by fire and sword, though he paid 5,000 marks for his kingdom to the king of England." His com- plaints were heard, and Maurice Fitzgerald, the Lord Deputy, aud the other lords of Ireland, got orders to expel de Burgo, and restore the king of Connaught to the peaceful possession of his kingdom. Gerald Fitzmaurice, Eichard de Burgo, H ugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster, and Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath, died about this time — the two former in Gascony. Hugh de Lacy, whose remains were interred at Carrickfergus, left an 1237 192 HISTORY OP IRELAND. oiAy daughter, who was married to Walter de Burgo who became Earl of Ulster. By this marriage Walter de Lacy left A.D. two daughters — one married to Lord Theobald Verdon — the other to Geoffry Geneville. Peter (Hibernicus), a celebrated pliilosopher and theologian, lived in 1240. He was appointed President of the University of Naples by Frederick II., where he had the celebrated Thomas Aquinas as his disciple. Maurice Fitzgerald, with a large body of troops, joining Felira O'Connor, arrived in Wales, to assist the kiug of England, for the purpose of checking the rebellion of those people against him. Wben Maurice returned to Ireland, he found O'Donnell laying waste the estates of the late De Lacy, in Ulster, and attacking the English wherever he met them. In order to arrest his progress, and to cause a division among the Irish, he formed an alliance with Cormac Mac Dermot, Mac Derry, and other princes. Aided by these he destroyed Donegal,and killed O'Donnell, GiollaCanvinelagh, O'Boyle, Mac Sorley, and other noblemen of the country. He then placed a garrison in the castle of Sligo, which Jie built, and gave it, and extensive estates in Connaught, to Mac Dermot, as a reward for his services. This nobleman was afterwards removed from the office of Lord Deputy by Henry III., in consequence of some suspicions he entertained of his fidelity, and John Filzjeofiery was appointed in his place. About this time prince Edward, son of Henry III., married Eleanor, sister of Alphonso, king of Spain, and De la Zouch became Lord Deputy of Ireland in room of Eitzjeoffery. De la Zouch was afterwards Lord Deputy of England, and was killed by Earl Warren, who obtained his pardon by the influence of his friends and the payment of a large sum of money. Stephen " de longa spada," Earl of Salisbury, was named Lord Deputy of Ireland ; he gave the O'Neils of Ulster battle, in which many lives were lost. He died two years after, and was 1267. EEIGN OF HENRY III. 193 j^D succeeded by William Denny. During his administration the 1260. }J[qq Carthvs of Munster became so formidable to their enemies, that they dare not appear in public ; they killed John Fitz->^ thomas and his son Maurice, 8 barons, 15 knights, and several other men of rank : they were afterwards weakened by their own internal discord, which caused a civil war between the Mac Carthys, O'Driscolls, O'Donovans, and Mac Mahons. Meanwhile, William Denny died, and was succeeded by Richard de Capella, as Lord Justiciary of Ireland. De Capella, Theobald Butler, and Miles Cogan, were afterwards confined in the dungeons of'Leix and Dunamese,- by the Eitzgeralds, for espousing the quarrel of the Burkes, who were the inveterate enemies of the-Fitzgeralds. Capella was recalled, and David Barry appointed. Barry, after checking the fury of the Fitz- geralds and Burkes, was succeeded by Robert Uffprd, and he 1270. by Richard de Excester; ihe latter gave way to Lord Audley during his administration. The Irish attacked the English wherever they met them, and demolished their habitations. The king of Connaught defeated Walter Burke, Earl of Ulster, in a pitched battle, and several noblemen were killed. This battle was succeeded by a plague and famine, which brought desolation through the island. . , , About this time flourished John-de~Sacro-Bosco, who, (ac- cording to Stanihurst) was a native of Holy wood,* in the district of Fingal, in Ireland. He surpassed all of his own time in the knowledge of mathematical scieuce. He professed the sciences in Paris to the satisfaction of all learned men. He died in 1256. We can here mention the celebrated Florence Mac Flinn, Abp. of Tuam ; he was renowned for his learning and profound knowledge of canon law ; he established a school at Athenry, where he gave lectures himself. He died at Bristol, in England, in 1256. ..; : j, , ,; j^ » Harris. Hist. Irish Writers, I3th cent. 15 Vi. A.D. 194 HISTORY OP IRELAND. ihomas PalmerSton (or Hibernicus), a native of Kildare ih IrelanJ, was remarkable for his piety and learning; he was Doctor of Theology in the Sorbonne.* He died in 1370. Henry, after a reign of 56 years, the longest in English record, died in 1272. Though a century has now elapsed since the invasion of the English, they did not possess more than one-third of the island (called in their language the English Pale) subject to the English laws. The rest of Ireland was governed according to the ancient laws and customs of the country. CHAPTER XVIII. Edward, son of Henry III., though on an expedition in the Holy Land, was proclaimed king of England by the Lords, 1272 assembled in London in 1272; and was, on his return, so- lemnly crowned at Westminster, by Robert Kilwarby, Arch- bishop of Canterbury. In the first year of his reign, and whilst Maurice Fitzmaurice was Lord Deputy, the Irish de- stroyed the castles of the Anglo- Irish in Ranada, Airteach, Roscommon, and Sligo ; Maurice, being arrested in Offaly, and sent to prison, was succeeded by Walter Geneville. During his executive, the Scotch, having made a descent on Ireland, pillaged the country, put all they met to the sword, and carried away great booty. The English colonists, under the command of Richard de Burgo, and Sir Eustace le Poer, sailed for, and made an attack soon after on Scotland, and Scotch cruelty, in comparison with theirs, whitened into in- significance. The Irish, in the mean time, the better to de- fend themselves against the iron tyranny and cruel usurpation of the strangers, took possession of the castle of Roscommon, defeated them at Olynbury, and left many of them dead on * John de Saze, " Lives of Preaching Brothers." DEFEAT OF THE ANGLO-IRISH. 195 ^ D the field. O'Xeill, supported bj Ralph Peppard and O'Han- 1276. Ion, made them feel the force of native bravery. Walter Ge- neville was removed from the office of Lord Deputy, and Robert Ufford was a second time sent back to Ireland. In his J277. time Murtagh, a celebrated Irish chieftain, was taken and ex- ecuted by Walter de Fant. O'Brien Roe, prince of Thomond, was assassinated by Thomas Clare, son-in-law of Maurice, son of Maurice Fitzgerald ; Clare, with his father-in-law and their troops, were afterwards obliged to surrender to the Irish at Sheve-Bloom. As an atonement for the murder of O'Brien, Le Clare was forced to surrender the castle of Roscommon, and to give hostages, as pledges of his future good conduct — conditions very humiliating to the proud and haughty spirit of the cruel and tyrannizing English. A most desperate and bloody- engagement took place between Mac Dermot of Moy-Lurg and O'Connor, prince of Counaught, in which the latter fell. Ufford, being recalled to account for the disturbances that oc- curred in Ireland under his administration, offered, as an ex- planation to the king, " that it was good policy to keep his eyes shut J while one rebel was cutting the throat of another." This answer secured him in his office of Lord Justiciary. The An- glo-Irish also were engaged in internecine strife and mutual broils ; the Bourkes and Fitzgeralds were ever bitter enemies of each other, and were, occasionally, assisted by the Butlers, Ver- dons, Birminghams, and by some of the Irish nobles, as their re- spective interests suggested ; O'Connor Faly and his brother Charles were assassinated, — the one, by Jordan Comin, — -the other, in the house of Piers Birmingham, — while endeavouring to recover their estates in the possession of th^e usurpers. la the mean time Mac Coghlan gained a complete victory over William Bourke and his party at Dealna. John de Sandford, archbishop of Dublin, was appointed '■ ■ Ji^f^^. 1283, 196 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Lord Deputy of Ireland ; Sir William Vesey succeeded him. Vesey, during his administration, had violent quarrels with John, son of Thomas Fitzgerald, baron of Offaly ; they accused one another of extortion, robbery, and murder. Vesey said, " that his family were noble, before Fitzgerald's bankrupt an- cestor made his fortune in Leinster.^" They proposed, at length, to settle the matter by single combat ; the day beinsj named* Vesey embarked for France,*» and Fitzgerald, through the li- berality of his prince, took possession of the Ijordship of Kildare, also of Eathangan, the property of Vesey. William Dodinsell succeeded De Vesey as Chief Justiciary ; but he again was removed to make way for Thomas Fitz- maurice ; the quarrels of the Bourkes and Fitzgeralds were finally settled. The English, impressed with the idea, that the A.D. right of conquest was a title sufficiently strong to subjugate any country, declared war against Llewyllen, a prince of Wales, whose head, by the orders of Edward, was cut off and exposed on the tower of London ;* his brother David was afterwards taken and tied to the tail of a wild horse, dragged through the streets of Shrewsbury, his heart and entrails taken out and burned, his head severed from hi? body, placed on a sharp spike over the gates of the tower of Tjondon ; his hands and feet placed on stakes over the gates of Bristol, Northampton, York, and Winchester. "J'his is the treatment of two young men, whose only crime was a desire to rescue their country from the yoke of England, and the eldest «on of the king, since that time called Prince of Wales. Edward set out from Scotland to enforce his pretended jurisdiction over John Baliol, and Robert Bruce, two competitors for the crovrn of that country ; he proposed to Robert Bruce, that he would support his claim, if he took an oath of allegiance and homage to the • Hollingshead, Chron. Hib. p. 78. •> English Baronetcy, vol I. p. 94. • Baker's Chron. Eng. p. 9(i, of Life of Edward 1. 1291. 1306 REIGN OF EDWARD I£. 197 crown of England. Bruce scornfully refused, but Baliol ac- cepted the terras, and was crowned king ; he afterwards re- tracted, which was the cause of much bloodshed between both countries, until the union of both crowns under Janae* I. John Wogan was substituted for Thomas Fitzmaurice as Chief Justiciary of Ireland. Edward I. having gained some A.D, advantages over the Scotch, died in 1306. About this time lived John Down Scotus, a Franciscan friar, a native of Down, in Ulster (according to Arthur a Monasterio and the Martyr- ologyof Cainellus); he was educated at Oxford under William Varro; he wrote a great many works, and died in 1308 in Cologne. The reader will keep in view that " Dun" is the Irish for " Down." Edward II. having succeeded iiis father Edward I., married Isabella, daughter of Philip ''The Fair;' King of France. He was a Prince of a weak and effeminate disposition, and too much attached to his favourites. Piers Gaveston, a native of Gascony, one of the handsomest and most accomplished men in Europe, was his chief favourite. The English Lords threatened to oppose the coronation of the king, if he did not dismiss this favourite; he accordingly sent hiin to Ireland, but after a short time re- called him, and had him married to the daughter of the Earl of Gloucester. Gaveston was, afterwards, obliged to fly to France, whence he returned immediately, and got from the king, the castle of Scarborough, as a safe asylum ; but was arrested and beheaded by orders of the Earl of Warwick, without trial, or any formality of justice. Robert Bruce, in the interim, (the whole of Scotland being brought under his dominion) attacked the northern parts of England. Edward, taking the alarm at his progress, marched to meet him with 100,000 men, whilst Bruce had but 30,000. Both armies fought at Bannockburn, where the English were completely defeated with a loss of 50,000, the king and his nobles having with difficulty escaped. 198 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. On this occasion 100 English would fly from three Scotclimen/ The Irish, seeing the success of the King of Scotland, solicited his assistance to deliver them from the galling bondaj^e, and cruel sway of the English.'* Accordingly Edward Bruce, brother " of the king of Scotland, landed near Carrickfergus, in Ulster, with 6,000 men, where he was joined by a great body of the Irish. EJe burned Dundalk, and expelled the English from Ulster, and became master of the province. Sir Edmond Butler, who was then Lord Justiciary of Ireland, left the care of the war against the Scotch to the Earl of Ulster, who was defeated by them at Coleraine, with a loss of a great many lives, among whom were, Sir William Bourke, Sir John Mandevill, Sir Allen Fitzwarren, and John Staunton. Bruce, after this victory, laid siege to Carrickfergus, proceeded to Kells in Meath, where he defeated the English, led on by Roger Mor- tiner ; he then burned Kells, Granard, Einagh,"and Newcastle» and completely routed the English who were commanded by Sir Edmund Butler, and John Eitzthomas. Bruce, after these victories, returned to Ulster, where he indulged in pleasures, having no enemies to fear. The Irish in the meantime, became a prey to the Insatiable fury of their enemies. Edmund Butler at the head of the English, put the inhabitants of Leinster to the sword at Castledermot. The O'Moors, O'Byrnes, (yTools, and Mac Morroughs, shared the like fate, and the O'Connors Faly were massacred at Ballybogan, near the River Boyne. The Irish, meanwhile, made a partial retaliation, the O'Nowlans of Leinster, having put Andrew Birmingham, Sir Richard De-la-Londe, and their adherents to the sword. The King of 1316 England, in order toiuducehis Irish subjects, to assist him against the Scotch, conferred titles of honor on them, hitherto unknown to Ireland. John Fitzgerald, descended from Maurice, who came to Ireland in the reign of Henry 11. , was created Baron •Baker's Chron. Eng. Reign of Edward II. ^ Ware, de Annalt Hib. SUCCESS OF KDWARD BEpCB. of Offaly, »nd Earl of Kildare. Whilst this was being done O'Connor and his party vanguished a body of English in Con- naught, Lord Stephen Exeter, Milo Cogan and eight of the Barrys and Lawlesses, having fallen on the occasion. O'Connor and his men shortly after suffered a defeat at Atheory, froip William Bnrke aud Richard de Birmingham, and again in September, from the same chiefs, with a loss of 500 in killed, and their chiefs O'Connor and 0*Kelly. In the end of October of this year, John Loggan and Hugh Bisset defeated the Scotch troops in Ulster ; 300 fell in the field of battle, and Sir Allen Stewart and Sir John Sandal with many other prisoners were sent to Dublin. In the meantime, Brace at the head of 20,000 men, marched towards Slane, and thence to Dublin; he pillaged the country as he passed and took the Castle of Knock, where he found Hugh Tyrrell and his wife. The inhabitants of Dublin, in order to defend the city, burned the suburbs and churches, one of which was the Cathedral of St. Patrick* Bruce, defeated iu his object, marched through Naas, Cashel, Nenagb, and, hearing of Roger Mortimer's arrival as Lor^i Justice of Ireland, and that he intended to pursue him with 30,000 men, continued his route to Ulster where he arrived in May. Mortimer having no enemy to contend with, went to Dublin, where he convened a council in order to liberate the Earl of Ulster, who was kept in prison by the citizens of Dublin; he then proceeded to Trim, in Meath where he seized on the properties of the De Lacys, and had them confiscated for siding with Bruce. After hearing of the death of Richard De Clare, Sir Henry Capel, Sir Thomas De Naas, the two Cantons, and 80 others who were killed by the O'Briens, and McCarthys, he departed for England ; Alexander Bricknor, abp. of Dublin, was appointed Lord Justice, in his absence. Bruce in the meantime, with an army of 3,000 men, marched to F^gher near Dundalk, where he was met by Sir John Birmingham, at S»»H!, 200 HISTORY OF IRELAND. '■ the head of 1400 men, who gave him battle. Bruce and his array were defeated, his head cut off and presented by Birmingham to the King of England, who created him Earl of Louth, as a reward for his services : he was brother to Richard, Baruu of A.D. 1320. Athenry.* Mortimer came to Ireland again, as Lord Justiciary, but returned shortly after, leaving the government of the kingdom to Thomas Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare. About this time KilcuUen Bridge was built over the Liffey, and Leighliu Bridge on the Barrow. Pope John XXIL granted a bull to Bicknor, Archbishop of Dublin, for founding a University there, and one to the King of England, exonerating him from the payment of Peter's-pence. All the temporal acts of Popes, as they regarded Ireland, since the days of Eugene .III., was done under the erroneous impression that Henry had got a bull, which he never did, to transfer Ireland to him. John Birmingham, Earl of Louth,' being named Lord Justice, after leaving Ralph De Gorges to take his place, who was succeeded by Sir John Darcy, set out to Carlisle, with 8,000 men, joined 1322. ^y *^^ ^^^^ °^ Ulster, to assist the king against the Scotch. Meanwhile, Sir HetiryTraheme, took Mac Morrough prisoner, 1323. and murdered O'Nowlan, and 24 of his followers. Edward II., a tender-hearted, and generous prince, seeing his favourite, Spencer, hanged and quartered, for his affection for his king, sinking under the weight of his misfortune, was forced to abdicate in favor of his son. Sir Thomas De Gourney, and Sir John Metrevers assassinated him by running a red-hot iron through his body while in a dungeon into which his queen and nobles had thrown him. This most excruciating torture was executed by orders of Mortimer who was after- wards hanged at Tyburn in 1330, for having concluded a dis- graceful peace with the Scotch, for having lived improperly with the Queen Mother, Isabella, and for having robbed the » Nicholas Rudiments of Honour. ^ 1317 REIGN OF EDWARD III. 201 ling and the people. The queen was deprived of her dovry, and confined in a castle where she spent the remainder of her life. A.D. Edward, III., eldest son of Edward II., was crowned king at Westminster, by Walter Eeginald, Archbishop of Canter- bury. His wife was Philippa, daughter of the earl of Hainault. In bis reign were fought the celebrated battles of Cressy and Poitiers. The taking of Calais, and his expeditions against the Scotch, added much to the brilliancy of his administration. Thomas Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, was now Lord Justice of Ireland. The Anglo-Irish chiefs, not content with their illgotten possessions, quarrelled among themselves on the slightest provocation. Maurice, son of Thomas Fitzgerald, considering himself insulted by Arnold Poer, who called him a rhymer, joined by the Butlers and Birmingham, declared war against the Poers and their allies, the Burkes. The Poers were defeated, their lands laid waste and their habitations burned, and Arnold Poer and William Burke took refuge in England, to escape the fury of their enemies. The Irish taking advan- tage of the dissensions amoi.g the English, proclaimed Donald Mac Morrough, king of Leinster,» but he was taken prisoner near Dublin by Sir Henry Traherne and Walter de Valle, who received £110 for his capture; he afterwards escaped from prison by the aid of Adam de Nangle, who was hanged for this generous act. In the meantime, Thomas Fitzgerald, Lord Justiciary, die(K and Roger Outlaw , Prior of Kilmainham, appointed in his place. During his Deputyship, David O'Toole, the Irish chief- tain, was executed in Dublin. In the second year of the reign of Edward III., James Butler, afterwards created «earl of Ormond, married a daughter of the earl of Hereford, and of Elizabeth, seventh daughter of Edward I. ; the king erected the county of Tipperary into a palatinate, in his favor, grant- » Cox's History of Ireland in the year 1327. 'r«6i 202 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ing him i^ll the royal rights and privileges of that coantj. The AD. ofi^e of Lord Deputy was a second time conferred on Sir John 1.Í29. Dapcy. During his admiui^tratiou, Lord Thomas Butler, at the head of a great army, was defeated near MuUingar, after a sanguinary and a h^rd fought engagement, (which proved fatal to Butler ^nd his followers^) by Lord Thomas MacGeoghegan. Bi^tler, aji^ 150 of his followers fell beneath the swords and axes of the Irish. The battle was fought on the eve of St. Laurence — ^a saint who died a martyr to his country's woes, and whose heart bled and was wrung at her sufferings and thraldom. Meanwhile, the English treacherously massacred one another ; John Birmingham, earl of Louth, Peter, his brother, and Talbot de Malahide, with a retinue of 160 Enghshmen, were murdered at Bally braggan, by the Savages, Gernons, and others of their countrymen ; James Keating, Lord Philip Hodnet, Hugh Condon, and their followers to the number of 140 men, were killed by the Barrys and Roches, in Munster. And lastly, Sir Simon Genevill was defeated in the barony of Carbery, by the Birminghams, with a loss of 76 men. Sir John Darcy gave the command of the English army, amounting to 10,000 men, to Maurice Fitzgerald, in 4)rder to quell the disturbances among the Irish. He began by burning the country of the O'Nowlans, O'Morroughs, and O'Dempseys from whom he recovered the castle of Ley. He took hostages, levied an arbitrary tax on the people, called (Coyn and Livery) in Irish (Bonaght) which was rigorously enacted. The Irish finding themselves thus aggrieved, and a prey to their enemies, petitioned the king of England to redress their grievances ; he referred it to his parliament who rejected )t with contempt ; all avenues being closed to their appeal they submitted it to the Eoman Pontiff, John XXIL, through * Lord Deputy and Lord Justiciary were the appellations of the Repre> sentatÍTCs of the English uaonarchs in Ireland until 1543. TAX OP COTN AND UVERY. &03 O'Neill King of Ulster, who wrote in the name of the Irish n^tion^ tp His Holiness, representing the cruelty and tyranny of the En^lish^ oyer the Irish. The following is the purport of the letter, " To o»r most Holy Father John, Sovereign Pontiff, ^q. " The cMMmnies and false representations, heaped on us by the English, are too well known to the world not to reach the ears of your Holiness. We therefore lay before your Holiness a true representation of our miseries and misfortunes. The Irish were governed by 190 kings of the Milesian race, till Adrian lY., an Englishman, transferred the sovereignty of Ireland to Henry II. who murdered Thomas O'Becket ; since then, we are become a prey to monsters, who exercise over us the most flagrant acts of unjustice and unparalleled cruelty, compelled to drag out a miserable existence, in the most abject and disgraceful slavery, forced (instead of our own salutary laws) to yield to a code of their own making. Great God ! what laws ! " The following is a specimen of the humanity and justice which dictated them : — *' 1st. Every man not Irish can prosecute an Irishman, for any crime in a court of law, but an aggrieved Irishman cannot resort to legal measures against an Englishman. ' 2nd. If an Englishman kill an Irishman, the crime is not punishable before an English tribunal, but the assassin re- warded by the magistrates, who ought to repress crime. " 3rd. If an Irishwoman marry an Englishman, on the death of her husband she is deprived of a third of her property. " 4th If an Irishman falls by the blows of an Englishman, the Englishman takes possession of all his wealth. 5th None but an Englishman to be admitted into tlie reli- gious communities, established in the possessions of the English. » John of Fordun, vol. 3, p. 908. iOi HISTORY OF IRELAND. "These rules were vigorously enforced, vice was to be eradi- cated and the seeds of virtue sown, but alas ! thev have de- prived us of our virtue, and have implanted their vices amongst us in its stead, by their wicked examples, &c. &c." • The following is the purport of the pope's answer: — "We, Pope John, &c., to the illustrious Edward, king of England, fee,'' "Our unceasing entreaties to you, dear son, are, to maintain peace in your kingdom, justice in your decisions, and tranquility among your subjects. We have received letters from the princes and people of Ireland, representing the miseries and persecution exercised over them by the English, who imposed on them a yoke of slavery that cannot be endured. "Our ardent wish is,^hat your majesty omit nothing that would conciliate the hearts of the faithful Irish, and avoid every thing that wQuld tend to estrange them, &c." Koger Outlaw was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland; the winter following, the MacGeoghegaus were defeated at Lough- A.D. ignerthy, with a loss of 110 men, by the united forces of the Earls of Ulster and Ormond. A meeting, called a parharaent was held this year at Kilthing. Alexander, Abp. of Dublin, the Earls of Ulster and Ormond, William Birmingham, and Walter Burke of Connaught, and other noblemen, attended. All these came with their troops, in order to expel O'Brien from Rikitfe near Casliel, where he was posted. The Earl of Ulster, and ^aurice. Lord of Desmond, weie arrested by the Lord Justice, for pillaging the lands of the " For our arguments shewing there never existed a Bull, signed by any Pope, transferring Ireland to England, the reader is referred to page \'i6 of this volume. The Bull existed only in the wicked brains of Henry II., and in the misled convictions of the Irish. Henry played his card well, to impose on the Irish with the threat of a document which was never issued by Christ's Vicar. *• Petrus Lombardus, page 20. 1380 1331 RF.IGN OF EDWAllD III. 205 FitzgeraJds on their route to Liaierick. These noblemen afterwards fled to England. The English defeated the Irish of A.D. Leinster at Kinseallagh, and after at Thurles, A great many English lost their lives in an ambuscade laid for them by the O'Tooles, at Culiagh. The O'Tooles afterwards took the castle of Arklow. Sir Hugh Lacy was sent to Ireland, as liord Justice, accom- panied by Hugh-de-Lacy, who received general pardon. The Deputy summoned a parliament in Dublin, vyliich was badly attended, and therefore adjourned to Kilkenny, which was better attended. The castle of Ferns, being burned at the time by the Irish, De Lacy entertained strong suspicion that the noblemen who did not attend the meeting, were concerned in the undertaking; he therefore had them arrested viz.: — Henry Mandevill, Maurice Fitzgerald, Walter Burke, and his brother, William, and Walter Birmingham. William was tried and executed in Dublin, and Walter, his son, pardoned. • The Irish destroyed the castle of Bunratty; the O'Tooles took Newcastle in the County Wicklow, and the Irish hostages in Limerick and Nenagh made themselves masters of these places, but were afterwards retaken, the hostages of Limerick put to death, and those of Nenagh spared. A parliament held in England, at this time, determined that the king should visit Ireland in person, and that the noblemen who had estates there, should reside on them in order to de- fend them. The war with Scotland prevented the king appear- ing in person, the Lord Justice was recalled, and Sir John Darcy; sent in his place. During his administration, William Bourke, Earl of Ulster, was assassinated on the road to Carrickfergus, by his own servants, who were afterwards put to death by the Deputy; his countess, alarmed at the outrage, set sail to England, with her only daughter, who was afterwards married to Lionel, Duke of Clarence, by whom she had an 203 • HlSrOllY OP IRELAND.' only daugliter, who was married to Edmond Mortimer, Earl of March, and Lord of Trim. Two nobleraea of the name of Burke took possession of the estates, and, in order to accommodate themselves to the coantry, and its language, annexed the article " Mac" to their names, ^•^' hence the name Mac William. Maurice Fitzgerald waá created Earl of Desmond, in 1835, and Sir John Darcy was succeeded by Sir John Charleton, as Lord Justice. Ireland at this time produced several learned men. John Oibellan, canon of the church of Tuam, a celebrated philoso- pher and a good poet, died in 1327. Adam Godham took the degree of doctor of theology at Oxford, wrote commentaries on the four books of sentences, and a book of philosophical directions, according to the testi- moiij of Ware. William Ockam, a Franciscan friar, and a disciple of John Scot ; he was esteemed for his learning and writings. David Olugey, a monk of the Carmelite order, a great phil- osopher, an elegant orator, a profound theologian, and the most learned in the law of his time. Gilbert Urgale, of the Carmelite order, wrote two large VOLUMES, ONE ou LAW, and the other on theology. CHAPTER XIX. Sir Joha Charleton, as Lord Justiciary, accompanied by his brother, the bishop of Hereford, as Lord Chancellor, having arrived in Ireland with 200 soldiers, called a parliament in Dub- lin, but shortly afterwards his brother, the chancellor, took the *^^^" reins of government as Lord Deputy. This new governor confined Sir Eustace Poer in the castle of Dublin, and, at the head of some English troops, carried away an immense booty from Idrone, in the County Carlow. Ho was recalled to Englabd, but before his departure he gave his dignity to Boger Outlaw, 1340. REIGN OF EDWAKD III. 209 pricir of Kilmainham, who died shortly after, and Sir John Darcy appointed ' chief justiciary during his life. In the mean A.D. time, the Irish were defeated with a loss of 1,^00 men, in the County of Kerry, by the Earl of Desmond, and the CyDempseys pursued by the Earl of Kildare, and some of them drowned in the Barrow. As Sir John Darcy could not go to Ireland himself, he de- puted Sir John Morris" to fill his place as Lord Justiciary. He summoned a parliament in Dublin, but the Earl of Des- mond convened a general assembly at Kilkenny, and sent de- puties to the king, to represent the grievances under which they laboured, and the inefficiency of Sir John Morris to manage the afiairs of the kingdom. The king, accordingly^ recalled some of the judges of the court of common pleas, but persevered in his orders to the Deputy, and John Darcy^ to retain the lands they seized in the name of the crown, and not to admit any person to the high offices of the State, except those who had landed property in England. The king, by these means, thought to put a stop to the disturbances that prevailed, but was ultimately obliged to restore the lands that were seized. Sir Ealph Ufibrd was now appointed Lord Justiciary. He married the countess dowager of Ulster ; he was more cruel and severe than any of his predecessors. He plundered with- out distinction the rich and poor, the clergy and laity ; some he imprisoned, and confiscated the property of others, and no one found justice at his hands. He convened a parliament in Dublin ; the Earl of Desmond refused to attend. The Lord Justiciary exasperated at his conduct, seized on his estates, and the castles of Iniskilly and He, and gave orders to hang three knights who were found in them, Eustace Poer, William Grant, and John Gotterel. The Earl of Desmond, bumbled in this manner, was obliged to give for his security the Earls of Ulster 20S HISTORY OF IRELAND. and Orraond, ajid 24 knights; he did not think it wise after» wards to appear, which cost 18 of the knights the confiscation of their properties; the rest escaped their embarrassments. Thi» Lord Justiciary died in Dublin, abhorred and detested by all, ,^-P- on the ninth of April, 1346. Sir Roger Darcy was appointed Lord Justiciary; he resigned in favor of Sir John Morris, whose first act was to release the Earl of Kildare, who was confined in the castle of Dublin by Uiford. During his administration the O'Moores burned the castles of Ley and Kilmehide, and the Englisli were defeated by the Irish of Ulster, with a loss of 3,000 men. Sir Walter Birmingham was now named Lord Justiciary; he obtained leave for the Earl of Desmond to plead his cause before the king of England, where he got redress for the in- 1347 juries he received from Ufl'ord. The Lord Justice and the Earl of Kildare, with their united forces, obliged the O'Moores to sur- render and to give them hostages. The Earl of Kildare set out afterwards to assist the king at the siege of Calais, where he received the honor of knighthood as a reward for his services. In the mean time, Donald Oge Mac Morrough, heir of the royal house of Leinster, was killed by his vassals, and the town of Nenagh was burned by the Irish. Sir Walter Birmingham, after receiving the estate of Kenlis in Ossory as a reward for his services, was succeeded by Baron 1349 Carew, who gave way to Sir Thomas Rokesby; he resigned, and Maurice Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond, was appointed for life; he died shortly after, and Sir Thomas Rokesby resumed the office of Lord Justice; however, he did not live long, and Almaric-de-Saint-Amand was appointed Deputy by the king, with the privilege of pardoning all the English and Irish he thought worthy of it, for every crime, except high treason. James Butler, Earl of Ormond, succeeded him. In his time, the old Irish were prohibited to fill any office, either lay or ecclesiastical, within the English province. EDWARD III. SENDS HIS SON TO IRELAND. 209 Tiie king, in order to complete the conquest of Ireland, deter- mined to send his son, Lionel, for that purpose, wlio, as Earl of Ulster and liord of Connaught, by virtue of his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of William de Burgo, arrived in Dublin with 1500 men. The chiefs under him were, Ealph, Earl of Stafford, James, Earl of Ormond, John Oarew, a Knight Baronet, Sir William Winsore, &c. The pay of the prince was 6s. 8d. per day, each of the knights 2s., each squire Is., and each archer 6d. a day. The prince was afterwards created Duke of Clarence, his salary was increased, and the number of his attendants too, with additional pay. He first prevented the English by descent* to enlist under his banners till defeated by the O'Briens, with a loss of 100 men. They were freely admitted afterwards into his ranks. He conferred the honor of knighthood on Robert Preston, Robert Holywood, Thomas Talbot, Walter Cusack, James de la Hyde, and others. He changed the exchequer from Dublin to Carlow, and gave £500 for surrounding the town with walls. Without completing the conquest of Ireland, or extending the limits of the English province, he departed for England, leaving the Earl of Ormond deputy in his absence. He returned again, for a short time, and appointed Sir Thomas Dale his deputy. During his administration, the Birminghams of Garbery, and the English of Meath, were laying waste the lands of one another. In the mean time the Duke of Clarence returned to Ireland, called a parliament at Kilkenny, in which was enacted the celebrated law called the Statute of Kilkenny. This law was enacted in order to reform the English by descent, or the degenerate English, as they were called by their countrymen. The act forbade them to intermarry with ancient Irish, to speak their language, to adopt their mode of dress or their names," to ' As these were excluded, the Irish had no chance. * The English added " Mac" to their names after the Irish fashionaMe.g. M' William, M'Yorris, M'Jordan, M'Maarice, &c. 16 1367. 210 HISTORY OP IRELAND. confer livings on them or admit them into the monasteries, &c. The Dnke of Clarence (after leaving this monument of refor- A.D. mation of Irish morals by the English behind him) returned to England, and died shortly after at Pa via, in Piedmont, but he was buried in England. Gerald Fitzmaurice, Earl of Desmond, acted as the new Lord Deputy for some time. This governor endeavoured to make peace between the Bir- mingharas of Carbery and the English of Meath. The commissioners, sent for that purpose, were arrested by the Birminghams, contrary to the right of war. Sir William Wiudsore being now inaugurated as Lord Justiciary, convened a parliament at Kilkenny, which granted him £3,000 for the necessities of the state : he carried on the war vigorously against the O'Tooles and other inhabitants of Leinster. Mean-, while, the English were defeated near Manister Nenay, in the Co. of Limerick, by the O'Briens and Mac Namaras of Thoraond, a great number slain, and the Earl of Desmond, John Eitznicholas, Thomas Fitzjolin, and other noblemen, made prisoners. This deputy was recalled and Maurice Fitz- gerald substituted. Sir William Windsore was at length appointed the king's Lieutenant in Ireland ; he engaged to protect and govern the English province on condition of receiving £11,2L3 a year. He, afterwards, said he never could subdue the Irish, and, therefore, gave up the enterprise. James Butler, Earl of Ormond, stepped into the office, with power from the king, by letter patent, to grant general pardon ^^'^- to all accused persons (Prelates and Earls excepted.) There are some few instances that tend much to tarnish the long and brilliant reign of Edward III. Jst. the horrible and barbarous death of his father (he being of an age to feel its atrocity). 2nd. allowing his paternal uncle, the Earl of Kent, to be beheaded for expressing a tender feeling for his brother. Srd. he sacrificed his honor to revenge, by putting to death the two sons of Sir Alexander Seaton, commander of 1371. DEATH O? EDWARD III. &11 the town of Bermck, besieged by Edward III. 4th. in direct violation of the treaty the hostages were executed, long before the day, appointed for the surrender of the town. 5th. at the siege of Calais he gave orders that six of the principal citizens should appear before him bareheaded and barefooted, with ropes round their necks, and the keys of the town in their hands ; when they appeared in his presence he ordered them to be strangled, but the queen, by the most pitiful entreaties, with difficulty, obtained their pardon. 6th. he abandoned himself so much to the infamous caresses of AHcia Pierce," that she not only was mistress of his person, but even sat in the courts of justice of the kingdom. Edward III. is said to have instituted the order of the Garter. On an occasion while the queen (some say the Countess of Salisbury) was dancing, she dropped her garter ; the king taking it up said, " Honi soit qui mal y pense," " evil to him who evil thinks."^ He was the first who introduced the title of Duke into the kinscdom. He created his son, Edward Duke of Cornwall, his son Lionel Duke of Clarence. Edward III., overwhelmed with grief and sorrow for the loss of his conquests in France, and the death of his son, the Prince of Wales, died, and was succeeded by his grandson, Richard II., son of Edward, Prince of Wales. Richard II., at the age of eleven years, was crowned at Westminster by Simon Sudbury, archbishop of Canterbury. Richard, on account of his youth not being able to govern, his uncles, the Dukes of Lancaster and Cambridge, were appointed his guardians. In order to curb their ambition, the parHament appointed Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, to govern the king and the kingdom, and named the Earl of Ormond, Lord Justice of Ireland, who established the seat of justice in Naas, in the County Kildare ; he gave up his office to Alexander Balscot, bishop of Ossory, whose successor was .John de Bromwick. During » Selden, Tit. of Honour, part 2, c. 5. •> Baker, Chron. Eng. reign, £dw. 212 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. his time a law* was passed in the parliament of England, A.D. 1379, compelling the owners of property in Ireland, to come over and defend them, or forfeit a, third of their posses^ sions. They also got liberty to work the mines on their estates, on condition of giving a ninth part to the crown, to send the rest to the mint in Dublin, and pay the usual tax. License was likewise granted to carry on a free trade with Portugal. About this period the French and Spanish gallies were blockaded by the English fleet at Kinsale, 400 of their crews killed, and the rest made prisoners of war. Meanwhile, Edmund Mortimer, h'Hl' ^^^^ of March and Ulster, was appointed deputy of Ireland. His successor was John Colton, Dean of Saint Patrick*s.. and after- wards archbishop of Armagh ; he did not long act as lord deputy, as Roger Mortimer was appointed in 1 382, who was re- placed by Philip Courtney, in 1383, and he again by Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, who was invested with all the privi- leges that a king could bestow, or a subject aspire to; however, he never set his foot on Ireland, and Sir John Stanley was named as his deputy. The Earl of Oxford was afterwards created Duke of Ireland by the king, but was despised by the nobles, to avoid their resentment he withdrew to the Netherlands, and died at Louvain in the most abject misery. After his death j,g2 Jaraes, Earl of Ormond, being appointed Lord Justiciary of Ire- land, defeated the Mac Moyns at Tascoffin, in Kildare, with a loss of 600 men.** The king having no issue by his wife, Queen Anne, sister of the Emperor Winesiaus ; Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and grandson of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, was declared heir to the crown of England. The government of that island began now to think seriously of the conquest of Ireland ; they accordingly enforced the law against the absentees, * An absentee tax in our own days would tend much to check absentee- isniy which has been a great drain on our national resources. i> Cox Hist. ** What a terrible state of things that a Catholic monarch, whose life should edify his subjects, forced Irishmen to murder Irishmen — proh pudor , heu mala fidia ^ ! ' i DEATH OF EICHARD II. 215 ^ O and Sir Thomas Scroop, as Lord Justice, was sent to Ireland 1394. to prepare the way for the king, who arrived shortly after at Waterford, with 30,0000 archers, and 4,000 regular troops. He received, it is said, the submission and allegiance of some of the Irish in Leinster, viz.: — the O'Moores, O' Byrnes, CXowlans, O'Morroughs, O'Connors, &c., who were obliged, under heavy penalties,^ to persevere in their submission, and to give up their possessions in Leinster to the king, to belong to him and his successors for ever, but they had liberty to turn to their own use, all the lands of their countrymen they could ob- tain by force of arms. He received some complimentary let- letters from O'Neill, prince of Ulster, and from the O'Donnels, O'Hanlons, and Mac Mahons, &c., at Drogheda. The Irish, not being able with their detached parties, to resist an army of 34,000 well disciplined men, had no other alternative but to submit, in order to avert the impending storm. Bichard, satisfied with the apparent submission of the Irish, and having expended enormous expenses in this expedition, returned to England without adding one pound to his revenue, or one acre to the English province, that is — to that part of Ireland denominated '• The Pale." Roger Mortimer, earl of March, was sent as Lord Justice, to Ireland, whose people commenced hostilities, and 600 of them, with their chief, MacConn, were killed by Sir Thomas Burke, Sir Walter Berminghara, and their followers. Mean- while, Mortimer and the earl of Ormond, wasted the territory of Wicklow, and took 0' Byrne's castle. The Irish being well skilled in the law of retaliation, Mortimer and his whole arinv were put to the sword at Kenlis, in the County of Kildare, by the chivalrous O'Byrne and his party. Moreover, 40 English chiefs and their attendants were put to the sword by the O'Tooles, on Ascension-day. Thomas Holland, Duke of Sur- 1398. I'ey» was named Lord Justiciary for Ireland. Richard, in order to revenge the death of Mortimer, having sailed for Ireland, 214 HISTORY OP IRELAND. with a formidable army, landed at Waterford, and proceeded to Dublin, where he heard the aflBicting news, that his king, dom was invaded by the Duke of Lancaster; having received that intelligence, he immediately confined, in the castle of Trim, the sons of the Dukes of Lancastei and Gloucester, and des- patched the earl of Salisbury to Wales, to raise an army. He afterwards had the weakness to give up a kingdom which he governed with so much severity. Being seized, he was imprison- ed in the tower of London, and thence, having abdicated the crown, he was removed to Pomfret, where he received the fatal blow from Sir Pierce Exton, who was armed for the purpose. This is another fact to shew how the Divine vengeance pursued the Plantagenets, for the injustice and tyranny they exer- cised over the innocent Irish, whose only offence was, that they struggled to reclaim their inheritance. j^ D, Henry IV., Duke of Lancaster, though he had no rightful 1399. title to the crown, was proclaimed king by the parliament in this year. His want of hereditary title was the cause of fatal ' wars between the houses of York and Lancaster for a century after. Henry, having been crowned at Westminster, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed Sir John Stanley Lord Justice of Ireland, and then marched against the Scotch. Pour hundred of the Anglo-Irish, commanded by the constable of the castle of Dublin, attacked also a Scotch fleet at Strang- ford, in Down, but they were all either killed or drowned. Thomas, Duke of Clarence, being appointed deputy of Ireland, held a pailiament in Dublin, in 1402 ; meanwhile, the citizens, headed by John Drake, the mayor, slew 400 Irish at Bray, on the borders of Wicklow. This year. Sir Walter Betterby, 1403. and 30 English lords, were cut off' by the Irish in Ulster, whose territories they sought to plunder. The Welsh, in the mean- time, led on by Owen Glendower, a Welsh nobleman, and being determined to shake oti the Enghsh yoke, attacked Lord Gray, whom they took prisoner. They afterwards defeated Edmond Mortimer, who lost 1,000 men, and was himself HENRY IV. 215 taken prisoner. During this time, the Anglo-Irish of Dublin committed some piracies against the Scotch, they plundered Wales, and carried away the shrine of St. Cabin, which they deposited in Christ Church, Dublin. At this time, the earls of Ormond and Desmond invaded AD. the estates of MacMorrough, who gave them battle, but, after a noble struggle, he was obliged to surrender. James, earl of Ormond, being now appointed the Irish Lord Deputy, held a parhament in Dublin, in which the statutes of Dublin and Kilkenny were confirmed by parties retained for that purpose. This was like introducing strangers into the house of a man capable of managing his own affairs, to declare him a lunatic. The substance of the acts was as follows, — " They prohibited, under penalty of high treason, the families of Anglo-Norman or English descent, settled in Ireland, to form any alliances or intermarriages with the native Irish, thus endeavouring to pre- vent all intercourse between them ; and prohibiting the Anglo- Irish from adopting Irish surnames, the Irish language, dress, manners and customs ; and also making it penal to appoint any of the native Irish to ecclesiastical livings, bishops' sees, ' 'abbotships over monasteries, or any other preferments. ("An nals Four Masters, byConnellan," page 143.) Ormond, dying shortly 1406. after, at Gouran, in the County of Kilkenny, Gerald, earl of Kildare, was installed Lord Justice. At this time, the citizens of Dublin attacked and defeated some Irish troops that were ravaging the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, Cabal O'Connor Faly 1408. died by the hand of Meyler Birmingham ; Thomas, Duke of Clarence, arrived in Ireland as Lord Deputy, and having arrested the earl of Kildare for state reasons, returned to England, having first deputed Thomas Butler, Prior of Kihnainham, to rule the country in his absence. His first exploit was an un- successful incursion into the lands of the O'Byrnes, (rf Wick- low. Out of 15,000 Irish who were in his array, 800 went over to the enemy in the field of battle. In the meantime. 216 HISTORY OF IHELAND. 1412 1413. CyConDor Faly made irruptions into the lands of the English in Meath, and carried off 160 prisoners, whilst O'Toole and Thomas Fitzmaunce, sheriff of Limerick, attacked one another in single combat, in which both fell. ' i Henry IV. had by his queen, Mary, daughter of IJumfrey- de-Bohum, earl of Hereford, six children — four sons — Henry Prince of Wales, Duke of Lancaster, Thomas, Duke of Clarence, John, Duke of Bedford, and Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester ; Henry died iu London, and was interred at Canterbury. A.D. Henry V., eldest son of Henry IV., was crowned at West- minster, by Thomas Arundeli Archbishop of Canterbury. Although wild and extravagant in his youth, he became a great king; he never allowed the companions of his dissipation to approach him until they became reformed ; the clergy he pro- tected against the parliament/ which contemplated depriving them of their possessions. Having married Catherine of Valois, he was declared successor to Charles VIL, of France. In the meantime, John Stanley was declared Deputy of Ireland, but died iu a short time; the next governor was Thomas Crawley, Archbishop of Dublin, who having engaged, near Kilkea, the O'Moores and O'Dempseys, routed then», one hundred uf the Irish being cut off. In the interim, the natives gained a victory over Jenico-de-Artois, commander of the English in Ulster, at Inor, where he lost a great many of his men. O'Connor was equally successful in Meath, and Christopher Fleming and John Dardis, English officers, were made prisoners. John Talbot, Lord Furnival, a man skilled in the art of war, was appointed Lord Justice ; at the head of his troops he marched without effecting much good, through the country of the O'Byrnes, O'Tooles, O'Moores, O'Connors Faly, O'Demp- seys, O'Reillys, O'Neills, and O'Hanlons, &c. He held a par- liament in Dublin, which was adjourned to Trim, there it granted a subsidy of 400 marks of silver to the king, who afterwards * Baker's Cbron. Eng., Reign Henry Y. 1414. ^'^ry'.'T'^v»';-^ ■•■'■? '. ■•■".■ ■ .■ ^ - . "' V' ■ - i"-. ■-'■ 7J1S IBISn fJLCLUDED FROM OKfiCK. 217 received 800 marks from a parliament at Naas, and again 700 and 300 marks from a parliament convened in Dublin. The prior of Kilmainham, Thomas Butler, at the head of 1,600 men, was sent to France to assist the King. The Prior died at Normandy some time after. The council of England at thi? time, decided 'Hhat the possessions of every archbishop, bishop, or prior, who would present to, or confer on tAe IrUh rebeh^ any benefice, or introduce them amongst the English, at any parliament, council, or assembly of the kingdom, were forfeited. Then it was that the earl of Kildare, Sir Christopher Preston, and Sir John Bellew, were arrested at Slane, and confined in A.D. . 1418. ^he castle of Trim, on account of some difference with the Prior of Kilmainham. The Irish enjoyed no protection from the laws, but were looked upon as aliens, rebel», and enemies^ in the land of their birth ; they were, therefore, coerced in self- defence to resist the unjust aggression of the English, and in order to sustain life, they should strive to recover some of their own ; this some writers would call pillaging and plundering. It was on one of these occasions, that O'Toole carried off 400 J4J9 head of cattle from the lands of Ballimore, in consequence of which, MacMorrough, chief of the people of Leinster, was arrested by the Lord Justice, and the castle of Keuneni was demolished ; meanwhile, William Bourke, at the head of the English in Conuaught, put 500 Irish to the sword, and seized O'Kelly, their chief. The Lord Deputy, Talbot, returned to England, having invested Eichard, his brother, archbishop of Dublin, with the 1421 i"sig"'* of office. Shortly after, James Butler, Earl of Ormond, was appointed Lord Deputy ; he exacted contributions from the O'Heillys, Mac Mahons, and Mac Guires. His army were defeated 'near the monastery of Leix by the O'Moores, where 26 Englishmen of distinction lost their lives, and 18 others were made prisoners. In order to be revenged for the loss of his people, Ormond entered the estates of O'Moore, where he ■^ 218 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. ' pat ftil he met to the sword, without distinction of age or sex. Meanwhile, Mac Mahon, of Ulster, piandered the country of Oriel, and John Oise, bishop of Lismore, accused Bichard (yHeidan, archbishop of Gashel, before the parliament, for his over attention to the Irish and his great dislike to the English, and that he inspired other bishops with similar feelings. These imputations were not listened to, as the archbishop's character was irreproachable. At this time lived Henry of Marleburg, an English priest, who wrote the Irish annals to the year 1421. We may here mention a few of the learned men of the last century ; but to understand how numerous they were it is necessary to have recourse to O'Reilly's Irish Writers and The Annals of the Four Masters. Henry Crump, a Cistertian monk of Baltinglass, and a Doctor of Theology in Oxford in 1382. Magrath Mac Gowan, a regular canon of Tipperary. John Clynn, a Franciscan Friar, at Kilkennv, wrote the annals from the Christian Era to 1313. John O'Roddy, O'Carroll, O'Felan, Firbis Mac Firbis, Duigan 0*Duigenan, Teige O'Higgins, Mac Egan, Conroy the B.tld, Hugh " of Ireland," William of Drogheda, Geoffrey O'Hogan, Thomas O'Carroll, archbishop of Tuam, &c. Adam O'Kienan, Connor O'Behan, Mac Curtin, O'Rooney, O'MuUvany, Mac Firbis, O'Hamill. Henry V., after being victorious in France, left the regency of that country to his brother, the Duke of Bedford, and the government of England to his second brother, the Duke of Gloucester ; he died at Vincennes, near Paris, esteemed by all. He is said to have loved ecclesiastics' as much as his soldiers. CHAPTER XX. Henry VI., only son of Henry V., was proclaimed 'king of England and France wliile he was yet but eight months old, but these crowns were afterwards lost. . i * Baker's Chron. Eng. Reign Henry V. 1429. GOVERNMENT OP THE DCKE OF YORK. 219' In consequence of the robberies and other crimes committed in England by those, born in Ireland of English descent, an act of parliament was passed obliging all such to quit England except those who were born in England, or whose parents were born iii England, and all the king's subjects in Ireland were prohibited to emigrate to England. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, succeeded the Earl of Ormond as Lord Justice, but died shortly after. The goveni- 1425. ropwt thereby fell on John Talbot, who gave place to the Earl of Ormond again in 1426. Sir John Gray becoming Deputy '^^''* in 14)27, appointed Edward Dantzy, bishop of Meath, as his substitute. John Sutton next assumed the reins of the Irish government. In his time juries to investigate criminal prose- cutions were established ; Thomas Strange was his deputy. Sir Thomas Stanley was now appointed governor of Ireland, and Sir Christopher Plunkett and Richard Talbot were suc- cessively his deputies. In the mean time the Duke of Bedford appropriated to himself all the gold and silver mines of Ireland, and all the domains of the king, undertaking to pay a tenth part to the church, a fifteenth to the king, and a fifteenth to the owners of the estates on which mines might be discovered. The Lord Justice, at the head of his troops, triumphed over the Irish, and took Niall O'Donnell prisoner. At this time the Earl of Desmond got possession of the Cork estates of EitzgeoiFrey Cogan, as he had no heir to succeed him. 1438. Lion — Lord Wells — was appointed again in 1440 ; Wells was deputy in 1442, and James, Earl of Ormond, was appointed Chief Governor in 1443 : he took part with the Butlers against the Talbq^ts, who were incensed against one another; he obtained the government of Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and Kerry, from the king, and leave to absent himself from parliament by sending a proxy to represent him ; he was afterwards represented to the king, by the Talbots, as a man, overcome with age and infirmity, and incapable of filling the oflBce of Lord Justice. U49. 1454 220 NISTOKT OF IRELAND. He was, therefore, recalled, and Johu Talbot, Ear) of Shrews- baiy, appointed in his place, with the title of £arl of Waterford, and the possession of that town and country. He held a 1447. parliament at Trim in A.D. 1447. Laws were here enacted, that men should shave the upper lip, that the sons of laborers should follow the profession of their fathers, &c. After this the Lord Lieutenant returned to England, leaving his brother, Richard Talbot, his ^deputy : he wrote a work on the mal- administration of the Earl of Ormond in Ireland, " De abusu regiminis Ormondieg, &c" The English army in Ireland, appeared no way formidable to their enemies to this time. It was, therefore, thought prudent to appoint the Duke of York, as governor of Ireland ; he pos- sessed great property in Ireland, was Earl of Ulster and Cork, Lord of Gonnaught, Clare, and Trim. He accepted the ^ office for 10 years, on condition of receiving 4,000 marks for the first year, and 2,000 pounds for every year after, and that he should appoint and dismiss all officers at his will, and return to England when he pleased. He quelled in a great measure the disorders that prevailed in the country, more by his skill than by force of arms ; he held two parliaments, one in Dublin, another in Drogheda. The bishops of Leighlin, Ossory, Down, and Limerick, were fined for non-attendance; he had castles built on the frontiers, of Meath, Louth and Kildare. 1451. The Duke of York had a son, born in Dublin, afterwards Duke of Clarence ; his sponsors were the Earls of Ormond and Desmond ; he then returned to England, appointing the Earl of Ormond his deputy. Ormond was afterwards made Lord Lieutenant, he named John Mey, Ab, of Armagh, his deputy and went to England ; this displeased the court, and tliey sub- stituted Sir Edward Fitzeustace, deputy to the Duke of York^ The Duke of York on his arrival in England, found the Duke of Somerset in the highest favor in court. Well aware of his own right to the throne, he resolved to restore his family BATtl.K OF TOWTON. £21 on the ruins of the houses of Lancaster, to which Sooieraet waa bound bj the ties of blood and interest. Joined by the Earl of Warwick, and his son, the Earl of Salisbury, he marched to St. Albans, where he met the king and queen and Somerset, ready to meet him ; there was a bloody engagement. Henry was defeated, 5,000 of his men slain, among whom were found Somerset, and the Earls of Stafford and Northumberland. Henry was made prisoner, and the Duke of York was declared guardian and protector of the kingdom. The Duke of York was afterwards obliged to seek an asylum in Ireland ; he and his son, the Earl of March, Richard Earl of SaHsbury, Eichard Earl of Warwick, Lord Clifford, and others, were declared trai- tors, and their estates confiscated for the king's use. The Earl of March sailed from Calais, and attacked the king's troops ; 10,000 were killed on both sides, and Henry taken prisoner. The queen and prince of Wales escaped to Scotland and afterwards attacked the Duke of York at Wakefield, where he lost the victory and his life, his young son, the Earl of Rutland, 12 years of age, being barbarously stabbed by Lord Clifford, though imploring him on his knees to spare his life, and the Earl of Salisbury being made prisoner and afterwards beheaded. In the mean time, the English, instead of extending their possessions in Ireland, were obliged to pay tribute* to the Irish in order to be in peace with them. The barony of Lecall paid O'Neill, of Claneboy £20 a year, Uriel paid £40 to O'Neill, Meath paid £60 to O'Connor, and Kildare £20, Kilkenny and Tipperary £40 to O'Carrol, &c. Meanwhile Edward, Earl of March, in order to be revenged for the death of his father, the Duke of York, at the head of an army of 23,000 men, engaged the king's forces, commanded by the Earls of Ormond and Pembroke, at Mortineer's cross, near » Cox's History. 222 HISTOttY OF IRELAND. Ludlow ; • the battle was bloody> but the roj'alists were defeated with a loss of «58,000 men who fell on the field of battle. lie A.D. afterwards engaged with Henry, at Towton, where about 36,000 men were killed on the spot. After this victory, Edward was crowned King under the name of Edward lY. ; he created his brother George Duke of Clarence, and appointed him governor of Ireland, and his brother Kichard he made Duke of Glouces- ter. Two persons in Ireland he raised to the rank of barons, viz. William St. Laurence, Baron of Howth, and Eobert Barnwall, Baron of Trimblestown, in Meath. Sir Eowland Fitzeustace was deputy to the Duke of Clarence, but was re- placed by the Earl of Desmond, who was obliged to resign his 1467. place to John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, who had him attainted of high treasure, and beheaded at Drogheda. Tiptoft shortly after met the same fate in England. The Earl of Ormond was beheaded at Newcastle. Mints were established in Dublin, Trim, Drogheda. Waterford, and Galway, for coining four- penny and two-penny pieces. The reason assigned for the tragical end of the Earl of Desmond is, the implacable hatred of the queen towards him. The king, with whom he was a great favourite, asked him one day, what was thought of his marriage with Elizabeth Grey, widow of Sir John Grey ; the earl replied, that it was universally disapproved of ; the queen effected her revenge, through the instrumentality of Worcester, who was, afterwards, recalled, and sacrificed to the manes of Desmond. Thomas, Earl of Kildare, having shewn his innocence, was made deputy to the Duke of Clarence. His successor was William Sherwood, Bishop of Meath, •• who made way for Henry Grey, lord of Ruthen, who was succeeded by Bobert Preston, created knight of the Garter," in 1470, and viscount Gormanstown, in 1477. Gormanstown was succeeded as deputy, by Gerald, Earl of Kildare, who continued to hold » Baker's Chron. Eng. " A. 4 Mast. • Nichol's Rudiments of Honor. 1468. BEIOXS OF EDWAKD IV., RICHARD III., AND HI-,NR\ VII. 223 ^ jy office under Eicliard, Duke of York, the king's son, 1479. who was appointed governor of Ireland. This deputy held a parliament which enacted, that the inhabitants of the English province should hold no intercourse with the Irish. At this time, a military society, called *' Si. George's fraternity ^' was established, for the defence of the English Province, [t con- sisted of 13 members, of acknowledged honor and loyalty, 140 horse arcliers, 40 horse men, and 40 pages ; their duty was, to arrest rebels, and those against whom warrants would be issued. The reign of Edward IV. was a perpetual scene of iiitestine commotions; during which England presented a ter- rible appearance; having gained his crown by the sword, he held it by his frequent victories over the partisans of Henry VI. Edward, assisted by the Duke of Burgundy, and 2000 Dutch- men, marched to London, where having seized Henry, he con- fined him in the tower, in which the Duke of Gloucester, tra- gically assassinated him with a dagger, still reeking with the blood of his only son, Edward, who was brutally stabbed by the Dukes of Gloucester and Clarence. Edward IV. afterwards defeated the Earl of Warwick, at the battle of Barnet, and Margaret the queen, and her son, at Tewksbury ; he died in the 41st year of his 1483. ag^j and was interred at Windsor, leaving two sons, and seven daughters. His eldest son, Edward, succeeded him, but he, to- gether with his young brother Eichard, were confined in the tower, and afterwards put to death by Richard, Duke of Glou- cester, who got himself crowned King of England, under the name of Richard III. 1485. This tyrant did not long enjoy a throne he usurped by (he mo3t brutal murders, for he was defeated at the battle of Bos- worth by Henry, Earl of Richmond, who was crowned King of England, under the name of Henry VII. The previous reigns witnessed the most awful and sanguinary scenes, ever enacted in the most savage nation that has, always, existed ; Ireland, too, was the theatre of internecine strife. • •'• .,},-"■.',■.-■ ;;■ .»s..-^..y_;5 224 HISTORY OF IRBLAND. j^ u Henry VII., of the House of Lancaster, was crowned at 1485, Westminster, and in order to secure himself firmly on the throne, he married Elitabeth, eldest daughter of Edward IV., and heiress to the House of York. He confined in the tower of London Edward Plantagenet, son of the Duke of Clarence, and the last male heir of the house of York ; he was the first king of England that established a body-guard, in imitation of the Kings of France ; he appointed the Duke of Bedford, Lord Deputy of Ireland, in place of John De la Pale, Earl of Lincoln. Gerald, Earl of Kildare, was continued in his office as deputy. The family of the Butlers and Desmond were res- tored to their wealth and honors, on account of their attach- ment to the house of Lancaster. Notwithstanding Henry's strong claim to the crown by his marriage with the heiress of the house of York, Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy, and sister to Edward IV., set up two pretenders to the crown, Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck. Simnel, a young man of noble and prepossessing aspect, the son of a baker, and educated at Oxford, was to personate the Earl of Warwick, son of George, Duke of Clarence. Simnel was received with distinguished respect by the inhabitants of the English province in Ireland, and being joined by 2,000 men, commanded by Colonel Swart, who was sent to his as- sistance by the Duchess of Burgundy, was solemnly crowned at CJirist's Church, in Dublin. A parliament was held in his name in Dublin, in which laws were enacted, but were after- words repealed in a parliament called by Sir Edward Poynings, Lord Deputy, at Droghedain 1494, as will be seen farther on in this chapter where notice will be made of the statutes. The Pretender and his army, shortly after, set sail for England» where they were met by Henry at Newark ; the pretender was defeated with a loss of 1,00U men, and the principal leaders of his army were killed on the occasion. Simnel being seized, was appointed to a menial office in the king's service. Th^ TJSS OF FIREARMS^ 225 Earl of Kildare, nnd the other abettors of Simnel, hearing of his defeat, implored forgiveness of the king, who after a slight reprimand pardoned them. Meanwhile.Sir Richard Edgecombe, accompanied by a guard of 500 men, was sent by the king, with a commission to make his subjects renew the oath of al- legiance, and by virtue of a bull from the Pope, he caused general absolution to be proclaimed for all the rebels. Edge- combe received the homage of Lords Barry and Courcy, ac Kinsale; he then set sail for Waterford and Dublin, where he granted the king's pardon to the Earl of Kildare, and received the homage and oath of allegiance from the Mayor of Dublin, and citizens. He then proceeded to Drogheda and Trim, in which places he received the submission of the inhabitants. Henry, suspecting the loyalty of some of his subjects, made some of them come over to England, viz : — the Earl of Kil- dare, Yiscounts Gormanstown, Eermoy, and Buttervant. The barons of Athenry, Kinsale, Delrin, Hovvth, Trim, Slainlestown, Killeen and Dunsany, and after reprimanding them, gave them a banquet with Simnel, the pretender, as their cup'bearer. They afterwards returned to Ireland, loaded with rich presents from the King. In the meantime, Hugh MacMahon committed dreadful devastations on the lands of the Anglo-Irish, in Louth, and burned 28 villages in this expedition. During this time, Maurice-Bockagh f" the lame" ) earl of Desmond, gained a victory over Morrough O'Carrol, and another over Dermod MacCarthy, who were both killed. The earl added 1491 *^^^^ estates to his possessions. This is the way the English settlers acquired wealth at the expense of their neighbours. At this time six muskets were sent as a present to the Earl of Kildare. This is the first account of the use of fire-arms in Ireland. Warm disputes, meanwhile, vwhich terminated in war, arose between Conn-Mór O'Neill, and Hugh Roe O'Donnell, two uowerful princes of Ulster, about the payment of a tribute ' 17 226 HISTORY OF IRELAND. demanded by the former from the latter; he wrote him a letter in the Iri«h language, in the following laconic style, " crur hogura mo chis, no mur cuirthir," (" send me my rent, or if not/') O'Donnell's answer was, " nil cis agud orum, agus da meh," ('♦ I owe you no rent, and if 1 did/') War was the consequence of the refusal, and O'Donnell was defeated. Henry VII. appointed Gasper, Duke of Bedford, as Lord Lieutenant, and Walter Fitzsimons, Archbishop of Dublin, as his deputy. Sir James Orraond was named treasurer, in place of Eustace, Lord of Portleste, who filled that office for 38 years; the new treasurer had an altercation with the earl of Kildare, which was followed by a battle, disastrous to the fami- lies of the Butlers and Fitzgeralds. In the meantime, the Duchess of Burgundy, the deadly enemy of the house of Lan- caster, introduced her new pretender, who was to personate Richard, Duke of York, brother and heir of Henry V. ; his name was Peter Osbeck, or Perkin Warbeck ; he was initiated in all the manners of the court, and acquainted with every circumstance connected with the house of York. He sailed from Lisbon to Cork, where he was kindly received by the citizens ; but particularly by John Waters, an eminent merchant, and mayor of the city ; he was, afterwards, invited to France, by Charles VIIL, from whom he went to Flanders, whence he set sail for England, with 600 men. Not being well received, he sailed for Cork, in Ireland, and his forces, not being able to sustain him, he proceeded to Scotland, where he was honour- ably received by James IV., who was then king; Perkin mar- ried Catherine, daughter of the earl of Haiitly. The Pretender, in consequence of an order from the king of England, to James IV., to give up the impostor, was obliged to seek shelter in Ireland ; thence he sailed for Cornwall, in England, and hear- ing that the King's army was advancing to meet him, be sur- rendered, and was afterwards banged at Tyburn. The deputy, after holding a parliament in Dublin, resigned potning's law. 227 his office in favour of Eobert Preston, viscount Gormanstown. He held a meeting in Trim, and afterwards in Drogheda. The statutes of this assembly, were, the year after, declared null and void, in a parliament held at Drogheda, by Poyning, . jj the deputy, on the pretext, that the entire province was not 1494. represented, and that the deputy had no power from the King to convene parliament. Sir Edward Poyning being this time appointed Lord Deputy, made great changes in the ministers of state; he named Henry Dean, bishop of Bangor, chancellor of Ireland, Thomas Bowring, chief justice of the King's Bench, John Topcliff, chief justice of common pleas, Walter Ever, chief baron of the exchequer, and Sir Hugh Conway, treasurer. The deputy with 10,000 men and other forces from the English province entered Ulster, where he laid waste the estates ofO'Hanlon, Magennis, and others; he made peace with O'Hanlon, and marched directly to Carlow, and took possession of the castle of Carlow, that was taken by the Earlof Kildare's brother. Poyning convened the celebrated parliament at Drogheda, in which many laws were passed, among the rest, one against *' Coyn and Livery," and against those who pro- tected traitors, but the most celebrated was that entitled " Poyning's Law,'' the tenor of which was to this effect. It enacted that prior to the holding of a parliament, the privy council should make known to the king the causes of con- vening it, and what were the acts which were therein to be passed; unless this form were gone through, no parliament could be held, and though it was, its acts would be null and void unless approved of by an English council. This was virtually depriving Ireland of her senate, and making her representatives mere tools of foreign power. This degrading and unjust enactment was frequently put in abeyance, in the succeeding reigns. Poyning was made knight of the Garter, as a reward for his services. .. Lord Justice Poyning's successor as Lord Justice was Dean, 228 IIISTOUY OP IRELAND. Bishop of Bangor, wiio was succeeded by the Earl of Kildare, the latter having cleared himself of the charges brought against him by his enemies, who said that " all Ireland was not able to govern him," " if so/' said the king, " he is the fittest person lo govern Ireland." The earl on his return to Ireland, marched against O'Brien of Thomond, and took the castles of Fellyback and Ballynice, and other fortified places. He called a par- liament in Trim, which enacted that all the custom house laws of England should be established in Ireland. The earl espoused the cause of his nephews. Tyrlogh and Con O'Neill, who were deprived of their possessions by their paternal uncle, Henry O'Neill. He laid siege to Dungannon, and forced Niall M'Art O'Neill to surrender the castle. Henry O'Neill was killed and the nephews put in possession of the patrimony of their ancestors. He then proceeded to Cork and Kinsale, and obliged the inhabitants of tliose places to give him hostages. Henry, duke of York, afterwards Henry VIII., was appointed Lord Justiciary, and the earl of Kildare assumed the title of A^-D. deputy ; in that capacity having undertaken an expedition into Connaught, he seized the castles of Athleague, Roscommon, Tulsk, and Cabtlerea, and placed garrisons in them. He held a parliament iji Castledermod, which granted the king and his successors a tax of twelve pence in the pound on all merchan- 1500. dize, imported, except wine and oil ; it was also decreed that noblemen, when riding, should use saddles. He quelled a sedi- tion, raised against his nephew, Tirlogh O'Neill, in Ulster, and gave him the command of the castle of Kinard. In the meantime the king granted a general pardon to all the abettors of Perkin Warbeck, and the fort of Sligo was taken by the troops of Rory, son of Tirlogh O'Connor, and the O'Neills defeated the Scotch with a loss of four captains and sixty soldiers. Two remarkable marriages took place at the time — Arthur, BaTILE ok KNOCK-TUAOn, NKAU GALWAY. 229 piince of Wales, tiie elder son of Henr}' VII., at the age of fifteen, married Catherine, daughter of Ferdinsnd, King of A.D. Spain. After Arthur's death, which happened in about five 1501. months after the ceremony, Catherine was married to his brother Henry, at the age of twelve years. Sanders* in his second chapter and first book says tliat this marriage was never consummated. The other marriage was Margaret, tlie king's eldest daughter, to .Tames IV. of Sc )tland. In the meantime the Lord Depuly having entered Ulster, destroyed the castle of Belfast, and placed a garrison in the castle of Carrickfergus, under the command of one Staunton. At this time, Theobald Bourke, Lord of Muskerry-Cork, in Munster, was killed by Donagh O'Carrol, and Malachy O'Kellv, and some of the Bourkes were defeated. This Burke, called Mac William, Lord of Clanrickard, being joined by Tirlogh O'Brien, prince of Thomond, Mulrony O'CarroU, and other noblemen of the south, made great preparations for some expedition, the object of which is not given. The deputy getting intelligence of the movement, advanced towards Connaught, with all his forces, attended by the nobles of Meath, viz. viscount Gormanstown, the barons of Slane, Delvin, Killeen, Howth, Trimbleston, and Dunsany, John Blake mayor of Dublin, and the citizens, O'Donnell, O'Ferral, O'Reily, &c. Both armies met at " Knock-Tuah" (Knocktow) 1604. near Galway ; the action began, and the groniid was disputed for several hours, until the Connaught army lost ground, and were defeated with a loss of 2,000 men, and the two sons of Ulic were taken i)risoners; when the battle was over an English writer tells us that Gormanstown requested of KiUiare to cut the throats of the Irish who assisted them, " 'tis too soon,'' answered Kildare, " we want them yet." The reader is referred to the first volume, page 312, of Taaiie, and also to « See Mac Geoshegaa's Ireland at this year. 230 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Daunt's Ireland. The deputy made himself master of the towns of Galway and Athenry, and carried of considerable booty, and on his return he distributed 80 barrels of wine among the soldiers, who fought with him. Henry VII. died at Richmond palace and was interred at Westminster. CHAPTER XXI. 1509 Henry VIII., only son of Henry VIL, was crowned at West- minster, by William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, and a dispensation being obtained from Pope Julian II., married Catherine of Arragon, his brother Arthur's widow. The ceremony was performed on the 22nd of April — Henry being, nearly, eighteen years old ; he had by her three sons, who died in their infancy, and one daughter Mary, who was afterwards Queen of England. He was an accomplished scholar, of great power of mind, polished intellect, and great beauty of person. His reign, instead of being brilliant, presented the most dis- gusting picture of ^royalty that posterity ever beheld; his trea- sures, being exhausted by tournaments, balls and masquerades, were replenished by the most unbounded sacrileges and tyran- nical usurpation. He placed the most implicit confidence in Cardinal Wolsey, whom he appointed member of his council, cardinal and legate, chancellor of England, and archbishop of York. The cardinal's ruling passion was ambition ; the splendor of his household was incredible. When sent to France as an ambassador from the king, he brought with him in his train 1300 horses, 80 chariots, 60 mules,' and the rest of his retinue in proportion. He hoped through the influence of Charles V." to obtain the papal chair, but he was disap- pointed in his expectation, and through revenge, procured the divorce of Catherine of Arragon, the maternal aunt of a Sanders de Schis. Ang. lib. It page 8. OBMOND AND KILDARB. 231 Charles V. Yet this great man, Thomas Wolsey, was only the son of a butcher at Ipswich in Suffolk ; he was educated in Magdalen College at Oxford ; his first patron was the Marquis of Dorset; he was afterwards taken notice of by Henry VII., who entrusted him with a commission to the emperor Maxi- milian, in which office he acquitted himself so well that he was appointed almoner to the king. The earl of Kildare, before only deputy, being now appointed Lord Justice of Ireland, ,c,Q having entered Munster, committed dreadful devastations and was carrying away immense spoils, when attacked at Manister by James, son of the earl of Desmond, O'Brien, prince of Thomond, and Mac William j the action was bloody, and the loss considerable on the side of the English, whom the dark- ness of the night preserved from the fury of the pursuers. The earl afterwards invaded Ulster, razed the castle of Belfast to the ground, and carried away immense booty. The Earl of Ormond viewed with a jealous eye the govern- ment of the country, vested in the Earl of Kildare, and feeling that the latter was aware of it, proposed to clear himself of the imputation. They met at St. Patrick's Cathedral, in Dublin, the Earl of Ormond having with him his troops, and the Earl of Kildare attended by the citizens of Dublin, who entered the church with an intention of killing Ormond, and manifested great disrespect towards the images by piercing them with arrows. As an atonement for this sacrilege, the Lord Mayor was obliged by the Pope's legate to walk bare- footed through the city, preceded by the holy sacrament carried in procession, a penance he duly performed. The Earl of Kildare, on his march to the country of the O'Carrolls, falling 1513. sick at Athy, died at Kildare, and was buried in Christ's Cathedral, in Dublin. Gerald, his son, was appointed Lord Justice by the council, and, afterwards, deputy by the king. This deputy attacked the O'Moores and O'Eeillys, who were 232 HISTOUT OF lUELANU. making incursions into the English province. He razed the castle of Cavan to the ground, and burned the surrounding A.D. country. In the mean time Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond, ' died in London, leaving his immense property in England to his two daughters, Anne and Margaret, the elder of whom was married to Sir James St Lcger, and the other to Sir William Bollen, son of the Mayor of London. The Earl's property and title in Ireland reverted to Pierce Butler, of Carrick, his heir in a collateral line. But his right was disputed by Sir James Butler, who was killed between Dromoreand Kilkeuny by his opponent, which left him in quiet possession of his property. The deputy entered Wicklow, where he killed Shane 1516. O'Toole," and sent his head to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. He then marched against O'Carroll, took the castle of Leraevan, after a siege of eight days, and thence advancing to Clonmel, compelled the inhabitants to surrender. The year after he invaded Ulster, and surprized the fort of Dundrum, which was previously taken from the English,'' as Sir James Ware informs us in iiis Antiquities. Having taken Phelim Mac Gennis prisoner, he j)roceeded to Tyrone, which country he laid waste, and burned the fort of Duncannon, and, after enriching himself with spoils, returned to Dublin. He was, afterwards, sum- moned to England to account for his government. During the investigation he married Elizabeth Grey, daughter of the Marquis of Dorset, which alliance restored him to the king's favor. The Earl of Surrey was, in the interim, appointed Lord Justice of Ireland, and landed in Dublin with an escort of 100 men, and 1,000 soldiers as a guard. On his arrival he heard that Conn Bockagii O'Neill was advancing with an army to devastate the county of Meatli ; wishing to signalize himself on the first occasion he marched to meet him, but O'Neill had already returned to Ulster. Conn was, afterwards, restored » Ware, Antiq. Hib., c. 88. *• Ibid., c. 9. QUAUKELS OF MAC CARTHY AND THK EAJfL OF DESMOND. 233 to the king's favor, who presented him with a gold collar as a pledge of his friendship, and gave orders to the Lord Justice A.D. to confer on him the title of knight. Meanwhile, the Earl of '^^^' Sarrey marched, with a formidable army, against the O'Byrnes of Wicklow, who were in arms, and getting intelligence that the O'Moores, O'Connors-O'Faly, and O'CarroUs, were threaten- ing the frontiers of the English province, joined by the militia of Dublin and Drogheda, and other noblemen and their vassals, and supported by some pieces of cannon, he marched, at the head of his army, to the district of Leix, where he narrowly escaped with his life, a musket ball being fired at him, and the person who fired it was put to death on the spot. He thence proceeded to Offaly, in which country he laid seige to the monastery called "Monaster Feoris," where O'Connor kept a garrison. O'Connor and O'Carroll, in the meantime, made irruptions into Meath, and, on' their return, having met the English army, a warm encounter ensued, with considerable loss on both sides, and Lord Dunsany was found among the dead of the English. The deputy, aided by O'Donnell, prince of Tyrconnell, and O'Neill, undertook an expedition against O'Melaghliii, of Clonlolan,* but O'Donnell, seeing O'Melaghlin likely to fall by the united eftbrts of the deputy and O'Neill, invaded Tyrone, which obliged O'Neill to abandon his ally and defend nis patrimony ; this checked the enterprise against O'Melaghlin. In the meantime, a war having broken out in Munster, between Cormac Mac Carthy, of Muskerry, and Janies, Earl of Desmond, a bloody engagement ensued between tnese noblemen near the monastery of Morn, lying between Mallow and Cork. The Earl lost 1,000 of his men, and with difficulty saved his life by flight, his two uncles, John and Gerald, being made prisoners. The Earl of Surrey, not being able to reduce ■•This fact we fiad in page 754 of " Camden's England," 234 HISTORY OP iaBLA.!. of Richmond and Somerset, being made lord deputy of Ireland, named Sir W. Skeffington as his deputy. Accompanied by the Earl of Kildare, he arrived in Dublin with 200 horsemen. He had it in command to reconcile the Earls of Kildare, Des- mond, and Ossory, in order to be able to meet the coramoa enemy, the Irish, and to tax church lands to meet a part of the public expenses. The deputy's first expedition was against the O'Moores of Leix, whose country he laid waste, and then, joined by the Earl of Kildare, turned to Ulster, where he destroyed the castle of Kiuard, and burned many villages. Hugh O'Donnell, 9 prince of Tyrcoiniell, alarmed at the devastations, committed around him, and not being able, from illness, to meet the foe in the field, sent to the deputy to sue for peace. Ware and Cv)x lí3l. I'clate these facts. Mutual jealousies now prevailed between the deputy and the Earl of Kildare ; in consequence of which they forwarded to England complaints against each other. The result was, that Kildare was named deputy instead of Skeffington. Kildare appointed George Cromer, Archbishop of Armagh, chancellor and keeper of the seals instead of Allen, the archbishop, who was Cardinal Wolsey's favourite. Kildare, in order to strengthen his party, formed alliances MÍth two of the most powerful Irish chieftains, O'Conor-Faly 15324 ^'^^ Nehemias O'CarroU, to each of whom he gave one of his two daughters in marriage. Supported by these allies he declared war against the earl of Ossory, devastated his territories, and CONSl'UiACY AG.VINSl' THE EMU. OF KILDaRP.. 237 carried away itnrr.eiise booty. After tliis O'Neill and his bro- tlier burned the possessions of the English in Howtli, aid car- ried off their cattle without opposition. Meanwhile, Kildare at the head of his forces, marched to assist his son-in-law, O'CarroU, who took possession of the lordship of Eile, after the death of his brother, by virtue of the law of Tanistry, to the preju- dice of his nephew, who took possession of Birr, where he was besieged by the deputy, who received a musket ball in the head which very much affected him in after life. These facts are to be read in Ware's Annals. At this time a conspiracy 1533. was formed against the earl of Kildare, by Skeffington, whom he supplanted, by Allen, Archbishop of Dublin, whom he deprived of the office of chancellor, and by the earl of Osscry, his brother-in*law. Allen was commissioned by the Privy Council in Dublin to go to England, and represent the state of the decline of the English province, and the many abuses that resulted from the alleged maladministration of the earl of Kildare, who was summoned to England, to account for his conduct. Before his departure, he fortified the castles of Maynooth, Ley, and other places; he appointed his son Thomas, vice deputy in his place, with directions to be guided in every 1534. thing by the wisdom of his council. On the earl's arrival in England, he was loaded with irons and confined in the tower. With leave of the reader, we will make a short digression from our history, in order briefly to glance at the source of the pretended reformation of religion in England, and make the principal actors in it known to the world. CHAPTER XXII. Before the beginning of the 15th century, all the nations of Europe, with very few exceptions, were united in the same worship, the same sacrifice, the same sacraments, and in subor- 2í]8 fllSTORY OP IRELAND. diiiation to the same head in matters of religion. The very few sects who differed from the common faith, made very little im- pression against the unity of religion, until an ambitious and profligate friar of the order of St. Augustin, Martin Luther of Wirtemberg in Saxony, jealous of the preference, given by Pope Leo. X. to the Dominicans, for preaching indulgences. Having created controversies against the Catholic church in ]517, he was condemned by a bull, issuedby the Pope in 1520. Joined by Andrew Carolstad, Archdeacon of Wirtemberg, and Philip Melancthon, professor of Greek in that university, and protected by the elector of Saxony, he used his pen in publish- ing the most heinous calumnies against the Catholic church, and the Pope, whom he called Antichrist. He married Catherine Boren, a nun whom he seduced from her convent, in defiance of the solemn vows of chastity they had both made, when embracing the monastic life. The first reformers took the name of " Evangelicals," and, afterwards, " Protestants," in 1529, from the protest, made by six princes of the empire against the diet of Spires, which published a decree against them.' Luther was protected by the Landgrave of Hesse, to whom he gave permission to keep two wives; at the same time his doctrine was spread through the north of Germany, the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, and a part of Poland. In order to establish this doctrine, churches were profaned and stript of their ornaments; priests and other religious persons abused, the mass abolished, and every thing changed through the fury of these innovators. Whilst the Lutherans were acting their part in Germany,* another sect, headed by Zuinglius, a priest of Zurich in Switzerland, Oecolompadius, a monk of Basle, and John Calvin, a priest, a native of Noyon in Picardy, were preaching a different doctrine, which brought on them the censures of Luther, who called them " heretic»** * Otiander, c. 9, lib. 2. b Heylin Cosmog., lib. % p. 36. , THE RliFOKMATlOX. 239 and *' blaspkemers," and "possessed by the ui^f-vY," and who " sinned against the Holy Ghost," &c. Calviu got the prece- dence of Zuinglius, atid added some few articles to his doctrine. He was the author of Presbyterianism, " a discipline (sajs Heylin) which was engendered in rebellion^ bom in sedition, and nurtured by faction.^* Eather than see their discipline rejected they determined to depose kings, to destroy kingdoms, and to overthrow the fundamental constitutions of states, as Heylin tells us. This doctrine, called from its author '* Calvinism^*'' was received in Switzerland, some provinces of France, parts of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Poland, Hol- land and Scotland; into the last place it was introduced by John Knox, and others. The principal theologians and writers against these innovators, were, Eckins, Cochleus, and Faber in Germany, Silvester de Prieris, general of the Dominicans in Italy, the theologians of Paris and Louvain, in France and Flanders ; Fisher, Bishop of Salisbury, and Sir Thomas More, in England. But the most celebrated antagonist against Luther was Henry VIII., who wrote a book entitled the "Defence of the Seven Sacraments" which gained for him the title of " Defender of the Faith" from Pope Leo X., the docu- ment conferring the title being signed by twenty-seven cardi- nals. Leo died shortly after, and was succeeded by Adrian VI., a native of Holland, and preceptor to Charles V. Henry VIII., who, at first raised such flattering hopes for the happi- ness of his people, turned to bad account the admirable quali- ties which God gave him. His irregularities, his amours, the blood which he caused to be shed, and the dreadful conse- quences of all his marriages, which proved fatal to almost all his wives, are subjects well known to the whole world. More- over, as this work is not intended as a history of religion, nor of England, it will be chiefly confined to Irish matters. By a pro- cedure hitherto unheard of he declared against the authority ■"^ £10 HISTORY OF IRKLAXD. of tlie P^I-C, au«l proclaiiried himself both spiritual and temporal head of the church of England. Such was the origin of the *' boasted English reformation" Henry's debaucheries could not be hidden ; after seducing the maids of honor, belonging to the Queen, he became enamoured of Anne Bullen, daughter of Thomas Bullen, and sister of the Duke of Norfolk. "Anne Bullen, was, Sanders says, the offspring of Henry's own intercourse with the wife of Thomas Bullen ; she was a prostitute, from her youth,' to the master of the household, and almoner of Thomas Bullen." Sanders was au Englishman by birth, and cotemporary witness of the facts he relates; he studied at Oxford, where he become Master of Arts and filled the chair of professor of law. It is, therefore, highly improbable that a man of his character and talents, would im- pose on the world such unfounded calumnies, and in the life- time of so many persons who felt interest enough in the matter to refute him, if his statements were false. Cardinal Wolsey, in order to be revenged of Charles V., who did not keep his promise to use his influence in having him appointed to the papal chair, proposed the divorce of Catherine of Arragon, the maternal aunt of Charles. For this purpose he gained over to his views, Long- land, Bishop of Lincoln, the king's confessor, who advised Henry to send to Pope Clement VIL to appoint competent authority to investigate the matter. Cardinal Campegio was, accordingly, sent over. The queen protested against the pro- ceedings, and told Wolsey, he was the cause and main spring of all her misfortunes, and that God would be his Judge on the last day. Wolsey, in the meantime, fell into disgrace, and died of dysentery in the most abject poverty and distress. He is re- presented by the poet as having said to Cromwell, at his death, " Had I but served God as diligently as I have served my king, he would not have given me over in ray grey hairs." Such has been, and ever will be the wretched end of every man > 'f^mr CHARACTER OF CROMWKLL. 241 of unsubdued ambition. Henry, by bribes, threats, and large sums of money, obtained from the Academies of England, decisions favourable to the divorce. The queen, though she was informed of these proceedings, still persisted in her ap- peal, and said that she would consent to nothing, without the advice of the emperor, her nephew, and the Pope who was the best judge of her rights. In the meantime, William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the greatest men that England ever produced, died, and was succeeded by Cranmer who artfully concealed his marriage from Henry, who appointed him ; though married, he did not hesitate to receive the Pope's bulls. He adopted the principles of Lutlier. Henry could no longer restrain his passion for Anne BuUen, to whom he was privately married by Roland Lee, afterwards Bishop of Lichfield. The marriage was shortly after known to the public, though the sentence of divorce was not yet pro- nounced. Cranmer, invested, by Henry, with authority, who was now declared supreme head of the church of England, joined by the bishops of London, Wells, Winchester, and Lincoln, declared the marriage of Catherine with the king, null and void, and that of Anne Bullen valid ; a parliament held, at this time, decreed, that all cases wherein appeal had been usually made to the Pope, should be settled by the king and his council. They also declared that Mary, the daughter of Catherine, should be considered illegitimate, and that Elizabeth, the offspring of incest and discord, was heiress to the crown. The Pope in the interim, with his consistory of cardinals, declared the marriage of Catherine with the king, valid, and issued a bull of excommunication against Henry and Anne Bullen, unless they appeared in Rome, to put an end to the scandal they had given. But the heart of Henry being hardened, he trifled with the ecclesiastical censure, as he tca^ declared supreme head of tkc Church of England by several * 18 242 HISTORY OF IRIXAND. parliamentary statutes.» Meanwhile, the sanguinary executions of Fisher, More, and many others, for denying the king's su- premacy, filled the minds of all with disgust and horror, yet no one had the fortitude to oppose the king's supremacy openly. Henry appointed as his spiritual vicar general, Cromwell, who was the son of a butcher, and, at one time, enlisted as a common soldier; having afterwards, entered the service of Cardinal Wolsey, he became a member of parliament and won the esteem of the king, who appointed him inspector general of all the convents and religious houses in England. This man was a Lutheran, and the intimate friend of Cranmer, who, together with him, went through the visitation of their respective dioceses , this was followed by the suppression of 376 monasteries, the lands and revenues of which were granted to the king by an act of parliament sanctioning this sacrilegious plunder. In the meantime, Catherine of Arragon,** having witnessed the raar- trydom of John Forrest, a Franciscan, her confessor, and 35 others in her cause, and hearing of the tragical end of Fisher and More, died overwhelmed with afflictions in the castle of Kimbolton, in Huntingdon. Prior to her death she wrote a letter to Henry, expressing her forgiveness, and praying that God would forgive him, and recommending to his particular cliarge their daughter, Mary. The king read the com- munication, his eyes bathed in tears; after her death he ordered the household to be put in mourning, but Anne Bullen, through joy, dressed herself and her attendants in yellow. She was, four months, afterwards, accused, and found guilty of incest and j53g adultery ; her father, Thomas Bullen, being one of her judges, was the first to pronounce her guilty. She was executed to- gether with George, her brother, Henry Norris, William Brereton, Francis Weston, and Mark Smeton, the accomplices of her guilt. The day after the execution, Henry married Saundera, Ang. Schism., lib. I, p. 124. *> Baker's Chron., p. 233. 1535. EXEC/uTION OF CROMWKLL. 24)3 Jane Se^^mour, daughter of Sir John Seymour, and sister to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. Jane died in child-bed at Hampton Court, after being deli- vered of Edward, who was afterwards King of England. Henry, after being two years a widower, married Anne, sister to the Duke of Cleves ; at the instigation of Cromwell, who was now created Earl of Essex ; the marriage was performed by Cranmer. A few months after the marriage, the king conceiving a dislike for Anne of Cleves, the parliament declared his marriage with her null and void. Cromwell was arrested and declared as a heretic and traitor, and executed on Tower Hill. Eight days after the marriage of Anne was declared in- vahd, the king married Catherine Howard, daughter of Lord Edward Howard, and niece to the Duke of Norfolk. Eighteeu years after her marriage she was accused and convicted of incon- tinence both before and after her marriage ; she was beheaded with Durham and Colpeper, the accomplices of her guilt. Henry now married a sixth wife, Catherine Parr, widow of John Nevill, Lord Latimer; she had the good fortune to survive him, and by this means escaped the unhappy fate of those who went before her. This short, digression was necessary, in order to give the reader a brief account of the commence- ment of the Reformation in England, and lay before his view some of the domestic affairs of Henry VIII. We shall now resume where we left off. CHAPTER XXIIL 1^!«' Thomas Fitzgerald, who was appointed deputy, hearing that his father was beheaded in the tower, and that the like fate awaited himself and his family ; by the advice of James de la Hide, his favorite, having formed alliances wilh O'JVeill, O'Connor, and other Irish noblemen, at the head of HO horsemen, well armed, and mounted, marched through the 244 HISTORY OF IRLL.OD. city of Dublin, to tlie abbey of our Lady, where the privy council was sitting. He presented the sword of justice to Cromer, the chancellor, and declared that he was no longer the king's deputy, but his enemy, and that he would make him feel for his tyranny and cruelties. The O'Tooles seized on this opportunity of plundering the territory of Fingal. Whilst they were carrying off great booty, they were attacked by the citizens of Dublin, who with difficulty escaped to the city, eighteen of their party having been killed. Fitzgerald, in the meantime, threatened to besiege the city of Dublin. Francis Herbert, one of the sheriffs, was sent to England, to inform the king of the rebellion, and the other, John Fitzsimons, undertook the defence of the castle on the faith of the citizens of Dublin, who promised to remain neuter. Fitzgerald sent Captains Field, Tel- ling, Wafer, Broad, Bouks and Purcell, each at the head of 100 men, to invest the castle. Herbert returned with orders from the king to the citizens of Dublin to make a vigorous defence, and that he would send them immediate assistance. They accor- dingly closed the gates of the city and arrested the besiegers. Field with a part of his arm} swam across the river, and the rest were made prisoners. Fitzgerald, after defeating at Jerpoint, young Butler, eldest son of the earl of Ossory, who refused to join the insurrection, proceeded to Dublin, to punish the citizens for the infraction of the treaty, and to release the pri- soners. He changed the course of the river, which supplied the city with water, and was in the act of burning the gates when a report was circulated in his camp, that a large body of English had arrived, and were going to make a general sally, which was so effectually attempted by the citizens, that the be- siegers dispersed and abandoned the works. Sometime before this, Allen, Archbishop of the city, and chief baron of the ex- chequer, in the act of escaping was surprised by Fitzgerald, and his partisans in the village of Tartain, near Clontarf ; he was ■' .'--.. ^ín. 1 EXECUnON OF THE EARL OF KILUARE. 245 dragged from his bed by Telling and Wafer, and his brains dashed out in the presence of Fitzgerald. This was the fate of the man who was the principal tool of VVolsey in the de- struction of 40 monasteries in England. George Brown succeeded him as Archbishop of Dublin. Sir William Skeffington was appointed deputy by the king : and a division of troops, consisting of 180 men under the com- mand of Mnsgrave, on their arrival in Hovvth, were attacked by Fitzgerald, at the head of 200 horse; he killed some of them, and sent the rest prisoners to his castle at Maynooth. Captain O'llourke seized on their transport vessels at Howth. The Eglebees and Dacres landed shortly after with a body of cavalry, Sir William Brereton with 250 soldiers, and Captain Salisbury with 200 archers. Skeffington, accompanied by Lord Grey, arrived, but he was obliged, owing to the approach of winter, to put off his expedi- tion against Fitzgerald until the spring following. Meanwhile Fitzgerald had the castles of Maynooth, Portlester, Rathangan, Carlow, Ley, ^nd Athy, well fortified and provided with all kinds of warlike stores, and made several irruptions, during the winter, into the English province. Whilst the earl of A.D. Kildare, was collecting troops from O'Connor, and his other 1535. allies in Connaught,» Skeffington attacked the castle of May- nooth, which held out against the besiegers for 15 days, and would have held out until the arrival of Kildare, but for the treachery of the governor, Christopher Parese, Kildare's foster brother, who gave up the castle for a stipulated sum of money ; after the receipt of the reward of his treachery, the deputy ordered him to be beheaded, Skeffington, liaving placed a garrison in Maynooth, marched to Naas to meet the earl of Kildare, whom he defeated, and took the castle of Eathangan, which was again re-taken by Kildare, by stratagem. » Ware de Annals Hib , cap. 27- 246 HISIORY OK IRKLAND. He caused a herd of cattle to be driven before the castle; the garrison having gone out to seize the booty, were cut off in their retreat by Kildare and his' party, who were concealed in the environs of the castle. In this year, Lord James Butler was created viscount Tliurles, and he and his father the earl of Ossory, named governors of the counties of Kilkenny, Waterlbrd, and Tipper a ry and the districts of Ossory and Ormoiul, on condition of retaking the castle of Duugarvan, and vigorously resisting the Pope's authority. Leonard, Lord Grev, was created viscount Grane, and Thomas Eustace was made baron of KilcuUen, and subsequently created viscount Baltiiiglass. Sir Hichard Power was made baron of Croghmore. Lord Grey, who had returned to Ireland, with a reinforcement of cavalry and archers under the command of Sir William Senlo, Sir R'ce Mansel, and Sir Edward Griffith, was sent in pursuit of the earl of Kildare, who surrendered on condition of receiving general pardon. But the unfortunate earl and his five uncles were sent prisoners to London, where they were convicted of high treason, and executed at Tyburn, One youth, Gerald by name, a boy of twelve years, escaped the common ruin of the f«imilv. AD. "This infant, by the vigilance of his guardians, was secreted and conveyed to his aunt, the widow of MacCarthy (Riavach), Irish dynast of South Munster. This lady, solicitous to pre- serve the remaining hope of her noble family consented to a second marriage with another Irish chieftain, called O'Donnel. on the express condition that he would protect her nephew ; but soon convinced of the insincerity of her wt'H husband, who sought to recommend himself to the English government, by delivering up this youth, she conveyed him into France, where the king entertained him, and, when Henry had the meanness to demand him as a rebel subject, favoured his escape to Planders. The like demand was made to the emperor, when 1536. IfiSCAPE OB HIS SON TO FRANCE. 247 this young lord had escaped to his court, but with like success. He was permitted to seek the protection of Cardinal Pole, who in defiance of his declared enemy, King Henry, received lord Gerald as his kinsman, educated him suitably to liis birth, and by his favour and support, preserved him to regain the honors of the family of Kildare/' Leland, vol. 2, Book 8, c. 6, p. 1B4. " Young Gerald, having filled high posts on the con- tinent, was restored to bis estates by Edward VI., and after- wards to his titles and honors by Queen Mary." Taff'e's Ireland, p. 322. This one fact should influence the illustrious house of Kildare to resist any aggression on Catholics, and it is only just to say, that the present distinguished duke of Leinster and his accotnplished son, the marquis of Kildare, have been consistent friends of civil and religious liberty. After the execution of the Fitzgeralda of Kildare, James Fitz- maurice, page to Henry VIIT., obtained leave from the king to come to Ireland to assert his right to the title and estates of the house of Desmond. He was killed near Fermoy, by his relative Maurice Fitzgerald, who afterwards met the like fate. All the male offspring of this family were killed in the last war of earl Garrett. Brown,* a friar of the order of St. Augustine, inaugurated archbishop of Dublin in 1535, was one of the commissioners appointed by Henry VIII. to super- sede the Pope's authority, and to establish the ecclesiastical supremacy of the king. He was the first of the Irish clergy who embraced the Protestant religion iu Ireland. Cromer, primate of Armagh, at the synod held in Dublin, withdrew when Browne, the tool of Cromwell, had introduced his daring innovation. He called together the suffragans of his province and warned them against the scandalous doctrine. Lord Grey on the death of Skiffington, was deputy under Henry duke of * Ware de Archiep. Dub. »» 248 HIs'TOIlY OK IHE(.AND. Richmond, natural son of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth Blount. He convened a parliament which was adjourned to Kildare,Cashe], Limerick, and Dublin, for the purpose of having it supposed that Henry's supremacy might be recognised in different places, I hough the parties present were the same. This peripatetic parliament was composed solely of Englishmen by birth, or origin, selected from the Pale. The substance of their enactments was this : All the accomplices of the earl of Kildare were declared guilty of high treason, and their estates confiscated for their king's use. All English absentees should return and reside on their estates in Ireland, under pain of forfeiture. In consequence of this, the estates of the duke of Norfolk, Lord Bakely, tlie earl of Waterford and Shrewsbury, the heirs of the earl of Ormond, the abbots of Furnes and St. Augustin of Bristol, the priors of Christ's church of Canterbury, the abbots of Ken- tesham, Ossory, and Bath, &c., should be vested in the king. A law was passed abolishing the tribute paid by the English colonists to the Irish nobles, and prohibiting the English to intermarry with the Irish, (This act was repealed under James I.) A law was passed forbidding further appeals to be made to the pope, and abolishing his authority under heavy pains and penalties, and all persons holding livings, were ordered to take an oath to maintain the king's prerogative. Their refusal was considered high^ treason. John Travers, a secular priest, who maintained the Pope's supremacy was the first victim of this penal law ; his fingers were cut off, and himself thrown into a fire,* as Lynch relates at page 205. This parliament granted to the king, and his successors for ever, the 20th part of the revenues of the secular livings, abbeys, friaries, and religious houses in Ireland, and enacted that none should be appointed to livings, only those who CambreDsis Eversus, p. 205. «.«■ K»T?^3^?|!í'^i^^^^^- '^ ■■"'• '■■■■■ ^l'-f'^/^-'vf^^ :.'^r--^il^T:-.:^ ^' - • \"; ■..;,— 1' ' ■" ■' y'-^5'".'jvíj?!. CONFISCATION OK CHURCH PKOPERIY. gjrí) adopted the English customs. It ordered the supprerision of the abbeys of Bectiv, Trim, *Dousk, Duleek, Holm Patrick in Down, Baltinglase, Graige-na-managh, Teagh Moling, *Dumbroody, *Tintern, Ballybogan, Haggis, Ferns; and St. Walstans in the county Kildare, (The heads of those houses thus maijced *, together with the following, were lords Spiritual, having seats in parliament), Mellifont, St. Thomas, in Dublin, and All Hallowes, near Dublin, Jerpoint, Traoton, Magie, Owney, Rossglasser, Monasterevin, and Eattoo in Kerry. The priories, that were suppressed, were St. John of Jerusalem, Holy Trinity, Christ's church, in Dublin, St. Peter's, near Trim, Congal, and St. Walstans in Kildare, Kenlis in Ossory, St. Patrick in Down, All Saints near Dublin, Athassel, Killagh, and the priory of the Blessed Virgin in Louth, &c. The above are only the principal of all the Irish religious houses that were suppressed. As to England' and Wales there were suppressed 663 monasteries, 90 colleges, 4 chantries and free chapels, and 110 hospitals. In the mean time, O'Connor and his vassals made incursions into the territory of Carbery, and. Brabazon, the vice treasurer, marched into Offaly, and obliged O'Connor to return to defend his own country. O'Neil, prince of Ulster, compelled the de- puty to renew the treaty concluded some time before witli Skeffington his predecessor. James Butler, viscount of Thur- les, laid waste the estates of the earl of Desmond, in Limerick, by orders of the government. The deputy after destroying O'Brien's bridge, and the castle, and concluding a dishonourable treaty with O'Connor of OEFaly,'' (as Cox tells us, page 232,) turned his arms against the O'Cavanaghs, O'Carrolls, O'Mulloys, &c., whose submission he received, and surprised the castles of Eglish, Birr, and Modrimege. O'Kennedy of Ormond, O'Brien A..D. Arra, O'Maol Bryan of Owney, Ulic Bourke of Clanricard, * Same's Remembrancer, page 152. *" Cox, Hist, of Ireland, p. 232. 250 HISTORY OP IRKLAKD. A.D. *"d Theobald Bourke Mac William, submitted shortly after. 1537. His next march was to Limerick, where the mayor, bishop and aldermen, took the oath of supremacy, and renounced the authority of the Pope. Through Thomond he moved on towards Connaught, and took the castles of Clare, Ballycolame, and Ballyclare, which last place he gave up to Ulic Bourc, and advanced towards Gal way, where he and his army were enter- tained by the corporation for seven days; the mayor and alder- men took the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and renounced the Pope's authority. The deputy, after receiving the submis- sion of O'Flaherty, O'Madden, Mac Feoris, (Berraingham;) and O'Connor Mac Henry, took a castle in the territory of the MacCoghlans. From Galwayhe went to Maynooth. The^Earl of Desmond, who was still in arms, concluded a treaty with the deputy, and sent his natural son, Thomas Ruadh, (red,) as an hostage to England, whither he went himself afterwards, and was kindly received by the king, who reinstated him iu his ancient patrimony. O'Neill, of Ulster, collected his forces, in order to take the castle of Ardglassin Lecale. The deputy sent troops to meet him, but a treaty being entered into between both parties, their armies were disbanded. In this year, Sir Anthony Saint Leger, Sir George Pawlet, Sir Thomas Moyle, and Sir William Barnes, were sent to Ireland, as commissioners to investigate the cir- cumstances connected with the late rebellion, and to grant an amnesty. These were instructed to regulate the king's reve- nues, to let the crown lands in farms, and to value the estates of the Earl of Kildare, which amounted to £893 11«. Hd. They reconciled the deputy, (Grey,) and the Earl of Ossory, who resumed the title of Ormond, (the house of Bullen having became extinct.) The deputy entered the County of Down with his forces, took the castle of Dundruin, belonging to Mac Gennis, burned the cathedral of Down, destroyed the ■.■8J»(^«!=?|HTW.Í TITLES OP HONOtt. £51 ^ jy monuoaents of 8.S. Patrick, Bridget, and Columbkill, burued 1538. the statue of the Blessed Virgin at Trim, the crucifix of the abbey of Ballybogan, and the crozier of Saint Patrick, which was removed from Armagh to Dublin, in the 12th century. Gilbert, in his history of the city of Dublin, attributes this im- pious act to the apostate Brown of Dublin. While the deputy was thus employed, O'Connor and O'Toole, made incursions on the English of the Pale, to avenge the tyranny exercised on them.' The deputy, (Grey,) made an expedition into Ulster, against^Conn O'Neill, where he laid waste the country about Armagh, and carried away immense booty> O'Neill, assisted by O'Douuell, Maguire, Mac Gennis, O'Cane, O' Han- Ions, and others, wasted the English possessions from Atherdee, in Louth, to Navan in Meath, and burned these towns. The de- puty, having received additional reinforcements from England, and being joined by James Fleming, baron of Slane, and others, 253J surprised O'Neill in his camp at Bellahoa; the engagement was bloody, and lasted until night put an end to the carnage. The Irish lost 400 man, and Mac Gennis, one of tiieir chiefs, the English having lost about the like number, with general Mabe. After this action, the deputy conferred the order of knighthood on Aylmer, Talbot of Malahide, Fitzsimons, mayor of Dublin, and Courcy, Mayor of Drogheda. While Grey was thus engaged, O'Connor Faly, and O'Toole, ravaged the En- glish province. Lord Grey, the Lord Justice, having been recalled to England, entrusted the administration of affairs to Sir William Brereton, who marched at the head of 8,000 troops and artil- 1540. lery against O'Neill, O'Donnel, O'Brien, and O'Connor, who were determined to make an effort in favor of their liberty and religion. They, however, deeming it more prudent to wait for * Cox, Hist. Ireland, p. 255. ^ Do. p. 264. , ■ ;-^ 1541». 262 HISIOIIV OK IREl-ANl). a more ftivorable opportunity, withdrew for the time. Grey being accused of malpractices by tlie Earl of Ormond, Allen, the chancellor, Brabazon, the treasurer, and Sir John Travers, was beheaded on Tower hill. Sir Anthony St. Leger being Lord Deputy of Ireland, named Brereton Lord Marshal, whom he sent to Munster, to receive the allegiance of James Fitzjohn, Earl of Desmond. Brereton died on the way at Kilkenny, and was buried there, in the church of St. Canice. The king conferred titles of honor on some of the Irish lords. Plunket was made baron of Dunsany, and Oliver Plunket, baron of Louth,' Edmond Butler, baron of Dunboyne, William Birming- A.D. ham, baron of Carbery, John Rawson, Prior of Kilmainham, viscount of Clontarf, and Thomas Eustace, viscount Baiting- lass. The deputy held a parHament, the first act of which was to declare Henry VIII. the " King," not " Lord," of Ireland ; the latter was the Irish title of the English monarchs up to this date. Hence the representative of Majesty in Ireland is to be designated "Viceroy;" the king being hitherto only "Lord of Ireland," his representative could be but Deputy Lord, or Chief Justiciary. This parliament placed at the king's disposal all the abbey lands of Ireland, which he divided among his nobles, courtiers, and flatterers, reserving for himself a portion of their revenue. Another act was, at the same time, passed, to the effect that none but 40-shilling freeholders should vote at elections, and that, on the death, resignation, or absence of the Chief Governor, the Chancellor should send circulars to the Privy Counsellors in the English province" to assemble and elect an Englishman by birth or descent to fill that office. Conn O'Neill, after losing his relative, the Earl of Kildare, * Nicholas, " Rudiments of Honor." •> This year the Jesuits first came to Ireland. Jolin Codur was the first of the order in the country. « Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford, Wa- terford, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. ORIGIN OF THE o'bRIKN KA.MILY. 253 repaired to Maynooth, where he made peace with the viceroy, St. Leger; many of the Irish chieftains followed his example viz. O'Carroll, O'Moore, O'MuUoy, O'Connor, O'Donnel, O'Flaherty, O'Rourke, &c. The nobles of English extraction followed their example, viz. Barry, Roche, Birmingham, and Mac Quilan. James Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond, also made his submission to the king, who admitted him to the council of Ireland. The O'Byrnes surrendered the town and castle of r42 Wicklow to the king, who gave orders to erect their country into a county, called Wicklow. Henry VIII., finding it impossible to subdue the Irish by force, endeavoured to decoy them by the pompous titles of Lords. But the Irish nobles entertained too deep a sense of their own nobility to submit to these empty titles of honor, thinking they were intended as the price of their liberty, and a distinguishing mark of their apostacy. Some few, however, were base enough to abandon their hereditary titles, and accept the new ones. O'Neill, hitherto Prince, was created Earl of Tyrone, which title was scornfully rejected by his son Shane (John) after his father's death. Heiiry created Morrogh O'Brien, Earl of Thomond, settled on him the lands of the priory of Inuis-na-gananagU (island of the Canons) on the river Shannon, and conferred on his son and iiis descendants the title of baron of Inchiquin, in the county of Clare, also the revenues of the abbeys of that country. The pedigree of this ancient and illustrious family is given elsewhere in this volume, likewise in the first volume. Brien Mac Giolla Phadruig, hitherto prince, was made baron of Ossory, and obtained from the king the convent of the Dominicans of Aghavo, and the priory of the regular canons of Aglinacart. Henry VIII. conferred on Ulick Bourke the title of baron of Dunkellin, and earl of Clanrickard, in the county of Gal way. On him were bestowed the revenues of the abbey De via Nova, of Clonfert, and all the religious houses 2r)4 HISTORY OP IRELAND. ill his district. He died shortly after at his honse at Iioughrea, and his two sons, by different wives, disputed his title and succession. The sons were, Richard, by Grace O'CarroU, and John, by Maria Lynch, with whom he lived during tlie life- time of his former wife. To investigate tlie matter the viceroy appointed commissioners, who decided in favor of Richard. By the spoils of churches, and the lands that were confiscated, the scions of the Anglo-Irish nobles supported themselves in splendor and magnificence, while their equals in birth, and their superiors in virtue, were sacrificed for their attachment to the religion and liberty of their country. This is a matter of history. • St. Leger, the Lord Lieutenant, being summoned to England, A.D. was created Knight of the Garter for his services, and was ^^**' ordered back to Ireland. After his return he reconciled O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and O'Donnell, prince of Tyrconnel, and obliged the latter to pay O'Neill a tribute of 60 oxen for the peninsula of Inishowen. Henry VIII. being engaged in war with France, demanded assistance from the viceroy, who sent him 700 men, commanded by Poer, Finglass, and Sherlock. The Irish, by their skill and valor, rendered important services to the king at the seige of Boulogne, according to the testimony of Cox and Holling- shed. St. Leger, and James Butler, Earl of Ormond, having accused each other of high treason, were both summoned to appear before the king and council in England, where they were acquitted, and St. Leger resumed his office of viceroy. The Earl of Ormond and 1 6 of his servants died of poison at a repast in Holborn, near London. Henry VIII. did not openly avow himself a reformer, he was only a schismatic ; he published a declaration in favor of six celebrated articles viz. Transubstantiation, communion under one kind, celibacy of priests, obligation of keeping 1545 AD. 1547. DEATH OP HENRY VIII. 255 VOWS, private masses, and auricular confession, and made death the penalty of the open denial of any of them. Henry's death was shortly after caused by dropsy, and an ulcer in his leg. When he felt his end approaching he sent for Cranmer, at the in- stigation of Sir Anthony Denny, a member of the privy council. When Cranmer arrived, the king was speechless, but he squeezed Cranmer's hand, as a sign that he died in the faith of Christ. He died in 154)7, aged 56. He was (ac- cording to Salmon, page 274,) " a bad king, a bad husband, and a bad Christian/' having "never spared man in his anger, nor tooman in his lust^ He supported his profligacy and debauchery, by the immense wealth of colleges, mo- nasteries, hospitals, the silver ornaments and vessels of these houses, the spoils of Cardinals, of Wolsey and Cromwell, his vicar general ; and the extensive estates of several noblemen, which were confiscated for his use. Hence, from the con- sciousness of his crimes, he died in despair. CHAPTER XXIV. Edward VI., only son of Henry VIII., by Jane Seyatour, was crowned king at Westminster, in 1547, being only nine years old. During his minority, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, afterwards Duke of Somerset, his maternal uncle, was protector of his person and kingdom. This nobleman was a Zuingtian," and all who professed that doctrine were raised to the first dignities, and most important offices of the state. Cranmer was a Lutheran, whose errors were adopted by the king, though educated a Catholic. England was at this time infested with swarms of preachers, professing different doctrines, viz.. Cox, Latimer, Bucre, Ochin, Fagius, &g. * Legraad's History of Divorce, vol. 1, page 287. 256 lIlsrrOIlY OF IIIELAMD. This schism appeared dangerous to the parliament, which adopted certain articles uf the tenets of each sect, and added a portion of Calvinism, which was then becoming popular. " Mass was abolished, marriage of priests allowed, images re- moved from tlie churches, the liturgy read in the English language,' the six articles established by Henry VIII. annulled, bishops deprived of their sees, and confined in dungeons, the revenues, vessels, and ornaments of the churches converted to profane uses;** in fine, a new liturgy established, instead of the old one, which alarmed some of the English in- habitants, who took up arms, in defence of the religion of their fathers." St. Leger was continued as Deputy of Ireland j he had orders from the king to grant pensions to the canons and prebendaries* of St. Patrick's Cathedral, which had been suppressed, and to give the silver, jewels, and ornaments of that church, to the dean and chapter of the Cathedral of Holy Trinity. At this time, two noblemen of the house of Fitzgerald, who joined the O'Tooles, were arrested, and with other persons, sent prisoners to DubHn, where they were all put to death. A re- inforcement of 600 horse and 400 infantry landed this year at Waterford, under the command of Edward Bellingham. This force, joined by the viceroy, entered the district of Leix and Offally, where they proclaimed O'Moore and O'Connor, traitors to the state, dispersed their vassals, and repaired : * In 1550 \t was first read in that language in Christ Church, Dublin. It vas the first book ever printed in Dublin ; Humphry Powell was the printer. In 1551 George Brown, an Englishman, Catholic Archbishop of DubliUf was the first of the Irish clergy who threw off submission to the Pope ; and to mark his obedience to the will of his abandoned king, ordered that hence- forward the church service should be in English. The bible was first trans- Isited into English, and printed A.D. 1535, and presented in the churches of England in 1538. '•Baker's Chron., p. 304. i^jr- RKIGN OF ED-VTART) VI. 257 j^ jj the forts of Philipstown, and Marvborough. BelHngham re- 1548. ceived the honor of knighthood for his services. Brabazon re- paired and fortified the Castle of Athlone by order of the privy council. St. Leger brought to England O'Moore and O'Connor as prisoners. They, however, received, each, his par- don, and a pension of 100 pounds a year, during life. Sir Edward Bellingham, who was St. Leger's successor, quarrelled with Francis Brian, an Englishman, who married the Countess Dowager of Ormond. Brian was Marshal of Ireland, and Governor of the Counties of Tipperary and Kilkenny. Bel- lingham was ordered to England to answer for his conduct, and Sir Fraticis Brian was made viceroy, but he did not long en- joy his office, as he died at Clonrael on his way to quell some dis- ' turbances in the county of Tipperary. Sir William Brabazon then taking the reins of government, marched towards Limerick, where he received the submission of Teigue O'CarroU, who some time previously, destroyed the Castle of Nenagh, not- withstanding the spirited resistance of the English garrison.' The Lord Justice reconciled the Earls of Desmond and Tho- mond, whose differences had long disturbed the peace of the province. Cormac Roe O'Connor, being proclaimed traitor, surrendered and received his pardon, but being possessed of extensive estates, (which was then a crime for an Irishman), he was arrested by the Earl of Clanrickard, and sent to Dublin, where he was condemned and executed. An Irish brigade, under the command of Donogh, son of O'Connor-Faly, and the sons of Cahir O'Connor, were despatched at this time to Scotland, to assist King Edward in his war against the Scotch, which war was caused by the king's wish to get married to Mary Stuart, in order to unite Scotland with England.'' Henry II., King of France, sent for the heiress of Scotland j she was afterwards married to his son, Francis II. The for- • Cox'i History of Ireland, p. 285. ^ Baker's Chron. of Irelaod. 19 258 HISTORY OF IKKLAND. A..D. ^^"^ at *^^Í8 time ordered to Scotland a fleet, consisting of 1550. ] gQ vessels loaden with provisions, powder, and cannon, but being overtaken by a storm, 18 of the vessels were wrecked on the coast of Ireland, and the rest, having retarned with difficulty, reached the coast of France. The King of Eng- land, in order to counteract the designs of France against hifl dominions, sent a fleet of 20 vessels under the command of Lord Cobham, to cruise in the Irish Sea, from the north to the south of the island. Notwithstanding his precautions, a league was formed between the King of France, and the Princes of Ulster, O'Neill and O'Donnel, through the skill and dexterity of the Marquis de Fuorquevaux, and the pro- tonotary, De Montluc, who were sent over for that purpose. This league proved, afterwards, abortive, in consequence of the peace between France and England. St. Leger was re-appointed Lord Deputy; after his arrival he received the submission of MacCarthy, and Charles MacArt O'Cavanagh, who was already proclaimed a traitor. He surrendered his possessions in the presence of the Earls of Desmond, Tyrone, Thomond, Clan- rickurd, and other noblemen. The lands of these Irish Chiefs were peculiarly attractive to the crowds of the hungry English adventurers, who came to Ireland to seek a fortune how best they could. Richard Butler, son of Peter, Earl of Ormond, was created viscount Mountgarret in the October of this year, as can be seen in " Nicholas's Buduments of Honor." The viceroy had orders to compel the archbishops, bishops, priests, &c., to conform to the English liturgy. This innovation was vigorously opposed by George Dowdal, Archbishop of Armagh, a grave, learned, and able preacher ; on his refusal he was de- prived of the title of Primate, and obliged to seek shelter in a foreign country. The reader is referred to O'Brennan's ec- clesiastical history of Ireland, for an account of the fiery ordeal through which the clergy of Ireland went at this time. St. Leger RESTOUATIOIÍ OF THK TITZGERALDS. 259 was HOW removed and Sir James Crofts, a zealous Protestant, substituted. Crofts' first expedition was to Ulster, where, on his arrival, he sent Captain Bagnall, with a detachment, to sur- prise Bathlin, an island, near Antrim. The detachment was re- pulsed with a heavy loss, and Bagnall taketi prisoner by the MacDonnels, who exchanged him for their brother that was kept in confinement in Dublin. The Viceroy, on his return to Dublin, arrested the Earl of Tyrone, on account of some complaints, made against him, by his son, Ferdorach O'Neill, Baron of Duugannon. His brothers, in order to revenge the insult offered to the father, gave the baron battle, and defeated him with a loss of 200 men, in killed. Siiortly after this, and while the Baron of Dungannon, was on his way to join the English army, he was surprised in his camp, by his brother, Shane O'Neill, who killed some of his men, and the rest he routed. Somerset, who was already deprived of the protectorship, was accused of high treason by A.D. the Duke of Northumberland, and beheaded on Towerhill. 1552 The Fitzgeralds of Kildare were restored to their estates and titles, in the person of Gerald, brother to Thomas, last Earl of Kildare, who with his five uncles, were executed in England. On this point the reader's attention is directed back a few pages. A bloody engagement took place at this time, between Sir Nicholas Bagnall, and MacMorrogh ; the loss was heavy on both sides, and lihe victory uncertain. Meanwhile, the English garrison at Athlone, pillaged the Church of Cluain-MacNoise, without sparing the books, or the sacred utensils. Donogh O'Brien, after the death of Morrogh, Earl of Thomond^ was by Edward, confirmed in that title, and his male heirs for ever. His brothers, Donald and Tirlogh, looking upon the title as the seal of slavery, and the dishonor of a house, up to that time free and independent^ took, by storm, his castle at Clonrode, in the county of Clare, and put the garrison to the sword . The earl • . -I^ 260 HISTORY OF IRKLAXD. was found aiuoiig the slain. His son, Connor, succeeded to the titles and estates of the father. i ' In the meantime, Neil MacPhelim, who was in the interest of the English, was killed on the road to MuUingar, by his re- lative, Teigoe Roe O'Melaghlin, who met with the like fate, in a battle, fought against the garrison of Athloue ; his estate was, after that, confiscated. Meanwhile, a battle was fought be- tween Richard Bourke, and the children of Thomas Bourke, (Backagh), Richard was made prisoner, leaving 150 of his men dead on the field. Richard, Earl of Clanrickard, entered the lands of John Burke, with an army, and laid siege to his castle, but hearing that O'Brien was coming to his assistance, he raised the siege and did not wait the event of a battle. Edward VI. died at Greenwich, aged 16 years, six of which he, reigned. The Duke of Northumberland caused Jane Grey to be pro- claimed Queen ; she was daughter of the Duke of Sufi'olk, grand-niece of Henry VIII., and daughter-in-law to North- umberland, being married to his fourth son, Guildford Dudley. He supported her claim at the head of 10,000 men. But seeing that Mary was joined by all the nobility, he followed the current and proclaimed her Queen. He was arrested the day after by the Earl of Arundel, and sent to the Tower. The reformation advanced with rapid strides, during the reign of Edward, under the protectorship of Somerset and Northumberland, who perverted the authority of an infant king, to gratify their cupidity with sacrilegious plunder, and to enrich the pirates of the court, who had no right by birth to such brilliant fortunes.* , * : A.D. 1553. Mary was crowned by the bishop of Winchester ; she en- tered Loudon, in great pomp and splendor.** She took possession of the Tower, and restored to liberty the old Duke of Norfolk, Lord Courtney, and Stephen Gardiner, the de- ' Heylin, Hist. Reform, p. 99. ^ Ware de Annal. Hib., Reign of Mary. PUNISHMKNT OP THE APOSTATE BISHOPS. 261 posed Bishop of Winchester, whom she appointed keeper of the seals, and Cliancellor of England. She restored to their sees ^ P all the other bishops that were dispossessed. Married men, 1554. who possessed livings in the church, were removed by Queen Mary. George Dowdal, who was now restored by Mary to the Archbishopric and Primacy of Armagh, had orders to de- pose all those bishops, and priests who liad married, and to fill their places with Catholic prelates. The order was executed against Staples, B, of Meath, Brown, AB. of Dublin, Lan- caster, B. of Kildare, and Travers, B. of Leighlin ; Bale, B- of Ossory, and Casey, of Limerick, left the country. All these bishops but one were Englishmen, and the first who preached the reformation in Ireland. Brown was a monk of the Au- gustiniau Order in London,* and appointed to the Archbishopric of Publin, by Henry VIIL, and the first to introduce the re- formation into Ireilhnd. Bale was a monk of the Carmelite Order, obliged to quit England : in consequence of his decla- mation against the Catholic Church he was appointed to the bishopric of Ossory by Edward Yl.; he fled to Basle, in Swit- zerland, in the reign of Mary. The queen was also obliged to makeexamplesof some distinguished personages, viz. the Duke of Northumberland and his two sons, Sir John Gates, Sir Thomas Palmer, Cranmer, Jane Grey, and her husband Lord Guildford. When the marriage of the queen with Philip IL of Spain was mentioned in England, the partizans of the Reformation, fearing that the alliance of the queen with a Catholic prince would put an end to their system, broke out into a rebellion in Kent, in which Wyat was the principal performer. The queen, by the assistance of her brave and faithful subjects, punished the rebels, and shortly after married Philip IL of Spain. Mary re-established the Catholic religion, and, with the consent of her parliament, repealed all the laws which had been » Ware, de Archiep. Dubliniensia. 262 HISTORY OK IRELAND. enacted during the preceding reigns, against the authority and jurisdiction of the Pope. The senate expressed their regret for having consented to enact laws against him. Cardinal Pole, who had just arrived from Rome, in virtue of the power, delegated to him by Pope Julius III., granted them absolution from the censures they incurred by their schism ; and England was once more reconciled to the Holy See.' In the mean timej Sir Anthony Saint Leger, being appointed deputy, received the sword of State from Aylmer and Cusack, his predecessors; and Gerald, ^arl of Kildare, Thomas Duff, Earl of Ormond, and Brian Fitzpatrick, baron of Ossory, after distinguishing them- selves nobly in the war with Sir Thomas Wyat, returned to Ireland. Donald O'Brien, thinking it dishonorable that the princely name of O'Brien should be degraded by the pompons title of earl, joined by the people, took several places from the earl of Thomond, his nephew, who required the aid of the English to maintain him in his possessions. Meanwhile a bloody battle was fought between Hugh O'Neill, of Claneboy, and the earl of Tyrone j the latter was defeated with a loss of . 300 men, and many were made prisoners. O'Neill, of Claneboy, was afterwards shot in a skirmish with the Scotch on his own estate ; his property was divided between Phelim Duff O'Neill, and the children of Phelim Bakagh, (lame.) Sir William Fitzwilliams, Sir John Allen, and Valentine Brown, were sent over as commissioners to regulate the crown lands, by which means they procured settlements for themselves in the country. Brien O'Connor-Faly, who was prisoner in London, was res- tored to liberty by the queen, but on his arrival in Dublin was confined in the castle, lest he might recover his property, of which he had been unjustly deprived. Hugh Curwin, Archbishop of Dublin, was appointed chan- cellor of Ireland this year ; he held a synod, in which regula- tions were made respecting religion. • Baker's Chron. Eng., p,320. CONFISCATION OF LEIX AND OFFALT. 268 In the mean time, Charles O'Donnell, getting some assist- ance from Gilla Easpook Mac Alien, in Scotland, entered Tyrconnel, with an army ; took his father, Man us O'Donnell, prisoner, made himself master of the fortress of Innishowen, and the castle of Enagh, and then dismissed his allies. The O'Cavanaghs, after making some incursions into the A.D. county of DubHn, withdrewtothe fortressof Powerscourt, where they were besieged by a party from Dublin, under the command of Sir George Stanley; they were taken prisoners, and brought to Dublin, where 74 of them were put to death. Saint Leger resigned the insignia of office to Thomas Radcliffe, Viscount ritzwalter, who was appointed Lord Lieutenant in his stead. The latter defeated the Scotch Highlanders at Carrickfergus, with a loss of 200 killed, and several made prisoners. Eory and Donogh O'Connor, were, at this time, declared traitors, and their lands laid waste by the English troops. A 1557. parliament was held in Dublin, in which all the acts passed against the Pope, since the 20th year of the reign of Henry VIIL, were repealed, and all the concessions made by bishop Brown, pronounced null aud void. «The districts of Leix,* Offaly, Iris, Sliev Margi, and Clanmalire, were confiscated for their inajestie's use, and it was decreed, that they should be called the King and Queen's Counties» henceforth. 0' Donovan, in his notes to the Annals of the Four Mastk&s, has erred for want of having consulted the Irish acts of parliament. If he had done so, he would have learned that the confiscation took place in Mary's reign, and that in the same reign a mas- sacre was committed on the native chiefs by the English. This is clearly shown in the first volume of this work. The viceroy, who became Earl of Sussex, by the death of bis father, under- took an expedition to Connaught, to punish the O'Maddens » Irish Statutes, pages 247—8. See Taaffe's Ireland oathis reign. : • Abbe MacGeoghegan, vol. 2, p. 273, bitterly complains of the (A))iise«- tion of Leix, &c., in this year. 264) HISTORY OF IRELAND. for protecting Donogh O'Connor, who was declared a traitor; • he laid siege to the castle of Meelick, on the Shannon, which surrendered. In the October of this year he devastated the lands about Dundalk, Newry, and Armagh, which city he burned. The deputy, being recalled to England, appointed Curwin, the chancellor, and Sydney, secretary at war, his de- puties. The latter, shortly after, filled this commission alone. About this time Maurice O'Cavanagh and Conall O'Moore, J5M '^° ^"'^^ noblemen, being charged with rebellion, though their act was only in defence of their properties and lives, were tried, found guilty, and executed at Leighlin Bridge. Sussex returned to Ireland again as Lord Lieutenant ; be marched to Limerick, at the head of his army, to reduce Donald O'Brien, who renewed the war against his nephew, the Earl of Thomond. He took the castles of Bunratty, and many others in Clare county, and reinstated him (the Earl of Thomond) in his possessions. On his return to Limerick he received the sub- mission of the Earl of Desmond, and stood sponsor for his son, to whom he gave a gold chain. The deputy, Sussex, embarked with his forces- for the island of Rathlin, N,E. of Antrim, in possession of the Scotch Islanders. After his arrival he stript the island, put the inhabitants to the sword, and then sailed for Scotland, where having made land he laid waste Cautyre, and the isles of Arran and Comber in the north ; whence he made back to Dublin. Meanwhile, the Bourkes of Connaught and their allies, the Scotch Islanders, were defeated in a severe engagement with the Earl of Clan- rickard, who cut their forces to pieces. In the mean time, Shane O'Neill was, continually, under arms against his father, the Earl of Tyrone, and his natural brother, the baron of Duugannon. When called on to account for his conduct by the Queen of England, he proudly asserted that he was the real 0*Neill, hereditary prince of Tyrone,' and that the house * Camden, Reiga of Elizabeth, page 69. -ií INDEPENDENT SPIRIT OF SHANE o'nEILL. 265 of O'Neill was degraded by the title of earl, which his father was base enough to receive. At this time the Earl of Desmond, treasurer of Ireland, died, leaving three legitimate sons, Gerald and John, whom he had by the daughter of O'Carroll, aud James, whom he had by the daughter of Mac Carthy. He had another son, Thomas Ruadh (or Rufus) by the daughter of the Viscount of Fermoy, whom he repudiated, and therefore the offspring was considered illegitimate. Queen Mary died in the November of this year (1558), in the forty-second year of her age and sixth of her reign. It is said, the loss of Calais, the absence of her husband, aud the death of her father-in-law, Charles V., hastened her death. The Bishop of Winchester died before her, and Cardinal Pole sixteen hours after. Thus did Catho- licity lose the protection of three of its principal supporters. CHAPTER XXV. THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 1558 Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster by O'Glethorp, bishop „ j. . , ÍOV. 17th. of Carlisle. The ceremony was performed according to the England.' Roman ritual. The contemporary princes were, Ferdinand, emperor of Austria, Henry II. of France, Philip II. of Spain, and Pope Paul IV." The ruling passion of Elizabeth was ambition, and a desire to reign alone, which gave her a distaste for marriage though solicited by many princes of Europe, particularly by Philip II., king of Spain, her brother-in-law, who promised to get a dis- pensation from the Pope for that purpose. Elizabeth declined the offer, knowing well that such a course would invalidate the marriage of her mother, Anne BuUen,** with Henry VIII. Elizabeth now turned her attention to the reformation (!) of religion ; she deputed Parker, Cox, Sir Thomas Smyth, and • Baker's Chron. Eng., reign of Eliz. '' Camden's An. rerum Ang., p. 5. ■■■n £6)6 HISTORY OP IRELAND. others, to correct the Book of Common Prayer and lay it before the public. It was approved of by the parliament, which gave to Elizabeth the ridiculous appellation of " Sovereign Pontiff" or " supreme head of the church,"' though the same parliament never passed an act in favor of her legitimacy. The mass was abolished, altars demolished, and images removed from the churches— ^bishops, who refused to take the oath of supremacy, deprived of their livings and thrown into dungeons, ^mong them were. Heath, archbishop of York, Bonner, bishop of London, Tonstal, bishop of Durham, White of Winchester, Tirlby of Ely, Watson of Lincoln, Pool of Petersborough, Christopherson of Chichester, Bourn of Wellsj Ogle thorp of Carlisle, &c. Parker being nominated to the see of Canterbury, consecrated all the bishops named by the Queen to the vacant sees. This was now the state of religion in haughty and inconsistent England, which changed her faith five times in thirty years, as people change the style of their dress. Knox thb rkfosmer. In the mean time a parliament, composed of men who were English by birth or origin,* was convened in Christ's Church, in Dublin, by Sydney, the Deputy. In this assembly all the laws favorable to the Catholic religion were repealed, and acts similar to those of the English parliament passed and attended with the like baneful consequences, but not rigorously enforced by Elizabeth till after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, for fear of exciting an insurrection in Ireland while she had many foreign enemies to encounter. The laws, made in the reign of Queen Mary against reformers, obliged many of them to seek an asylum in foreign climes. John Knox fled to Genoa,* thence he proceeded to Frankfort, whence, after having for some time preached Calvin's doctrine, * Heylin, Hist. Reform., p. 280. ^ Mac Geoghegan, note, p. 250. • Heylin, ib„ p. 250. KNOX THE rkformer!!! 267 he was expelled by Doctor Eichard Cox, a Protestant reformer. Knox, hearing of the rapid progress of the Presbyterian religion in Scotland, went to that country, where he became the preacher and firebrand of rebellion 155D A.D. He pronounced the most dreadful invectives against the Catholic church, and inveighed in envenomed language against Queen Mary of Scotland, advising the rebels to seek assistance from the Queen' of England, who, in direct violation of the laws of nations, sent assistance to the rebels against their lawful princess, and by their means the French troops were expelled from Scotland, the Queen Dowager deposed, and Mary Queen of Scots, obliged to seek an asylum in England, where, after eighteen years* imprisonment, she was put to death by order of Elizabeth, and James YI. confined in Stirling.** In fine^ the sanguinary wars in England and Ireland under Charles I., his tragical end on the scaffold, the exclusion of his son, Charles II., were the fatal consequences of the fanaticism of the misguided Puritans. A.D. The earl of Sussex returned to Ireland as Lord Deputy in 1560, with orders to arrest the earl of Kildare if he would not go to England ; Sussex was to build castles at Leix and Offaly, and to people these districts with Englishmen. He had it, likewise, in command, to reduce Shane O'Neill by force or otherwise, to invest the baron of Dungannon with the govern- ment of Tyrone, to seize the O'Briens, who resisted the earl of Thomond, and to call a meeting of the clergy, in order to oblige them to take the oath of supremacy. The Irish Catho- lic clergy, steadfast in their attachment to the ancient religion, withheld their cQmpliauce with such an outrage on conscience. In consequence of which William. Walsh, bishop of Meath, was deposed, arrested, and thrown into prison, (as Ware tells us.) Thomas Leverons, bishop of Kildare, was treated in a similar manner, and obliged to gain his livelihood, by teaching Baker's Chron., p. 830. *> Ware's Annals, c.3. 1560 258 HrsroiiY OF ihelaxd. a school in Limerick. Adam Loftus, a violent Protestant, was by Elizabeth, raised to the see of Armagh, vacant by the death of George Dowdall, who died in London, whither he had gone to remonstrate against the cruelties, practised on the Irish Catholics who, viewing with alarm, the inroads that were made on their religion and, not acknowledging the authority of the English, except by compulsion, deeming it just to resist a foreign power which had no right to interfere with their religion, or country, assembled in great numbers under the leadership of Shane O'Neill, the most powerful nobleman of the country, and the first hero of Catholicity in Ireland. At the head of this force he marched to the English province, where he carried on a successful war, and then retired to winter quarters to Ulster. In the meantime, Sussex having received fresh succor from England, consisting of 400 men, 4 pieces of cannon, and 60 barrels of gunpowder, set out on an expedition to Ulster, attended by the Sheriffs, Bedlow and Gough, with their respec- 1561* ^^^^ detachments. This expedition was fruitless; O'Neill immediately after went to England and was reconciled to her majesty, but was, after a short respite, obliged to have recourse to arms. The deputy, in vain, endeavoured to dislodge him. By the entreaty of his relative, the earl of Kildare, he was once more reconciled to the Queen, and on his return, he de- feated the inhabitants of the Hebrides, and killed their chief James M'Bonnell., (as Camden and Ware informs us.) Shane looked on the Irish nobility as his vassals, which forced Maguire, Magennis, and others, to present their complaints to the Lord Deputy, who represented to the Queen that much was to be feared from such an enemy. She sent him word " to tell his troops, that the rebellion of O' Neill would turn to their advantage^ and that lands were to he bestowed on those who had need of them." The Deputy issued a proclamation, obliging all those who were enrolled for O'Neill's army, to lay 1564. CONNAUGHT DIVIDED INTO COUNTIES. 269 down their arms under pain of death, and confiscation of their properties. During this time, O'Neill burned the Protestant church of Armagh, expelled Maguire from Fermanagh, laid siege to Dundalk, and devastated the whole country. * In the meantime, a bloody conflict took place between Garret Fitzgerald, earl of Desmond, and Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond, consequent on the frequent incursions they made on each other's lands. Ormond was always on the watch to have revenge on his rival. For this purpose he marched to meet him at Athmean, in Waterford, where Desmond was at- tended with only a few men. A battle ensued in which Des- mond lost 280 men, himself having received a pistol shot, by which his thigh was broken, was taken prisoner and sent to London. Some time previously the earl of Desmond, on his way to assist his friend, Teigne MacMorrough O'Brien, who was beseiged in his castle at Inchiquin, by the earls of Thomond and Clanrickard, gave these noblemen battle, and after a vigor- ous attack, routed them before him. The earl of Sussex (Ware, in his Annals, tells us) called the territory of Analy, in Meath " Longford." He then divided the province of Con- naught into six counties, viz. : Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, and Leitrim. Clare was at a later period attached to the province of Muuster. He was removed in 1565, and Sir Nicholas Arnold substituted as Deputy. Sir Henry Sydney immediatelv succeeded him. At this time Mac Carthv Mór, one of the most powerful princes in Munster, and chief of the illustrious tribe of the Eoganacht, made his submission, and received the titles of earls of Glencar, and baron of Valentia. ^ ^ During the absence of the Lord Deputy in England, Sarslield, 1556. Mayor of Dublin, at the request of Lady Sydney, saved the city of Drogheda, that was threatened by O'Neill. For his services on this occasion he received the honor of knighthood. O'Neill, a prince of great skill and talents, always maintained 270 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. an array of 4,000 foot, and 1,000 horse; he was a terror to his powerful neighbours. He defeated a Scotch legion, and S,000 of them fell under his sword. Their chief, MacDonnell, was made prisoner of war. He made frequent incursions into the English province, and became so formidable to the government, that the queen dispatched Knolles to Ireland, in order to confer on him the titles' of earl oLTyrone and baron of Dungannon, if he submitted. He received the proposal with contempt, and said, ** If Elizaheih he Queen of England, I am O'Neill, King of Ulster ; I am not ambitious for the abject title of earl; my family and birth raise me above it; my ancestors were kings of Ulster. I have gained that kingdom by the sword, and by the sword Fll maintain it." The government, finding him determined in his opposition, had recourse to force. Golonej Randulph, at the head of 700 men, took the town of Derry^ and after banishing the priests and monks, converted the church of St. Golnmb into a magassine for powder and war- like stores.'' O'Neill immediately marched to Derry ; the powder magazine took fire, the town and fort were blown up, and 700 Englishmen, with Randulph their chief, met a miser- able fate. The O'Neill afterwards vanquished the English, who assisted O'Donnell, and gained over them the celebrated victory, called in Irish " Cah na g-cassogue dearg" : (The battle of the red coats.) 400 English were killed, and several of their chiefs. O'Neill afterwards appearing in the camp of 600 Scotch, commanded by Alexander MacDonnel, brother of Sorley Boy, 1567. whom O'Neill restored to liberty, was sabred with all his fol- lowers, and his head sent to the Deputy, to Dublin, who ex- posed it on a pole on the castle. Such was the end of that great man, who sacrificed every thing for the interests of reli- gion and the liberty of his country. He left two sons, Henry ■ Cam. reign Eliz. part 1, p. 127. b O'SullÍTan, vol. 2, lib. 4, c 3. DEATH OF 0*NBILLi 271 and John. His estates, and those of the nobles of his party, were forfeited and applied to the queen's use, by an act of the parliament, held in Dublin in 1567.* The estates were, Clan- boy, Fews, Coleraine, Eoutes, Glinns, Iveach, Farney, Uriel, Loghty, Dartry, Trough, and Clanbrassail. Turlogh Lynagh O'Neill, who had taken the title of The O'Neill, declared war against the Scotch, and killed their chief, Alexander MacDonnel, the murderer of Shane O'Neill. The earl of Desmond who was kept a prisoner in the tower of London, was, at this time, re- stored to liberty. He put himself at the head of 2,000 men, and opposed the attempts of Thomas Roe, who assumed the title of earl of Desmond ; he then gave battle to the earl of Ormond, his implacable enemy, at Drumlin in Munster. The latter presented his complaints to the queen,** who, as we are told by Cox, gave orders to the Deputy to reduce the earl of Desmond. He was accordingly arrested at Kilmallock and brought to Limerick, where he was accused of high treason. The Deputy, at his own Request, being summoned to England, brought with him the earl of Desmond, the baron of Dungannon, O'Connor Sligo, O'CarroU, jmd others prisoners ; the carl of Desmond and O'Connor, were afterwards restored to liberty. Weston, the Chancellor, and Sir William Fitzwilliams, were named Lord Justices, in his absence. Meanwhile, Daniel MacCarthy Mor, renounced the title of earl of Glencar, and assumed that of king of Munster, and Connaught was torn by the factions of Mac William Ooghter, and O'Connor Sligo. Elizabeth, in order to extend her ecclesiastical jurisdiction, sent over English conformists, having first instructed them to expel the Catholic ministers, to suppress every catholic insti- Í567. tution and to establish Protestant free schools for the purpose of " seducing the minds of the youth. "« The refusal of Irish Catholics to attend these schools, and their non-attendance at • Ir. Stat. Reign Eliz,, p. 309. " Cox, Hist. Ire. p. 325. • Ir. Stat. p. 346. A.D. ■\T:^j^^s'st 27 £ HISTORY OF irp;land. Protestant service on Sundays, was construed into the enor- mous crime of high treason, by an act of parliament. Richard Burke, earl of Clanrickard, was arrested by orders of the queen for being a Catholic ; his sons, Ulick and John, took up arms, and thus won their father's liberty. The Catholic chiefs, seeing a blow, aimed by the government, at the heads of the Catholic party, formed a confederacy, the chiefs of which were, Pitz- maurice, cousin to the earl of Desmond, McCarthy Mór, MacDonogh, Fitzgerald of Imokelly,* and Edmond, Edward, and Peter Butler, brothers to the earl of Ormond. Their first act was, to depute the bishops of Cashel and Emly, and one of the sous of the earl of Desmond, to go with letters to the Pope, and to the king of Spain, to solicit their assistance. They harassed the English, by every means in their power, ravaged their estates in the neighbourhood of Kilkenny, laid waste the counties of Wexford, Waterford, and Oissory, and proceeded to the very gates of Dublin. They were proclaimed traitors by Sydney. The three brothers of the earl of Ormond, through his influence, (he being at that time in England,) re- ceived pardon of all the offences laid to their charge, aud were by this means detached from the Catholic party. The earls of Ormond and Thomond sacrificed their religion and the freedom of their country to their own ambition and the smiles of a court. In the meantime excommunication was pronounced by Pope Pius V. against EUzabeth and her abettors, and her subjects absolved from the oath of allegiance. A par- liament was held in Dubhn, this year (1569) in which acts were passed,»» for the confiscation of the estates of Christopher Eustace, Lord of Cotlaustown, and Thomas Fitzgerald, knight of Glynn. The Deputy rebuilt the town of Kilmallock, which was burned by James Fitzmaurice, and placed a garrison in it of 4(>0 foot soldiers, and 100 horse, the command of which . Camd. Elizabeth, p. 172. b Irish Statutes, p. 30L 1573. PRINTING IN lElSH CHARACTERS FIRST INTROUUCBD. 273 he gave to Colonel Gilbert, whom he appointed governor of Munster. A. treaty was ratified tiiis year, between theDeputy and Turlogh Lynogh O'Neill of Ulster. In the meaiitirae Brien O'Cavanagh,* son of Cahir MacArt, created great disturb- ances in Leinster ; he killed Robert Brown, Lord of Malrenkam, for insulting him. He defeated Sir Nicholas Devereux, in a battle in which the latter, with thirty of his officers, and some soldiers, fell. Connaught, in consequence of the tyrannical conduct of the governor of the province, Fitton, whom the Burkes of Clanrickard could not bear, was also in a state of revolt. Meanwhile, the O'Moores and O'Connors burned Athlone, and made incursions on the English province, and Brien MacFelim O'Neill burned Carrickfergus in Ulster. At this time Brien Mac Art O'Neill killed the bastard son of Thomas Smyth, an Englishman, and counsellor to the Queen, who was sent to Ireland with a colony, to take possession of the properly of O'Neill, and divide it among his followers on the pretence of civilizing the inhabitants. Sdyney obtained permission from the Queen to return to England ; he apppinted Sir William Eiizwilliams, his brother-in-law, deputy in his place. The Irish characters for printing were introduced this year to Ireland by Nicholas Walsh, chancellor of St. Patrick's. Walter Devereux, viscount Hereford, was created earl of Essex by the Queen, and sent to Ireland with the title of captain- general of the province of Ulster ; he had, scarcely, arrived when he wished to return, fearing the armed hostility of the inhabitants of Ulster. By the intriguing policy of the earl of Leicester, he was, a second time, sent to Ireland with the empty title of Lord Marshal. He died in Dublin of poison, caused to be given him, it is said, by Leicester, who married the countess of Essex during the lifetime of her husband. James Fitzmaurice, chief of the Catholic party, gained • Camden, Elizabeth, part 2, page 240. 20 JW-T: 274 MISTOaY OP IRKLAND. 1 ^ P several victories over the royal troops ; he defeated them at 1574. Kilmallock, Sanid, Kuillehugi, and Cluoine, where (O'Sullivan iu his Catholic history tells us) Captain Morgan was killed.' The Queen sent orders to the deputy to offer him terms of peace. He consented, on condition that the persecution against the Catholics would cease in .the province, and that the Earl of Desmond and his brother, who were prisoners in the Tower, would be released. Tlie deputy got orders secretly to detain the Earl of Desmond, on his arrival in Dublin, and to despatch his brother, John, for Fitzmaurice, on pretext of ratifying the treaty ; Desmond, being apprised of the design, fled immediately, and owed his life to the swiftness of his horse. He was now proclaimed a traitor, and 1,000 pounds, and 40 pounds a year, offered as a reward to any one who would give him up alive, or 500 pounds, and 20 pounds a year, for his head. Fitzwilliams, the deputy, was recalled, and Sydney once more appointed with a promise of £20,000 a year. On his arrival he reconciled the O'Neills, O'Donnelis, Mac Mahons, Maguires, and other nobles of the north ; thence he marched to Leinster, where he found the county of Kildare and the King's and Queen's counties laid waste by the O'Moores and O'Con- nors. He then passed through Waterford, Cork, and Limerick, and afterwards went by Tliomond to Galway, where he received the submission of the Bourkes of Clanrickard, and left garrisons 1576, in the towns on his route to Dublin. From this he wrote to the Queen, saying, that he imposed a tax of 200 pounds on the inhabitants of Connaught to rebuild Atheury, which had been burned by the Mac-an-Earla**, and that he took the castles of Ballyclare and Ballinasloe from the Earl of Clanriccard; that Brefné was tranquil ; that he appointed Thomas Lestrange and Thomas Dillon commissioners in Connaught for the settlement of private quarrels, and that he made Robert Damport high ■ Hist. Cath. Hib .. tome 2, lib. 4, c. 8. '• Tl.e son of the earl of Clanrickard. . jSi A.D CLANRICKA-RD TAKEN PRISONER. £75 slieriff of the province. Meanwhile, William Gerald was elected chancellor, and Sir William Drurj, president, of Munster. The deputy, on receiving information from the mayor of Gal- way that the Bourkes of Clanrickard were again in arms, and that they burned the gates of Athenry and pulled down the Queen's arms, set out for Connaught, where he found no enemy to contend with. He sent the Earl of Clanrickard a prisoner to Dublin, to account for the conduct of his sons. He next visited Galway city, where he remained for some days ; thence he went to Limerick, where Drury was installed president of Munster, over which he exercised the greatest severity, as 1577. Ware records. The Bourkes were again in arms, and laid seige to the castle of Loughrea, in which there was a garrison commanded by Thomas Lestrange. The deputy, assisted by Mac William Oughter, a powerful lord, of the family of Bourke in Connaught, marched thither with his army, quelled the disturbances, constituted Nicholas Malby governor of the province, and restored Mac William to his possessions. At this time the daughter of the Earl of Clanrickard, who was divorced by her first husband, O'Rourke, got married to Sir John, brother of the Earl of Desmond, by which means the alliance with the house of Clanrickard was strengthened. In the meantime, Rory O'Moore and O'Connor-Faly, sur- prised the English, and burned a great many of their towns, viz., Naas, Carlow, Leighlin, Rathcoole, and* Ballymore. The O'Moore being afterwards attacked by some English troops, took two of their captains, Harrington and Cosby,* prisoners, ' Cosby, who took such a fiendish pleasure, in hanging, from the boughs of an aged yew tree before his door, the Catholics young and old. This Cosby was appointed governor of the districts of Leix and Ofifaly, which were confiscated in the reign of queen Mary. He was a Protestant in the guise of a Catholic, and immediately after the accession of Elizabeth he exhibited his sanguinary and ferocious disposition. The beautiful monas- tery of Stradbally, in Ossory, he appropriated to himself as a mansion j 276 HISTORY OP lEtELAND. and brought them to his retreat in a wood. Here he was be- trayed by a servant, who was bribM by the enemy, and sur- prised by Robert Harpool, at the head of 200 English. The persons with him were his cousin, John, his wife, and an aged gentleman. He cut a passage with his sword, through the enemy, and escaped, with his cousin, John; his wife, and the aged gentleman were brutally stabbed by the English. Some- time afterwards, while reconnoitreing the army of MacGlolla Pbadruig Fitzpatrick, who w^s at the head of 500 of the Queen's troops, he was invested by a detachment, and fell nobly fighting for his religion. Such was the end of that nobleman, who sacrificed his life for the interests of religion, and the freedom of his country. In him Ireland lost a pillar of strength, and Catholicity a fearless defender. Francis Cosby, governor of Leix, exercised the most unparalleled cruelty over the Catholics of that country. He convened a meeting in the castle cf Mullach Maston, (in the present Kildare,) on pre- tence of the public welfare; 180 men of the family of 0' Moore, and many others, were massacred on this occasion, by assassins posted there for the purpose, as we are informed in the Annals of the Four Masters, as well as in the annals of Dowling and Glynn. On this act there is no second opinion. The reader is referred to page 324. of first volume of this work. The septs assembled under protection of the English law, as the Masters tell us. and before the door of that house, once the place of refuge for the pilgrim and the pauper, there now sat in an arm-chair, the monster Cosby, now drawing near 78 years, addressing the tree thus ; — " Too long, old tree, have your leafless boughs hung on your naked shoulders without buds to give hope, or leaves to ornament. I will now ornament you with the buds of young Papist rebels, with the full-grown leaves of old traitor Papists ; you shall be no longer naked, for I will keep you constantly covered with living figuies.** And so he did, for many, many a Catholic man, wuman, child, and infant did he strangle thereon. The descendants of this Cosby re- moved, afterwards, to Kerry.— Taaffe, A. Four Master» in a note, Mac Geoffkegan, Pkilip 0' Sullivan. CRTIELTT OF COSBY, GOVERNOK OP LEIX. 277 Hence the atrocity of the act is without parallel in the pages of history. This cruel tyrant took pleasure in hanging Catholics, men, women, and children by dozens, from an elm tree that grew before his door at Stradbally, where he resided. Mean- while, an Englishman, expressly commissioned by the queen to assassinate O'Connor-Faly, fell by the sword of that nobleman, as O'SuUivan states." Sir Henry Sidney, disgusted with the office of governer, resigned in favor of Sir William Drury, president of the South. Tt is said of Sidney, thai, though four times Lord Justiciary of Ireland, he never appro- priated one inch of land to his own use in that country. The massacres committed in Ireland whilst he was Deputy, were perpetrated either in his absence or against his will. Garret Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond, who never lost sight of the in- terests of religion, sent his cousin, James Eitzmaurice (Fitz- gerald,) to Eome, to consult Gregory XIII., as to the best mode of protecting the old faith. The Pope received him kindly, and 2,000 men were raised, and embarked in a small fleet, under the command of Thomas Stukely,»» who had orders to sail to Lisbon, and wait there for Fitxmaurice, who was to go by land. Stukely, on his arrival in Lisbon, was prevailed on by Sebastian, King of Portugal, to join him in the war with Africa; here Stukely lost his life, a just record for his neglect of the Pope's orders. Eitzmaurice, thus disappointed, being at tended by Cornelius O'Moel Ryan, Bishop of Killaloe, and Doctor Saunders, an English priest, and 800 men, in six vessels provided with all kinds of ammunition and arms, for A.D. 4,000 men, sailed for Ireland, and landed near Dingle, in Kerry. He was kindly welcomed by the Desmond family, and other nobles of Munster. He thence proceeded to Connaught, to collect his friends who were anxious to embark in the common cause of their country. He was surprised by Theobald » Cath. Hist. Hib., t. 2, 1. 4. c. 7. * Camd. Reign Eliz. p. 2, year 1578- 1579. 278 HISTOKY OF IRELAND. Bourke, eldest son of Sir William Bourke, of Castleconnel, who, in order to please Elizabeth, sacrificed the interests of his country and religion. Fitzmaurice, on this occasion resolved to conquer or die. Though wounded bj a musket-ball, yet he opened a way with his sword through the enemy, and by a simple blow severed tlie head of Theobald Bourke from his shoulders. Bourke's brothers also fell, and their entire force was routed. Elizabeth, for the purpose of consoling the father for the loss of his children, gave him a pension of 200 marks, and conferred on him the title of Lord baron of Castleconnel. Camden in- forms us that the old man died through excess of joy at the new title. Eitzmaurice, six hours after the victory, departed this life, supported with the hope of a glorious hereafter. Sip John Desmond then took the command of the Catholic army, and performed heroic actions in defence of his religion, and country. He vanquished a powerful force of English, under the command of Herbert and Price, near a forest, called Black- wood. Herbert and Price, the captains, and a great number of their men. Mere put to the sword on the occasion. The Deputy, having fallen sick gave the command of the troops to Malby, governor of Counaught. The latter having left 300 infantry and 50 horse at Kilmallock, encamped near Manister, then a fine territory, where, afterwards, Desmond gave him battle, and after a dreadful engagement, which lasted an hour and a half, Desmond became master of the field, of all the bag- gage and cannon. Sir Thomas Brown, ancestor of the Earl of Kenmare, fell on the occasion, whilst fighting in the ranks of the Catholics. Immediately after he gained another triumph over the garrison at Kilmallock, and another at Gort-na-Pisi, where the English Battalions were mowed down." The gallant Fitz- See Philip O'Sullivan's Catholic History, and O'Daly. Their fathers commanded in Desmond's army ; therefore their narration of facts may be relied on ; so Doctor O'Donovan in a note of this year, supports. The most perfect and full account of the Elizabetheaa wars in Ireland are those of O'SuUivan and Archbishop O'Daly. CRUELTIES OF THK EARL OF ORMOND. 279" raaurice, afterwards, made assaults upon Ormond, his brothers and relatives, whom with all their forces he almost annihilated, at the battle of Knock-Griffin, in Tipperary. This place was the strong hold of the royal O'SuUivans, until they were driven into Kerry and Cork by the English in 1192. Drury, the Deputy, who was sick at Waterford, died, and Sir William Pelham became his successor. He presided at the assizes of Kilkenny, and con- demned Edward MacNeill, and others, to death for high treason. The Eiirl of Desmond was to be proclaimed a traitor, unless he submitted before 20 days. Viscount Gorraanstown, and the baron of Delvin, though generally members of the council, refused to sign a document condemning Desmond. Desmond in the meantime, stormed Youghal, and destroyed a body of troops, sent by the Earl of Ormond for the relief of that town. Daniel O'Sullivan, father of Philip, the historian, assisted in this enterprise. The Earl of Ormond had the Mayor of Youghal afterwards hanged, on pretence of his having not de- fended the town against Desmond. The Lord Justice set out from Limerick, for Galway, attended by the Earl of Thomond. He, on his arrival, renewed the privileges of that city.* lie then marched through Athlone to Dublin. Shortly afterwards he arrested the bishop and chancellor of Limerick, on suspicion of holding a correspondence with the Earl of Desmond. The Lord Justice, and the Earl of Ormond, divided the army, and acted separately. Ormond burned and destroyed the country of Slievelogher, in Kerry; Pelham laid siege to the castle of Carrickifoyle, in Kerry, put a part of the garrison to the A. D. sword, and had the rest, with their chief, hanged. At this time. Pope Gregory XIII. addressed a letter to the Irish people, and clergy, to assist Desmond in defending the Catholic faith. Meanwhile, a sanguinary engagement took place between James, Desmond's youngest brother, and Donald, brother of • Cox's History of Ireland, page 362. 1580. 280 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Oormac, the son of Timothy Mac Teigue MacCarthy of Mus- ketry. Desmond was captured and handed over to Warham St Leger, High Sheriff of Munster ; he was beheaded, and the head placed on one of the gates of the City of Cork, and MacCarthy knighted to reward his treachery. The Earl of Ormond, in the interim, put the Catholics to the sword, wherever he went. Thus was the South one scene of carnage, filled with widows and orphans. Some noblemen of Leinster, seeing the Catholic clergy persecuted, the mass abolished, and their churches profaned, united to defend their religion. The chiefs were, (according to Philip O'Sullivan, in the l^th chapter of his work,) James Eustace, Viscount KilcuUen, Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne, of Wicklow, and Gerald, Earl of Kildare, who was reinstated by Queen Mary. Arthur Grey, lord baron of Wilton, being now lord deputy, in an attempt to dislodge the confederates from the defiles of Glen- daloch, met with a signal defeat; there was a dreadful carnage Í680. of the English, the deputy and his cavalry were forced to fly, having left 800 soldiers, and Sir Peter Carew, Colonel More, and Captains Audley and Cosby, dead on the field of battle. The last named was one of the most truculent tyrants that ever disgraced humanity. We are informed by the Four Masters, that in this year 45 persons were hanged in Dublin, for high treason. Eustace and his family fled to Spain, and were gene- rously supported by Philip II. It is thought by some, that Kildare fought at this time, but O'Sullivan tells us that he gave himself up to the English, that he went to London, and died in the Tower. Grey, in order to retrieve his fallen honor, with all his force» proceeded to Smerwick^ or Bun an air, near Dingle, to lay siege to this fortress, which was garrisoned by James Fitzmaurice,' " The Four Masters tell us that Fitzmaurice arrived from France in 1579, with only a few ships, not saying how many. The Rev. M. Kelly, in a note A.D. '^^W^^ DEATH Olf THK KARL OP DESilO.ND. 281 who arrived with him. The viceroy, after a siege of 40 days», being nnable to take the fortress, resolved to effect by treachery what he could not by bravery. He therefore proposed to capi- tulate on the most honorable terms^ (as O'Sullivau states.) Plunkett, an Irish nobleman of the garrison, was opposed to the truce, but San Josepho, Bisano, and the Duke of Biscay, consented, on conditions that were sworn to by Grey ; when the garrison, to the number of 700, having surrendered under the promise of protection, were butchered in cold blood by the English, with the exception of the governor, who escaped Muratori says that San Josepho "shamelessly surrendered this stronghold.'' O'Daly who wrote about that time calls him "a traitor." Doctor O'Donovan, in a note to the Four Masters, chastises the poet Moore for seeming to doubt the Funic faith as regards this fact, and that of the massacre of MuUaghmast. — How strange ! and yet our learned friend has sought to place the odium of the latter tragic scene on Irish Catholics. We cannot believe that he ever wrote the note on this point. The faith of Grey afterwards became a proverb in the country. The viceroy being informed tiiat Muiister and Connaught were up in arms, having a formidable reinforcement from England, and having collected all the Irish forces he could in the Pale, he scoured the country, condemned O'Molloy, Lord of Fearcall, to death, as a rebel, arrested the Earl of Kildare, his to his edition of " O'Sollivan's History of the Catholics," states, that The Masters mentioned that the number of soldiers who accompanied Fitzmau» rice was only eighty, and the ships three, and that these three were taken by the English. Not a word of this is to be found at 1579 A.D., except that the arrival was in that year. Fitzmaurice died a natural death after having made a short will, in which he ordered, that, after his death, his friends should cut off his head, and carry it with them, that the enemy might not recognize and mangle his body. The Earl of Desmond, and the Geraldines of Munster, rallied round Fitzmaurice, and thus nobly fought in defence of the Catholic faith. 282 HISTOllT OF IRKLAND. son, and son-in-iaw, the Baron of Delvin, and sent them to tiie Tower of London. He next advanced towards Munster, and after having made Zouch governor of that province; he re- turned to Dublin, through Connaught; in his passage he spread desolation and death. Zouch and Dowdal, (or Audlej), having learned through a spy, that John Desmond and James Fitz- gerald were to cross the Blackwater, in order to reconcile David Barrj, and Fitzgerald, seneschal of Imokelly, who were encamped on the bank of that river, prepared to light for the common cause, set out with a strong force to surprise these noblemen. After a vigorous defence the Geraldines were made prisoners; John Desmond having received a mortal wound, died on his way to Cork ; his head was cut off, sent to Dublin, and placed on a spike, on top of the castle. His body was tied to a gibbet, and fastened to the gates of Cork, where it remained for four years. James Fitzgerald was ignominiously put to death.' The Earl of Ormond, with a fresh reinforcement from England, pursued the Earl of Desmond, and compelled him to seek shelter in the middle of the wood of Glana Geenta. five miles east of Tralee, where he subsisted on whatever chance a In reference to the last Earl of Desmond The Four Masters have these words — " It was no wonder that the vengeance of God should exter. minate the Geraldines for their opposition to their sovereign." I am grateful to my friend O'Donovan for the following pithy censure of the words quoted. The learned Doctor observes — '• What a pity it is that O'Daly had not seen this observation of the Four Masters, that he might brand them and their Trinity College-educated patron, Farrell O'Gara, with eternal ííi/awi^." The reader is aware that O'Gara was a Protestant, and the reader can also plainly understand that the words imputed to " The Masters," could not, by possibility, have been written by them. O'Donovan is equally as severe on the poet Moore for his impertinence in having sought to dishonor the memory of the glorious Desmond. To give an entire account of the wars of the Munster Geraldines would occupy volumes. In a work of thiski nd there can be only an outline of them. The Annals of the Masters relat» that Grey spared neither the old, nor young, man, woman, nor child — that the sick and the blind were sacrificed to glut his thirst for blood. DEATH OF THE EA.RL OF DES-MOND. 283 A.D. presented. He was at last surprised in his retreat, his head cut 1583. Q£f^ ggut; ^Q London, and exposed to public view on the bridge of that city. (The reader is referred to the first volume of this work, where he will find the slander against the O'Moriartys refuted.) Thus fell by the treachery, apostacy, and wickedness of Kielly, a base Irishman in the pay of England, the illustrious house of the Pitzgeralds of Desmond, who sacrificed their lives in defence of Catholicity and of their country. Their vast estates and their properties, were confiscated and afterwards parcelled out amongst English retainers, and the Earl of Ormond became a large sharer in the spoils. Meanwhile O'Connor Kerry, Donald O'SuUivan of Bere, and Mac Carthy Eiagha, assisted in these wars. Fitzraaurice, Baron of Lixnaw, having made himself master of Ardfert, put the garrison to the sword. He also took the castle of Lisconnell, and devastated the districts of Ormond, Tipperary, and Waterford. He was, afterwards, defeated by Dowdall, and these places retaken. At this time, Thomas Butler was created Lord Baron of Cahir, and Doctor Sanders, an English- man, and Papal legate in Ireland, after having received the rites of the Catholic church, died in a wood, where he lay destitute of all relief. Alas! hundreds of instances of a similar nature, are to be found on the red pages of our history. Many a holy bishop, priest, nun, and monk thus perished, of whom nothing will be known until the day of Judgment, when the murderers will be forced to appear, face to face, before their holy victims. .: í CHAPTER XXVI. ^ CONTINUATION OF THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH. The Catholic, lords, who were engaged in the defence of the religion of their country, seeing the unhappy state of affairs, thought of providing for their safety. For it was enough to be an Irishman to be persecuted, and a Catholic to be crucified. In order to form a rampart against heresy, establishments were founded in Catholic countries, for the education of youth, whose í* 284 HISTOIIY or IKELAKD. ))arents had not renounced the faith of their ancestors. A college was founded at Doaay, by William Allen, who was educated at Oxford ; at Rheims, by the duke of Guise ; at Eome, by Gregory XIII. ; at Douay, in Flanders, Lille, Antwerp, Toumay, and at St. Omer, by the efforts of Christopher Gusack, a priest of Meath, who was president and general of all, as Harris, in page 252 of his history, informs us. An Irish college was founded at Paris, through the zeal of an illustrious and virtuous nobleman, John Le^calopier, who was much in- terested in the fate of the Irish priests who were banished from their country, for faithfully clinging to the religion of their ancestors. The college of the Lombards was made over to the Irish students in 1676, and rebuilt by Maginn and O'Kelly, Irish ecclesiastics. Colleges were founded at Toulouse and Nantes, under the patronage of Anne, queen of Austria, and one at Bordeaux, by Francis-de-Lourdis, Archbishop of that city. Sarbonne, and others in Spain and Portugal, were also founded. These depositories of learning attracted the attention of the English court, who issued an edict, commanding all those, who had children, or relations, in foreign countries, to give in their names to the judge of the district, and recall them within four months under pain of being considered as rebels, and punished accordingly. They were also forbidden to harbor there semi- narians or Jesuits, in consequence of which several priests, Jesuits and Monks, suffered martyrdom. Among the first were the celeb^lted Jesuits, Personius, and Campiauus, and Dermod O'Hurly, Archbishop of Cashel, who by orders of Adam Loftus, the chancellor, was arrested at the earl of Ormond's, in September, and confined in a dungeon till the June follow- ing, when he was hanged before day-break without the city. Gelasius O'CuUeman, abbot of the monastery of Boyle, in Eoscommon, and Owen O'iVlulkern, a priest, were hung the November following, for clinging to the rehgion of their fathers. PERSKCTJTION OF CATHOLIC PRIKSTS. 2S5 A circumstantial detail of those who suffered martyrdom for the religion of their ancestors would shock the ears of the reader, and be likely to raise a blush in the cheeks of the En- glish (if they are capable of such a thing) writers who have the effrontery to affirm, that Elizabeth never interfered with the religion of her subjects. Sir John Perrot was sent Deputy to Ireland, invested with all the civil and spiritual jurisdiction that a subject could enjoy. After spending some time in consultation with the privy council in Dublin, he set out for Connaught, and on his arrival in Galway, he endea- voured to reconcile the English Lords of that province. He thence marched to Munster, where he checked an insurrection set on foot by O'Neill, from whom he received hostages. After settling the government of this province, he proceeded to Dublin, and thence to Ulster. Here he confirmed the truce of the former government, with Tirlogh Lynogh, Magennis, MacMahon, and other noblemen, from whom he received hostages. After laying waste the lands of Brian Corrows, on the banks of the river Bann, besieging Dunluce, and Donfert, and compelling Sorley Boy to give him hostages, he divided the government of Ulster between Tirlogh Lynogh O'Neill, baron of Dungannon, and Sir Henry Eagnal, and returned to Dublin, where he held a parliament, the principal act of which was the " Baltinglass (or, as O'Sullivan has it, KilcuUen) act," by which James Eustace, Viscount Baltinglass, and his brothers, Edward, Thomas, Walter and Richard, were declared traitors, and their properties confiscated.* In a sub- sequent sitting of the same parliament, acts were passed, for the confiscation of the properties of Desmond and his adherents, and a numerous brood of avaricious Endish ad- 'venturers received as a reward for their services the properties of these noblemen whom they cruelly persecuted. So numer- ous were the confiscations, that 140 proprietors were stript of Iriah Statutes, 2rth of Elizab^li, p. 373. 280 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. ' their possessions in Munster alone. Norris, the president of Munster, exercised unheard-of cruelties over the Catholics of that province. The two MacSweenys, Gelasius and Bernard, Fitzgerald, and Donald MacGrath, all noblemen of Munster, were inhumanly put to death, and many others compelled to seek shelter in the mountains, to escape the pursuit of these blood-thirsty men. The reader who would know more of these tragic scenes must have recourse to De Burgo, O'Suliivan and the Masters. i , . Sir Richard Bingham , governor of Connaught, if possible eclipsed Norris in cruelty j he put many of the Catholic clergy and laity to death; several of the O'Connors, the Catholic Bourkes, O'Kellys, and other noblemen were hanged. O'Connor Roe, though a very old man, shared the like fate. Bingham, with a troop of armed men, having pursued two of the Bourkes, who took refuge in the castle of Lough-Mask, was vigorously resisted by them. He with difficulty escaped. He made a second attack on them, but with the like result. After receiv- ing O'Kelly into favor, he sent an armed multitude to besiege him in his house. O'Kelly, after conveying his family through a subterraneous passage from the house, solicited an inter- view with the commander, whom he shot dead, and escaped through the same passage. Bingham after receiving the sub- mission of Richard Bourke one of the confederate chiefs, had him arrested and put to death. The governor, joined by the e^rl of Clanrickard, Birmingham, and others, gave the con- federates, who were supported by 2,000 Scotch, battle at Ard- naree on the Moy. MacGeoghegan says the Irish lost the day. The arrival of a body of Scotch islanders in Ulster, commanded by Alexander, son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell, attracted the attention of Perrot, the Viceroy. The invaders were met by Merriman, an English captain, at the head of a body of armed men. Alexander proposed to Merriman to decide the matter by single combat j Merriman accepted the challenge, but got TRRACHEEY OF PERROt THK DEPUTY. 287 out of it dishonorably. He chose a gladiator of his ranks to fif;ht Alexander, and the gladiator falling, by the sword of Mac- Donnell, Merriraan entered the lists with his exhausted adver- sary ; he cut off his head and sent it to Dublin, to be exposed to public view. Perrot, in order to be revenged of O'Donnell, who refused him hostages, had recourse to an expedient worthy of a pirate or a robber. He ordered John Binghantij a merchant of Dublin to freight a vessel with merchandize, and to sail to the ports of Tyrconnel on pretence of selling his merchandise, and to decoy young O'Donnell on board and sail with him to Dublin. His plan succeeded, but was looked upon as a trait of the blackest perfidy, and punic faith. He was, shortly after- wards, recalled to England, and confined in the tower for some offence, where he died. Sir William Eitzwilliam was now appointed deputy. Tlie Irish Catholics received some inconsiderable support from the Spaniards, and some secret aid from James YI. of Scotland. But the best cause generally sufl'ers from want of union araoni; its promoters. Some of the Irish chiefs were seduced by titles of honor, others attached to the English court, and more con- tinued neutral.* The house of Desmond was now extinct. Ormond and Thomond embraced the reformed religion. Daniel Mac Cartliy, Earl of Valentia, wasted his property in cultivating the friendship of the Saxons. Ulick Bourke, Eaff of Clanrickard, after killing his brother Jolin, endeavoured to conciliate the English court towards him. Party feuds and repeated wars deprived all the other chiefs of the power of giving their united aid to the common cause. Hence the misfortunes of our unhappy and ill-fated country, Ireland. The following is a list of the principal Irish, ancient and modern, who approved or abetted the war of 1588 (called the war of Tyrone). * Cath. Hist. Ireland, torn. 3, lib. 1, cap. 6. ' .- -. J^1Í«V 2S8 HISTORY OF IRRLAND. Modern chiefs who supported the Queen. In Monster, Thomas Butler Duflf, earl of Ormond ; Barry, viscount Buttevant ; Mr. Pierce Butler, baron of Dunboyne ; Baron de-Courcy ; Burke, baron of Castleconnel ; Theobald Burke-na-Lung ; and Birmingham, baron of Dunmorris. In Leinster and Meath, Henry, William, and Gerald Fitz- gerald, earls of Kildare ; St. Laurence, baron of Howth ; Preston, viscount Gormanstown ; Nugent, baron of Delvin ; Fleming, baron of Slane; Barnwall, baron of Trimbleston; Plunkett, baron of Louth ; Flunkett, baron of Dunsaney ; Plunkett, baron of Killeeu. Ancient Irish chiefs who supported the Queen. In Munster, Donagh O'Brien, earl of Thomond; MacCarthy Riagh of Carberry ; Mac Carty of Muskerry ; Morrogh O'Brien, baron of Lichiquin. I'n Connaught, O'Connor Don. In Meath, O'Melaghlin. The ancient Irish who espoused the Catholic cause. In Ulster, Hugh O'Neill, prince and earl of Tyrone ; Magennis, prince of Iveach ; Mac Mahon, prince of Oriel ; Mac Guire, prince of Fermanagh ; O'Cane, prince of larachty ; James and Ranold Mac Donnell, princes of Tyrconnell ; the three Mac Sweenys of Tueth, Fanid, and Banach ; O'Dogherty, prince of Innishowen, and the O'Boyles. ^ In Munster, O'SuUivau, prince of Bere and Bantry, and O'SuUivan Mór ; O'Connor Kerry, prince of larachty ; Donagh Mac Carthy ; Mac Djnough and Dermod Mac Carthy ; Mac Donough of Duhallow ; O'DriscoU, prince; O'Mahony of Car- berry ; O'Donnovan, and O'Donohoe of the Glynn, O'Brien, earl of Thomond. O'Donnovan, O'SuUivan Mór, and one of the Mac Carthys, afterwards went over to the enemy. In Connaught, O'Rourke, prince of Brefni ; Mac Dermod, prince of Moylurg ; O'Kelly, prince of Mainech, and Dermot O'Connor, O'Malley of Mayo. ■pT^rr^T^Kiirii,..^. ^,->- • ■• ..■■.,. ■ - . v ^ . : •■. ■- , , . \ ^ , r .. ■, ^ ■■? ■■■.^■fi CHARACTKR OP IIDGH o'nEILL. 289 In Leinster, O'Cavanagh, O'Coimor-Faley, O'Moore of Leix, O'Bvrne of Wicklow, and Mac Geoghegan of Meath. Besides the above, naany nobleman and lords of English origin manfully espoused the Catholic cause at the risk of their properties. Hugh O'Neill, baron of Duncannon and earl of Tyrone, one of the first noblemen in Ireland, both by birth and extraction, descended in an uninterrupted succession from several monarchs of Ireland, was the guiding spirit of the national struggle .for liberty of conscience. He was the most powerful prince of his day, in lauded property, money, and arras. He was brave, warlike, strictly just, and a most accomphshed scholar. He was a great favorite with Elizabeth, whose first cause of quarrel with Tyrone was the hospitality with which be received some Spaniards who were cast by a tempest on the coasts of Ulster. A misunderstanding long prevailed between Philip II., king of Spain, and Elizabeth. Treaties of peace were often ratified between them, and as often broken. Philip, finding tiiat faith was not kept with him, determined on war. Por this purpose he fitted out a fleet of 130 vessels,* which was called " The Invincible Armada."** Of this Armada Don Alphonso, Duke of Mediua-Celi, was rear-admiral, and Jean Martin Recald vice*admiral. The prince of Parma, governor of the Low Countries, received orders to meet them on their arrival at the Thames with 30,000 men. Tiie English, on their part, made every preparation to oppose the designs of the Spaniards. Lord Charles Howard, as rear-admiral, and Drake as vice- * In volume IX. of Rapin's History of England (reign of Elizabeth), is given the following account of the Spanish Armada : — " 130 ships, of 57,868 tons, 19,295 soldiers, and 8,450 mariners, 2,088 slaves, and 2,630 great pieces (cannon) of all sorts, besides 20 caravels for the service of the army, and 10 salves with six oars a-piece." b Baker's Chron. England, Reign Elizabeth, page 374. .v,-j.^p.-..?-| 290 HISTORY OP TIIKLA.ND. admiral, coimnanded the English fleet. The Spanisli fleet, after sailing from the mouth of the Tajo, was dispersed by a violent gale, having with difficulty collected their vessels. Being disappointed in succors which they expected from the Low Countries, they fought three unsuccessful battles with the English, and having no hopes of success, even though they landed on the English shores, the admiral sailed for Spain, by the Orkneys. In sailing round the coasts of Ireland, the fleet encountered a storm, and the Spaniards, who escaped the fury of the waves, were hospitably entertained by the Irish nobles, among others by Hugh O'Neil, who kindly received them. This act of humane hospitality to destitute strangers, was, by the treachery of Conn Mac Shane O'Neill, or (as others say) by Hugh Gavalere, made known to the enemy, and construed into treason by the English court, O'Neill, in the name of the Queen, was summoned to England to answer the charge. But so well did he manage his defence that he was acquitted, in spite of the influence of William Cecil, the treasurer, the implacable enemy of the Cittholics and the entire Irish nation. Eitzwilliam, the deputy, pursued and barbarously murdered the Spaniards, wherever they went, with savage brutality, and persecuted the Irish for having afl'orded them an asylum in their distress. Bingham, governor of Connaught, and Ulick Burke, Earl of Clanrickard, with a strong force of English and Irish, attacked, at Drumdha, O'Rourke, prince of Brefni, who refused to deliver up to the viceroy 300 Spaniards whom he had sheltered. O'B-ourke, being driven from his district, went to Scotland, in the hope of obtaining succour from James VI. to recover his possessions. The latter, notwithstanding Elizabeth's treatment of his mother, Mary Stuart, and in direct violation of the laws of hospitality, had O'Rourke arrested and sent in chains to Elizabeth, who ordered him to be hanged at Tyburn, without even the form of a trial, as Lombard and PhiHp O'SuUivan hand down. 1591. * EDICT OF ELIZABETH AGAINST THE CATHOLICS. 291 At this time Bed Hugh Mac Mahon promised the deputy 700 oxen if he would secure him iu the right of his ancestors, against the other branches of the tribe. Fitzwilliam consented and began by parcelling out for himself the best part of the principality, and, on Mac Mahon's refusal to pay the stipulated amount (or from some other cause), appointed a jury of 12 to try and find him guilty. The jurors said they could not, contrary to the dictates of their conscience, condemn an in- nocent man, but 12 others of pliant conscience were found who condemned him to death. He was, accordingly, executed at Monaghan and his estates confiscated, a great portion of them being given to Sir Henry Bagnall and Captain Henslow. Ireland, according to the best authorities, was the nursery of literature, and of science, in the early ages of Christianity, and A.D. celebrated for hsr colleges, which supplied foreign universities with the best and most learned professors. Of this happiness, she was in a great measure deprived by the English in- vasion,' and by way of compensation, in this year. Queen Elizabeth founded a college in Dublin, under the title of the Holy Trinity, for the encouragement of Protestantism. It was built on the site of the old monastery of All Saints, which was suppressed by Henry VIII. Thomas Smyth, Mayor of Dublin, laid the first stone, William Cecil, grand treasurer of England, was its first chancellor, Adam Loftus, first provost, Luke Challoner, William Daniel, James Fuller- ton, and James Hamilton, the first fellows, the celebrated James Usher, Abel Walsh, and James Lee, the first bursars. Michael Moore was the last Catholic provost of the college, being obliged to surrender in the reign of James IL, on account of his religion. He was, afterwards, president of the College of Navarre, where he died. This year is remarkable for Queen Elizabeth's celebrated edict'' issued against the ministers of Bede'a Ecclesias. Hist, passim. >> Relatio Gerald, cap. 26, p. 171. A.D. 292 HISTORY OP IRELAND. , the Catholic religion, and filled with invectix^es against the Pope, the King of Spain, the priests, seminarians, and Jesuits. Other ecclesiastics, and all who received them into their houses, were condemned to pay heavy fines under pain of the charge of high treason, which consisted in their refusal to embrace the re- formed religion, and acknowledge Elizabeth as supreme head of the church. About this time, eleven priests and Jesuits were arrested in Munster and Connaught, for preaching against the reformation; Michael Fitzsimon, one of them, son of an Alder- man in Dublin, was hanged in the public market-place. The Jesuits were fearless of danger or death, whenever the field re- quired the presence of the pastor. In the meantime, Mac- 1592. Guire, Prince of Fermanagh, forced an English Magistrate, named Willis, and his followers to seek refuge in a church, where they were saved by the interference of Tyrone. Mac- Guire was also suspected of having burned in his house Thomas Jones, Protestant Bishop of Meath,' for having forced by intimidations, Catholics to embrace the reformation, at least so O'Sullivan tells us. MacGuire was summoned before the English judges, but denying their authority, he was, conse- quently, proclaimed a traitor. Accompanied by Edmond Mac Gauran, Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland, who came from Rome to encourage the Catholic party, the prince of Fermanagh entered Connaught sword in hand. Bingham, the Governor of the province, sent Guilford, an English officer» with a detachment, to oppose hira. They met at a place called " Skieth-na-Theart." MacGuire killed Guilford, and put his party to flight, but his joy was changed to sorrow, at seeing the primate killed by a fugitive English party. Mac- Guire, at the head of the catholic party in Ulster, gave great alarm to the English. Marshal Bagnall, and the Earl of Tyrone, (who did not as yet declare in favor of the Catholic " O'SuUivan's History of the Catholics of Ireland, vol. 3, lib. 2, c. 6. DEFEAT OP THE ENGLISH BY o'dONNELL. 293 party), were sent to lead an expedition against him. The op- posing forces commenced the fight on the banks of the river Erne, where after a brisk encounter, partly in favor of the En- ghsh, Tyrone was wounded in the thigh by the arrow of an Irish archer, and repaired to Dungannon for medical aid. Meantime, A.D. Hugh O'Donnell, (called by the Irish " Ball Dearg" O'Donnell), Daniel MacSweeny, Flann O'Gallagher, Henry, and Art, sons of Shane O'Neill, found means of escaping from the Castle of Dub- lin, where they were imprisoned for seven years. O'Donnell, as soon as he got possession of his principality of Tyrconneil, en- deavoured to conciliate, and thus to enlist, all the leading noble- men, in favor of the Catholic cause, of which he was so zealous an advocate. O'Donnell and MacGuire, with their united forces, were far superior in strength to the English, and kept Iherc in a state of constant alarm. Persecution against the Catholics of Leinster was carried to such a degree, that Sir Walter Fitzgerald of the house of Kildare, and others of the nobility, were forced to quit their dwellings, and take up arms in defence of the common cause. These facts are gra- phically described by Philip O'Sullivan. Fitzgerald defeated at Leighlin, Dudley Bagiiall, brother to the Lord Marshal, who was found among the slain. He overthrew also the Butlers of Ormond,made inroads onMeath, and other parts of Leinster, became a terror to the English Protestants, and in the end gave a glorious testimony of his faith, by shedding his blood in its defence. Bapin writes tiiat he was the most formidable enemy England had in Ireland. O'Donnell, meanwhile, laid siege to the Castle of Enniskilleu, belonging to MacGuire, which was taken some time before by Bingham, Governor of Connaught, through the treachery of one MacCraine, an officer of the garrison. The garrison was put to the sword except the traitor. O'Donnell designed to reduce the place by famine.* The English raised 2,000 infantry for •Hist. Cath. Hib., c. 11. 294 HISTORY OF IRELAND. its relief. In this emergency O'Donnel opplied to the Earl of Tyrone for aid, who sent his brother, Corinac O'Neill, at the head of 100 horse and 300 foot to Tyrconnel. The latter, immediately, despatched 1,000 foot soldiers, under Mac Guire and Cormac O'Neill, to meet Sir Duke, who com- manded the English forces. A battle ensued on the banks of the river Farna, which continued from eleven in the morning up to night ; 400 Englisli were found amongst the slain," and many were drowned in endeavouring to escape across the river. The castle surrendered to O'Donnell, who restored it to its rightful owner, MacGuire. O'Donnel, after reducing Ennis- killen, marched to Connaught, to be revenged of Bingham, the governor, for the cruelty he exercised over the Catholics of that province. He obliged the English in Connaught to abandon their possessions, and return to England, highly indignant with those who induced them to leave their homes and seek their fortunes in Ireland. 1535] Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who, for a long time, waited for a favorable moment of avowing himself the champion of Catholicity, and declaring against the queen, now renounced the titleof earl, and assumed that of "the O'Neill," on the death of his cousin, Tirlogli Lynogh, who considered the name alone much more honorable than the empty title of baron or earl. O'Neill and O'Donnell, at the head of the Catholic party, gained frequent victories over the English, which greatly alarmed the court at London. The queen determined to put an end to these disasters by subduing the Irish Catholics. For this purpose she sent to Ireland, Sir John Norris as captain general,*" at the head of 3,000 men, who said on taking leave of the queen, that he would force O'Neill to leave Ireland, or obey her majesty. The sequel will show how badly he performed his promise. • Camden, Eliz. ad an. 1594. » Baker's Chron., p. 383. '^ VICTOEIES OF oVeILL OVER THE ENGLISH. 2951; O'Neill, on hearing that Norris was marching to Ubter, commenced hostilities, and at the same time, in vindication of his conduct, wrote letters to the Deputy, Russel, who succeeded Fitz- wiUiam, saying that he wished to live in peace with the queen, provided he and his followers were allowed the free exercise of their religion.* The English policy required that these letters should be misrepresented, and to make it known to the King of Spain, that Ehzabeth granted pardon to O'Neill, for the pur- pose of preventing the king from sending O'Neill the succors he promised.'' But the strong conditions required by O'Neill from the commissioners, Sir Robert Gardiner, and Sir Henry Wallop, forcibly proves the falsehood of their policy. These were the terms — first, a general liberty of conscience ; second, a full pardon for the past; and lastly, the entire removal of the English from Ulster. The Deputy, Russel, seeing the result of the conference useless, proceeded to Dundalk to encounter O'Neill. They fought at Kileluona, with great fury on both sides. The English lost 600 men on the occasion, and O'Neill's loss was only 200. The viceroy, being unsuccessful in Ulster, gave the command of the troops to Norris who, marched towards Monaghan. He was opposed by O'Neill at Clontitbret. Norris and his brotlier Thomas were wounded, after which an English officer named Legrave, forced his way to the Earl of Tyrone, and engaged him in single combat. The ofiScer fell, and his party retreated, 700 of them being left dead on the field of battle. At this time, young George Bingham, who was in possession of the Castle of Sligo, having left the com- mand of it to Ulick Burke, who was one of the garrison, having gon* in search of plunder, pillaged the town of Rathmullin and the Carmelite Convent, and divided the spoils amongst the soldiers. Ulick Burke, seeing his partiality, slew Bingham, and gave up the castle to O'Donnell, who made • Camden, Elizabeth ad an. 1594. •• Peter Lombard ibid. p. 391-393. !Kjii...^^o-i.; 296 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Burke governor of it. Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught, with a fresh reinforcement, besieged the castle, to revenge Burke for the massacre of his friends. But the timely arrival of O'Donnell with 1,600 men, raised the siege, and a retreat from Sligo was the result. The authors who flourished at this time were, Thomas Long, professor of Canon Law in Paris ; Richard Creagh, Archbishop of Armagh,* who died for his religion in the Tower of London ; John Usher, Mayor of Dublin; Nicholas Walsh, Bishop of Ossory; Richard Stauihurst, a native of Dublin, at first a Catholic priest but became an apostate '^ Thadeus O'Dowling, a doctor of Theology ; several Wards, O'Higgins, O'Dalys, O'Cassidys, O'Conrys, O'Conways, O'Donnells, Magraths, O'Donnellan, Archbishop of Tuara, O'Higgin, tAe blind, brother of the Archbishop of Tuani. Daniel MacCarthy, first Earl of Clancarthy, was a great writer at this time, and others, whose names it would be inconvenient to enu- ■ " Richard Creagh, a native of Limerick, also lived at this time. He studied at Louvain with applause, and received the order of priesthood. He went afterwards to Romet where he was consecrated by the Pope, Arch- bishop of Armagh. He was author of some works, viz. — a Treatise on the Irish Language; an Ecclesiastical History; a Book of Controversy; a Chronicle of Ireland ; the Lives of some Irish Saints ; and a Catechism in the Irish Language. By orders of the English government, this holy pre- late was at length arrestee!, on account of bis religion, and imprisoned in the tower. It was then that the prfitended ordination occurred at the Nag's Head tavern, so called from the head of a horse being the sign of the house. The Irish prelate was offered his liberty and a great reward to ordain the false bishops of the Reformation ; but this he firmly refused.* He died after a long imprisonment in the tower of London," A.D. 1595, — Mac 6eo- ghegan's Ireland, page 486. • " Tbey importuned, with vehemence, a certain Irish archbishop (Creagh) whom they had in prison in London, to assist them in their difficulty, and offered him rewards and his liberty, if he would preside over the ordination of these men. But the good archbishop could not be prevailed upon to lay his sacred hand on the heretics, or to be an accessory to the sins of others." — Sanders on the English Schism, book 3, page 297. *> He returned, and made ample reparation. P^f^T'í^íT' DEFEAT Oí^ NOftlllS, ETC. BY O'UONNELL. 297 merate ; as in Greece, so in Ireland, tlie more war raged the greater was the number of writers. CHAPTER XXVII. CONTINUATION OF THE STRUGGLES OF THE IRISH CHIEF- TAINS. Tlie Queen and her council made repeated overtures to O'Neill which he scornfully refused. He, at the same time, wrote letters on the common cause to his allies of Leinster and Munster, and received assurances from the king of Spain, of a renewal of his promises." Meanwhile the English took Armagh by surprise and placed a garrison in it guarded by an army under General Norris. O'Neill attacked his forces and put them to fliglit, and intended to reduce the garrison by famine. ThesEuglish of Dundalk, hearing of the sad condi- tion of the garrison, sent a supply of provisions, under an escort of three companies of infantry, and a troop of horse. The O'Neill surprised the convoy and put the troops to the sword ; he then ordered his own men to assume the apparel of the English, and marched within sight of the garrison of Armagh, where a sham battle commenced between O'Neill and the supposed English. Stafford, the commander of the garrison, rushed forth with his troops to relieve his supposed country- men. He was attacked front and rere by O'Neill, and his troops cut to pieces, and obliged to surrender the garrison to O'Neill, who allowed him to join the rest of the English at Dundalk. Shortly after O'Neill gained a complete victory over Norris with his forces at Moloch Breac. MacGuire on this occasion signally distinguished himself. Norris, seeing no hopes of reducing O'Neill, joined by the earls of Thomond and Clanrickard, and Theobald, na Luing, with an army of 10,000 men, invaded Connaught, in order to • Cath. Hist. Hib„ c. 6, ^,1. 298 HISTORY OF lUKLAND. reduce, by force, O'Dounell, the three Mac Sweenys, and O'Dogherty of the north, Maginn, O'Rourke, O'Connor Roe, O'Dowd, MacWilliam Bourke, O' Kelly, Mac Dermott, and Mortough Mac Sweeney, who, two years before with only 300 men did signal service against the enemy, as MacGoeghegan re- lates. The confederates were committing dreadful devastations on the Enghsh in that province.' With hostile banners dis- played both armies met in the vicinity of Ballinrobe near Lough Mask. Korris, after some smart skirmishing with O'Donnell, and the desertion of some of his forces to the standard of the Catholics, was obliged disgracefully to quit the province.** At this time Fiach MacHugh, the illustrious chief of the 0* Byrnes, and a zealous champion of the catholic cause, was killed by Deputy Eussell. His son Felim, a young man of acknowledged bravery, assisted by O'Neill, took possession of his father's patri- mony which was seized by the English ; and Owen O'Moore, son to the celebrated Rory O'Moore, who was killed by the En- glish, was proclaimed by his father's vassals lawful heir to the principality of Leix. Warhara St. Leger, the governor of the district, encountered him, butwas defeated with alossof 500 men dead on the field of battle. Russell, Ihe Viceroy, was recalled. AD . . ^ . 1597. and Lord Burrough" appointed in his place, while he marched to TT^lster with all his forces. Richard Tyrrell, a nobleman in the army of O'Neill, with a small troop of 400 infantry, at- tacked a thousand men of the Anglo-Irish of Meath, under the command of young Barnewall, son of Baron Trimblestown, near MulUngar, at a place since called Terrell's Pass; Tyrrell being apprised of the enemy's advance, feigned a flight until he reached a defile, covered with trees. Here he waited to receive their charge, O'Connor Roe being his lieutenant. So general was the slaughter of the English army- that oultf one soldier « O'SuUivan, c. 2 & 6. ^ Pet. Lomb. ibid. p. 359, & O'SiUlivan, c. 2 & 6. • Ware, ibidem, c 40. .r-'í-. r-^^.^fl"^ VICTORIES OP o'neill. 299 escaped through a bog to Mulliiigar. Tyrrell spared the life of young Barnewall, and brought him a prisoner to O'Neill.' The Viceroy, having placed a garrison of 500 men in the castle of Portmár, was on his way to Dublin when he heard that Tyrrell was again besieging the castle. Immediately re- tracing his steps, he crossed the Blackwater with all his avail- able forces. He was received at Binburb, by O'Neill* and his brothers Cormac and Art, also MacMahon and MacDonnell of the Glynns. A sanguinary engagement took place j Burrough the Deputy, was mortally wounded, and in a few days died atNewry. The like fate befell the earl of Kildare, who took the command of the flying army. The Viceroy's brother-in-law, Francis Wagham, and Turner, were found among the slain. This was one of the most signal defeats the English sustained in Ire- land. The carnage was great, many were drowned, and more wounded. It is to us a mystery, why after that day, O'Neill did not become complete master of Ireland. Sir Conyers Clifford, now governor of Connaught, got orders to relieve the Deputy in Ulster. He already set out with 700 men, but was unfortunately intercepted by O'Donnell, by whom he was completely defeated, having lost several men of rank. Sir Thomas Norris, president of Munster, succeeded Burrough, as Deputy. He died' in course of a month, and the Deputyship devolved on Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin, and Sir Robert Gardiner, who were named Lord Justices. Thomas Butler Duff, (black) earl of Ormond, was appointed Lieutenant-General. • One of the chief causes why the Anglo-Irish of the Pale did not rise against £i;zabeth was, their distrust and national hatred of the Irish. Thej wer<, in every respect, except religion, Englishmen, living west of the Irish sea, ua-Irish in prejudices and feelings as thoroughly as any Orange colonists since 1688. The success of the native Irish and degenerate En. glish would be regarded by the Pale English as a national defeat. — Rev. M. Kelly, p. 144, O'Sullivan's Catholic History. '' Pet. Lombard, ibidem, p. 398. v-f'.-.v"";?;'; A.D. 300 HISTORY OF IttELAKD. They proposed terms of peace to O'Neill, vln'ch he disdaio- fully rejected. After sending to his ally, O'Moore of Leix, ] ,500 chosen men, who under their chief Brian-Riach O'Moore 1598. subdued 3,000 English, 1,500 of whom he left dead on the field of battle, and took the castle of Portelaise, O'Neill with all his troops laid siege to the fort of Portmór or Blackwater. Marshal Bagnall, with the flower of his army, came to relieve the fort. He fell in with O'Neill at a place called Beal-an -uth- Buidhe, ( Bagul-anra-bwee. ) A bloody engagement com- menced. Bagnal lost 24 officers and 2,000 men killed on the spot. This victory cost O'Neill 200 men killed and tiOO wounded. He became master of 12,000 pieces of gold, 34 stand of colors, the warlike stores, instruments of war, and artillery of the enemy. O'Neill's repeated victories filled the Catholics with universal joy. They looked upon him as the liberator of his country, the assertor of their freedom, and the protector of the Irish nobles who were persecuted by the Saxons. The English officers represented to her majesty, that unless they were speedily relieved, they could not carry on offensive war, much less defend themselves in Ireland. Bingham, the late governorof Connaught, remarkable for his cruelty, was'sentover with 2,000 foot and 100 horse, but he died shortly after his arrival in Dublin. Owen MacRory Og O'Moore, at the head of 800 infantry and some horse, joined by Raymund Burke, baron of Leitrira, Dermod O'Connor and his brothers, and Richard Tyrrell of TertuUagh, set out to Munster, where they revived the fallen courage of the Catholics, and gave great alarm to Thomas Norris, the governorof the province ; he attempted to drive the enemy out of the province, but was obliged to retreat to Cork, where he disgracefully concealed himself, while the war of the confederates was blazing in the province. Norris, to retrieve his humbled pride, mustering all his forces, amounting to DEFKAT OP NORRIS BY LORD ROCHR. 301 2,500 men, inarciied to Kilmallock in order to draw from the garrison the veteran troops, and replace them by new ones. After effecting his purpose, he was attacked at Ardskea by the Earl of Desmond, James, son of Thomas' Roe Fitzgerald,. Ric- hard Tyrrell and others,* and with the loss of several of his men, he escaped to Kilmallock. Norris undertook another expe- dition against Roche, Viscount Fermoy ; the latter supported by his alhes, after 12 days skirmishing, defeated Norris, who lost 200 of his troops at Monaster-na-mona. A young man, named John Burke, in the army of Thomas Burke, brother to the Baron of Castleconnell, gave Norris a mortal blow with his lance, of which wound he died a few days after at Mallow. Clifford, governor of Oonnought, at this time, prepared an exj)edition against O'Donnell. He was joined by O'Connor Sligo (who was restored to his patrimony by Elizabeth), the earls of Thomond &c. Clanricard, and Morrogh O'Brien, baron of Inchiquin. He intended a siege of the Castle of Ballyshannon. The castle was vigorously attacked, and as nobly defended by * Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald, baron of Lixnaw ; William Fitzgerald, K&ight of Kerry, and lord of Raiinnan ; Edmond Fitzgerald, kaight^of Glinn, or of the valley ; Sir Edmond Fitzgerald, called the White Knight, with other branches of that illustrious family ; Dermot, and Donagh Mac Carthy, (rivals for the principality of Duhallows), Daniel, son of the Mac Carthy Mór. Patrick Condon, O'Donoghue Mor of Onaghty, The O'Donoghue Glinn, Roche (Viscount Ftrmoy), Butler, Viscount Mountgarret, husband of the daughter of The O'Neill, Thomas, baron of Cahir, The O'SullÍTan, O'DriscoUs, O'Donovans, O'Mahonys of Carberry. The head of the Mun- ster Confederates at this time was Thomas Roe Fitzgerald, recognised as the Earl of Desmond. He was brother of Garret, the late Earl; but James, for sixteen years a prisoner in the Tower of London, son of Garret, was the rightful heir of Garret, and therefore the real Earl of Desmond. After the death of Thomas Roe, the people called his son, James the Earl of Desmond, as the other James, who was coosia-german of Thomas, was so long absent Mac Geoghegan (vol. 3, p 525) states that these chiefs were animated not solely by a motive of upholding Catholicity, but that English tyranny left them no alternative but to arm against the common enemy. 302 BISTORT OY IKBI.AND. the besieged, till (yDonnell gave the alarm that O'fiourke, on ^ne side, and O'Neill on the other, were marching to relieve the castle. So precipitate was the retreat of Clifford, that he lost 300 men in killed and drowned, while crossing the river Erne. C/Donuell sword in hand, invaded the estates of Clan- rickard, scaled the walls of Athenry, sworded the garrison, and A.D. devastated the lands of the baron of Inchiquin, Torlogh 1599. O'Brien, and the O'Shaughnessys. In the meantime, O'Neill despatched his brother Conn, at the head of 3,000 troops, to his allies in Munster. Conn opening a way with his sword through the enemy who disputed his passage, left 2,000 of them dead on the field of battle. Elizabeth, viewing with alarm the deplorable state of affairs in Ireland, the revolt becoming so general, seeing herself on the eve of losing all Aer aulAority in that country, consulted her councillors with regard to the choice of a Lord Lieutenant. The lot fell on Robert D'Evereux, Earl of Essex. He, in- vested with every prerogative that a subject could enjoy, arrived in Dublin, with an army of 1700 foot, and 1300 horse. His iirst act of jurisdiction was to publish a proclamation in the Qneen's name, excluding the ancient Irish from all hopes of pardon.* He next divided his forces ; 300 foot and 500 horse, he gave to Henry Harrington, in order to check the confeder- ates in Leiuster; 3,000 men he sent to Clifford, the governor of Connaught, for the same purpose. With the rest of his army he set out for Munster. On his route through Leinster he found a formidable opponent in Owen O'Moore, under whose strong sword several of his men fell at a place called Bearna- na-Glete (or Pass of Flumes.) Essex laid siege to the castle of Cahir,on the river Suir, and took it, alter a vigorous defence by James Butler, brother of the baron of Caliir. He after that marched to the relief of Askeaton, and on his return, was « Peter Lombard, ib dem, p. 413. Clifford's defeat 303 attacked by Ddiiul M'Carihy M6r and the Earl of Desmond, at £aile-in-Finitere. The action was bloody, and well sus- tained on both sides; a great number of the English were put to the sword, and Henry Norri?, one of the leaders, was found among the slain. Meanwhile the O'Moores of Leix gained a complete victory over General Harrington ; the latter lost 1,200, of whom , was Adam Loftus, son of the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin. Essex, finding his forces diminished, and having left Munster, without performing one deed worthy of a man of reputation, ordered James Butler to make an effort to recover the castle of Cahir.* He, shortly after, communicated to the queen the stateof afTairs in Ireland, and laid down a plan whereby to prevent the probable loss of the itiland. His plan was, thatthe priests should be expelled, strong garrisons maintained, and the people deprived ofall means of subsistence. Essex now turned his thoughts to- wardsUlster, and gave orders to Clifford, governor of Counaught, to proceed against its frontiers. Captain Clifford, therefore, assem- bled his army at Athlone, to the number of 2,500, and his Irish auxiliaries, beaded by O'Conor Don, Maolmór Mac Sweeny of Tueth, and Richard Burke, son of the Earl of Clanrickard. Clifford, .having arranged his army, set out for Boyle, in order to rebuild the castle of Sligo, which was destroyed by O'Donnell, and to give O'Doiinell battle if he prevented its reconstruction. O'Donnell, aware of Clifford's intention, placed a strong garrison in Sligo, and advanced with his forces to the Curlew mountain, through which Clifford was to pass into Sligo. He took possession of tlie defile that he might intercept Clifford's passage. It was the eve of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, being the 14th of August, 1600. He prepared his army by a fast for the devotion of the next day, in order to a Cox, Hist of IreUad. -■.,™ 804" HISTORY OP IRELAND. implore the intercession of the Mother of God in so holy a cause. Scarce were the devotions ended when the English appeared, and the war cry was raised, the carnage proceeded, the work of death continued for a long time, until the appear- ance of O'Rourke with a body of infantry, turned the scale of victory. So great was the terror of the English, that the route became general, and 1400 of them were killed with Clifford ; and Henry Ratcliffe, an English nobleman, was found among the slain. 140 of the Catholic army fell or were wounded, and the O'Donnell became master of a vast quantity of arms, cannon, dress, and otiier warlike preparations. O'Connor Sligo sur- rendered to O'Donnell, who put him in possession of his de- mesne. Cox, an English Protestant historian, states that if the monastery of Boyle in which the enemy sheltered themselves, was a little farther away, not one man had survived to give an account of the action. Such was the daring conduct of the few badly armed forces of O'Donnell. Several writers record this signal victory of the few over the thousands of fully armed and regularly disciplined English. The Earl of Essex, much disconcerted by ClifiFord's defeat, with a fresh reinforcement proceeded to the frontiers of Ulster. O'Neill, aware of his in- tentions, marched to meet him to the town of Louth. The vice- roy proposed terms of peace,' which O'Neill would not accept unless on the following conditions, — first, "that there should be no religion in Ireland, but the Catholic; " second, ** thai the church properties should be restored to the church;" third, '"'that pro- perties should be restored to their rightful owners, to the utter exclusion of the usurpers." Essex, though displeased with the answer, earnestly solicited an interview with O'Neill. He re- ncinded him of the ancient friendship that existed between O'Neill and his father, and that he ought to feel some sympathy for his son. O'Neill, moved by these expressions, consented to a Petrus Lombard, p. 420. GALLANTRY OF HUGH MAGUIRE. 805 truce of six weeks; that was the woful truce to Ireland. After some mutual compliments had passed between them, ' Essex took leave of the Prince of Tyrone, and proceeded to Dublin, where he received a letter from the Queen, reproaching him for his pusillanimity. Mortified at this, having placed the government of affairs in the hands of Adam Loftus, the chaa- cellor, and George Carew, treasurer of war, he departed for London, where he was coldly received by the queen. He was* afterwards, detained in prison,'' and beheaded through the in- fluence of one of Elizabeth's chief favorites. In the meantime, two ships, laden with warlike stores, arrived from Spain, and shortly after, Philip III., successor to Philip II., sent over two legates, Mathew de Viedo, whom the Pope appointed Archbishop of Dublin, and Don Martin-de-la-Cerda, a Spanish Knight. These had power to grant indulgences to the Irish, who fought in defence of their religion, and had a present of the rarest plumes for ONeill, prince of Tyrone. A.D. Tyrone, encouraged by this assistance, marched at the head of 700 men to Munster, for the purpose of soliciting the aid of the chiefs of that province against the enemies of God, their religion, and their country. Some he gained over by his powerful reasoning, and by severity others, whose replies highly displeased him, as he deemed their policy injurious to rehgion. During O'Neill's stay in Munster, Hugh Maguire, commander of the cavalry, with only two attendants, Edmund Mac Caffry, his staudard-bearer, and a priest, having gone out of the camp to take an airing, fell in with St. Leger, President of Munster, at the head of 60 cavalry. Maguire rashly forced his way through the enemy to the commander, who shot him through the body. The former instantaneously pierced St. Leger's head through his helmet with his lance. This happened near Cork. Both generals died of their wounds a few days after. O'Neill, • PetruB Lombard, p. 421. *• Ibidem, p. 434. 22 306 HISTORY OV IRKLAND. having reinforced (lie garriaons with veteran troops, visited Leinster, and left fresli troops with O'iVloore of Leix. He then advanced towards Ulster, where he arrived safely, crowned with laurels. Charles Blount, baron of Mountjoy, succeeded Essex as viceroy, and Sir George Carew was made President of Monster." The latter, being attended by the Earl of Thomond, Lord Audley, and Captains Harvey, Brown, Dillon, and others, with a force of 700 foot and 100 horse, on his way to Munster, visited the Earl of Ormond, who proposed to meet Owen, son of Rory O'Moore, in conference at a place, called Corunduff^ in the county of Kilkenny. The President and his attendants accompanied Ormond to the place of meeting, where he opened the conference by abusing the Pope and the church of Rome.** O' Moore would not listen to this tirade of abuse against a church, in defence of which he was resolved to shed the last drop of his blood. He dragged him from his horse atid made him prisoner. The Earl of Thomond and the President, who ran to his assistance, owed their safety to the swiftness of their horses, and were the heralds to the Countess of Ormond of the capture of her husband. In the meantime, O'Connor-Ealy, at the head of 100 soldiers, took the castle of Knock-Cruaghan," commanded by Thomas Moor and Giiford — both Englishmen — and put the garrison to the sword. Meanwhile, at the earnest solicitation of Tyrone, a bull arrived in Ireland from Pope Clement VIII., granting to the Catholics of Ireland who aided that earl in his defence of the old faith, all the indulgences which the Roman Pontiffs were accustomed to bestow on those who fought against the Turks for the recovery of the Holy Ijand,"* Mountjoy, the viceroy, after receiving fresh reinforcements from England, proposed terms of peace to O'Neill, who scorned his overtures, as he had no confidence in the promises of the • Pacat Hilx. c. I, p. 6. " Hist. Cath. c. 8. • lb. «> Cam. Eliz. ad an. 1600. S^" GARRISON OF LOUGH FOYLE. 307 Englisli. Mountjoy, finding the prince of Tyrone deaf to his proposals, resolved to harass him by sea and land. For this purpose he ordered a fleet of 67 ships, with 5,000 infantry and 300 horse on board, under the command of Sir Henry Docwra, to take possession of Lougli Foyle, between Donegal and Derry, in Ulster, O'Neill, being informed of the move- ments of the viceroy, determined that O'Donnell should oppose the attempts of the garrison of Lough Foyle, while himself would march against Mountjoy. A party of English, who were guarding their baggage, being attacked and killed by a detach- ment from the Catholic army, gave the deputy such alarm that he returned to Dublin, and proceeded to Kilkenny to visit the Earl of Oriiioud, who was released from prison through Tyrone's interference. He thence advanced to Leix, at the head of some troops, and as he was cutting down the corn of the inhabitants, to deprive them of subsistence for the following winter, he was "vigorously opposed by the Catholics, and, with difficulty, escaped through a neighbouring bog. This victory of the Catholics was very dearly purchased, for they lost Oweh O'Moore, a nobleman, illustrious by birth, and the very soul of the confederacy in Leinster. His death produced the greatest consternation through the leaders of that province. With him fell the independence of Leinster, which it has never since been able to recover. Meanwhile, O'Donnell watched the movements of the gar- risons of Lough Foyie, and O'Neill having surprised 1500 of their men, who were foraging, put thedi all to the sword. The English, omitting nothing that could caus6 disaffection among the Irish, endeavoured to reduce them to the most abject wretchedness, by destroying their crops and their flocks, fob- bing them of their gold and silver, and substituting for it a base copper coin, which very soon lost its value. The consider- able force of 3,000 infantry and 150 cavalry at the command 30s HISTORY or IRKLAND. of the President, Carew, for carrying on the war, gave great alarm to some of the Catholic nobles of the province. Dreading, as Ware says, the consequences, they thought it prudent to submit. Among the number were, Thomas, natural son of Sir James Fitzgerald, Lord of Desie ; Thomas Power, a relative of Tiord Power's ; Lord Barry, Condon, Barret, &c. Florence Mac Carthy, prince of Carbery, after vigorously attacking and putting to flight Captain Flower, at the head of 1300 soldiers, was warmly solicited by Carew, the President, and the Earl of Thomond, to surrender himself. This he declined, unless on the following terms, from which the President withheld his as- sent : — 1st., that he should get the patrimony of his father-in- iaw, the Earl of Glencar ; 2nd., that he should get the title of the Mac Carthy Mór or Earl of Glencar ; and lastly, that he should have 300 soldiers for his defence. Carew, having entered the district of Clanwilliam, compelled John and Theo- bald Burke to surrender. After this he sent 300 soldiers to invade the patrimony of the O'Maol Ryans, in Munster, which they pillaged and burned, and committed unheard-of cruellies on the natives. This being done, and having placed garrisons in the castles of Kilmallock, Askeaton, and Likadown, he returned with his army to Limerick. James Fitz-Thomas, Earl of Desmond, was betrayed by some of his own soldiers into the hands of the President, who confined him under a strong guard in the castle of Conillo ; he was, shortly after, rescued from his imprisonment by Fitzmaurice, baron of liix- Tiaw, Dermod Mac Carthy Riagh, the Knight of Kerry, William Burke, Bernard O'Kelly, and other chiefs of the confederacy, at the head of 100 men. O'Donnell, after being successful in his skirmishes with the English in Ulster, determined to make a diversion in favor of Munster. To effect this, he left the defence of Tyrconnell, to John O'Dogherty, Prince of Innishowen, Nial, Garv O'Don- w: • VICTORY OP o'doNNkLL OVER MOUIfTJOT. 309 nell, and Daniel O'Gallaglier. This being arranged he marched through Connaught to Thomond, and carried away booty from the country as far as Loophead in Clare, without meeting any dis- aster,* though Captain Flower, at the head of 800 infantry and 60 cavalry were sent to repel him. O'Donnell, on his return to Ulster, found a serious change in his own affairi!. The Lieutenant of General Docwra was killed by O'Dogherty, Arthur O'Neill followed the policy of his father, Tirlogh Linogh, and declared for the English, and Nial Garv O'Donnell, ambitious to obtain the title of 2Ae (y Donnelly revolted from the Catholic army.*» This traitor, having collected all his adherents, and some of the English soldiers, seized on the Franciscan Convent of Donegal, drove out the friars, and made an arsenal of the house, in order to hold out against the rightful O'Donnell. The fortress after being besieged for three months by Hugh O'Donnell, took fire; 1,000 men perished by the flames and the swords of the as- sailants. Among those who perished was Conn O'Donnell, brother of Nial Garv. The O'Donnell (Hugh) proceeded then to Connaught, where he was attacked by the Earl of Clan- rickard, at the head of an English army, but with very little success. In the meantime, Mountjoy, the viceroy, advancing at the head of 6,000 men to Ulster, O'Neill was prepared to receive him ; both armies joined in battle at Dundalk and Carliugford. Both engagements proved fatal to the English, who lost 4,000 men. Mountjoy, being dangerously wounded, was carried to Newry, to have his wounds dressed. After this, a proclamation was issued offering a reward of £1,000 for the head of O'Neill, or £2,000 to any person who would deliver him up alive. Meanwhile, the president became master of the castles of Croom and Glynn, and despatched a party under the coua- * Hist. Catb. c. 5. *> Hist. Cath. Hib. ibidem. 310 tllSTORY OP IRELAND. mand of Maurice Stack,' who surprised the castle of Liscahan, and put the garrison to the sword ; he then reinforced the gar- risons of Askeaton and Kilmallock, and returned to Limerick. The President immediately after proceeded to Carrigafovle, and despatched Sir Charles Wilmot, with 600 infantry and §0 horse, on an expedition to Clan morris. He took the castles of Lixnaw, and Bathowen by surprise, and returned victorious to Carrigafoyle. Patrick Fizmaurice, a zealous champion of the Catholic cause,^ died at this time, and was succeeded by his son Thomas, who married Honora, sister to the Earl of Tliomoud. The Earl of Desmond, in the interim, having destroyed Castle Island, and several strong forts in Kerry, fearing the English would possess them, was attacked by Sir George Thornton, at the head of a large force, with several experienced officers. Desmond fought bravely, but was defeated with a loss of 200 men, and Teague and Hugh O'Kelly were found among the slain, and their heads sent the next day to the pre- sident. Desmond, after his defeat, returned to the country of Ormond, with Dermod MacCarthy, Bishop of Cork. When Desmond was overthrown, Fitzmaurice, John Fitzthomas^ brother to the earl, Peter Lacy, and other leaders, proceeded to Ulster to join O'Neill.*' Many more of the noblemen having submitted to Moutitjoy, surrendered their castles. At this time, James, son of Garret, the last earl, who was de- tained a prisoner in the tower of London, was sent over to Ireland, with the empty title of " Earl of Desmond." On his arrival he visited the county of Limerick, where he was received with the acclamation of the people, who looked upon him as the successor of the champion of their religion and their country. However, being seen coming out of a Protestant church in Kilmalluck, he was assailed with the imprecations and insults of that people who almost worshipped him the day before.* • Pacata Hib. ibid., c. 10. ^ Ibid., c, 13. • Cox'« Hist, of Irel., p. 435. * His appearance in Desmoad was to win over the people to the Queen : having failed, he returned to London, where he died. o'cONNOR KILLED BY THKOBAl.D BmiKK. 3i 1 In the meantime, Mountjoy carried away the wife, rmd eldest son of Felim O'Byrne, as prisoners?, and pillaged and bnrned the country as he passed; having visited the garrisons of Trim, MuUingar, Athlone, and Drogheda, he proceeded to Dublin. By an order from the queen, he conferred the principality of Tyrconnel en Nial Garv, and that of Fermanagh on Connor Jioe MacGuire, to the exclusion of the lawful princes. These were called the -'Qaeeu's O'Donnell," and the " Queen's Mac Guire," to distinguish them from the lawful chiefs who remained true to Ireland. At this time, Dermod O'Connor, a noble scion , of the Royal family of Connaught, on his way to Munster, to visit his brother-in-law, the young Earl of Desmond,' was killed by Theobald Burke, na-hmgy and his head cut off without any form of trial. This act of hostility drew on Burke the cen- sures of his friends, and rendered him detested by the people. CHAPTER XXVIII, THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH CONTINUED. The Catholics of Ireland, at this time, made a most noble stand in defence of their religion and country, against the 1601. English, and some domestic enemies, who declared in favor of the Queen. The King of Spain, not forgetful of his promise to O'Neill, sent over to Ireland Don Martin-Lerda, with two vessels, laden with ammunition and other necessaries for war."* The earl of Clanrickard, previously attached to the Queen's interest, began now to espouse the cause of the confederates. The English court, dreading an invasion of Ireland by the Spaniards, thought it prudent to grant a general amnesty to all the nobles, who would submit to the president, except to James, son of Thomas Roe Fitzgerald, titular earl of Desmond, his brother John, Peter Lacy, Thomas Fitzmaurice, the 0'Moores,andtheO'Conors Faly. In the meantime, Docwra,the Pacata Hib., c. 17. b Pet. Loin, ibidem, p. 452 SI 8 • HISTOKT OV IRELAND. governor of Lough Foyle, seized possession of Inuishowen, and joined by Niall Garv^ pillaged the country all around. The Viceroy, Mountjoy, at the head of his forces marched to Ulster, and after taking some castles, despatched Sir Henry Davers, to possess the abbey of Armagh, and place a garrison in it. He failed in his attempt, but it was captured by Mountjoy, who placed in it 750 foot and 100 horse. These perpetrated dreadful acts on the inhabitants.* The Viceroy ordered Sir Christopher St. Laurence's regiment to Benburb, where it was attacked by the advanced guard of O'Neill, who lost 200 men in the fight, and the English J 00, according to Cox. Some days after, the L'ish proceeded to the camp of the enemy, to attack it, but their flank being set on by 400 English, several of thenr fell. Among these were Peter Lacey, Lord of Bruff, one of the most zealous defenders of Catholicity, during the A.D. troubles of Ireland, and one, whose memory should be ever 1601. dear to the Irish church. The Catholic cause suffered much at this time by the arrest of many of the confederate chiefs. Of these were James, son of Thomas Fitzgerald, alluded to above. He was betrayed by Fitzgibbon,'' chief of the Clangibbons, who, for this act of treachery, received 1,000 pounds from Carew. Florence Mac Carthy Mórwas taken in Cork. They were sent under a strong guard to the tower of London, where Desmond died. James, the real earl of Desmond, son of Garret, repaired to England, shortly after, where he died. Thus ended the illustrious house of Desmond who sacrificed their lives in the cause of religion. The President Carew issued a circular letter to Dermod and Teague MacCarthy, and Maolmo O'Mahon, on pretence of at- tending the assizes at Cork." On their appearance, they were arrested and thrown into prison. Lord Piunket of Dunsany, at this time, was driving away 1,600 head of cattle from the >Cox'« Kist. oflrel., p.438. i' RelaU Gerald, c. 28. « Pacata Hib., c. 7. SIEGE or tlNSALH. 813 estates of MacMahou, «ho having pursued him with 140 men, deprived him of his booty ; fifty men were lost on both sides. Ireland was now exhausted, having sustained the burden of the war for many years, without any foreign aid. Munster lost its leaders, Leinster was broken down from con- tinual devastations, Connaught could not attempt anything, and the forces of O'Neill and O'Donnell were too few to stand against the English and the unfaithful sOns of Ireland. Such was the state of affairs in Ireland, when Don John De Aquila, sent by PhiHp III., king of Spain, arrived in Kinsale. He had but 2,500 men on landing, after leaving seven of his ships laden with artillery and other warlike stores, under the command of Don Petro de Zubiaur, who took shelter in Cor- unna in Gallicia. The Spanish general took Kinsale and gar- risoned two castles at the entrance to tlie harbor, called Caslan-na-Park, and Binncharrain. He found none of the Munster chiefs to assist him on this importwt occasion, except the O'SuUivan, prince of Bere, who promised to furnish him with a thousand armed men. The Spanish general, and Fra Mathee, archbishop of Dublin, wrote to the princes of Ulster to come to their assistance in forced marches. In the mean time, the viceroy, having collected his forces from Ulster, Leinster and Connaught, to the number of 8,000 men, laid siege to Caslan-na-Park and Binncharrain, which surrendered after two months siege, and a small squadron of ten vessels, under the command of Richard Levison, were incessantly pouring broadsides into the town. Still the siege of Kinsale lasted three months, though defended only by a handful of Spaniards, who fought valiantly during the day, and defended the walls of the town by night.» Mean- while, Don-Pedro-Zubiaur, with his seven vessels, arrived in Castle-Haven, where they were kindly received by the O'Driscolls. On the news of their arrival, the English admiral, » O'Sullivan'» History gives aa interesting account of the siege of Kinsale. .I^ 3H HISTORY (#f IBtLANU. Levison, wi(h six sliips, proceeded to engage them. After an engageuaent, repeated two days with the Spaniards, he re- tamed to Kinsale^ with a loss of 575 men, vainly boa^sting of I^ja suqcesaful expedition. The O'SoUivan Bere, in order to cpnvince the Spaniards of the sincerity of the Irish, gave them his castles, in which Don John issued orders to place the 700 Spaniards that arrived at Castlehaven. The castles were, Gastltthaven) Dooneshed, at Baltimore, Dpnnelong, in the island of Inisherkan, and Dunboy, which protected the harbor pf Berehaven. The princes of Ulster, O'NeiU, and O'Donueil, not forgetting their promises to the Spanish general, arrived in the County of Cork on the eighth of December, with their united forces, amounting to 6,000 Irish soldiers. Their inten- tion was, not to attack the English, who were 16,000 strong, but to throw in succor to the Spaniards. O'Neill and O'Donnell, after various skirmishing with the English, and not succeeding in their plan, gave up the campaign, as it was ad- vanced in the season, waiting for a more favorable opportunity. O'Neill returned to Ulster with a loss of £00 men, and O'Donnell gave the command of his army to Eoderick, his brother, who marched to Tyrconnel. He embarked himself for Spain, with Bedmond Barke, Huf h Mostian, and archbishop Conry of Tuam, and other noblemen. On his landing, he was honorably received by the Count de Coracena, the archbishop of Compostella, and his Catholic majesty, who gave the necessary orders for an expedition to Ireland. In the mean time, the Spanish general, Don John, though having his gar- rison at Kinsale, furnished with 2,500 men, weU stocked^with provisions and other warlike stores, proposed terms of capitula- tion to the English general, who anxiously accepted the pro- posal, as he could no longer sustain the siege, having only six days' provisions, the treasury exhausted, the artillery unfit for effecting a breach,' and half the array, consisting of 16,000, * PacaU Ilib. ibidem, c. 23, p. 244. GALLANT DEFENCE OF; THE 'CASTLK OK UUNBOY. 315 lost both by disease and the sword of the enemy. Don John gave up all places in possession of the Spaniards, on condition o( a safe transit for himself and his forces to Spain. For a niore minute account of this man's conduct, the reader is re- ferred to volume T. On his arrival in Spain, he was arrested by orders of the king, who had, already, satisfactory proofs of his dishonorable treaty with the English. A.D. The Viceroy, after the campaign in Munster, set out for Dublin, and having reviewed the English troops, put them in convenient garrisons till the next expedition. In June of this year he marched into Ulster, threw a bridge over the Black- water, and erected a fort which he called Charlemont; over it he placed Captain Caulfield with a garrison of 150 men. The inhabitants of Dungannon, on the approach of the English, set fire to the town and castle of Tyrone. 0*Neill having re- solved to act on the defensive, withdrew to Castle Roe, on the' river Bann, and thence to Gleanneon Kein, near Loi^h Erne, where he had nothing to dread from the enemy. The only chiefs who remained steadfastly attached to the cause of Tyrone, were 0'£ourke, MacGuire, and Captain Tyrrell. The Viceroy returned to Dublin, confiding the affairs of Ulster to Docwra, Dauvers, and Chichester, the latter of whom exercised his com- mission so cruelly, that famine was the consequence — "children were seen feeding on the entrails of their mothers who died of hunger," (as Ware relates) . Daniel 0'Sullivan,Princeof Bere, illustrious for his virtues and his birth, was still at the head of the Catholic league in Munster, and in possession of the castle of Dunboy, the command of which he gavetoEichard MacGeoghe- gan, of the noble house of Moy^cashel, with 120 men, who by their gallant defence of Dunboy, well merited the name and char- acter of heroes. The President, Carew, with 5,000 land force» and marines and artillery from 18. ships of war/ after making some 1 Pacata Hib., cap> 4. S16 HISTORY OF IRELAND. A.D. overtures to the governor of the castle, which were scornfull/ 1602. rejected, laid siege to Dunboy, and raised a battery of five pieces of caunon within 140 paces of the place, which played incessantly on the castle. A part of the castle having now fallen, an attack being ordered, the assailants were vigorously repulsed by the besieged ; after repeated attacks they gained the hall of the castle, but they were forced to abandon it. The English artillery continued to play on the castle from five in the morning until one in the afternoon, when a fourth assault was directed. The Catholics, at length, overwhelmed by the number of the English, roused by despair, fought with des- peration until night, sometimes in the hall, the cellars, and on the stairs ; during this time blood was copiously shed on both sides. . The Saxons, being not yet masters of the castle, pro- posed terms of peace to the besieged. Bichard MacGeoghegau/ the governor, thougb mortally wounded, on seeing the enemy enter in crowds, seized on a lighted match, and made an effort to fire a barrel of gunpowder that was placed near him, in order to blow up both himself and the enemy rather than sur- render. He preferred to die fighting, rather than surrender to a foe without honor. The garrison was composed of men of in- tegrity and principle, who willingly sacrificed their lives in de- fence of their religion and country. The English themselves admit, that so obstinate a defence was not witnessed within this kingdom j*" O'SuUivan, prince of Bere, not disheartened by the fall of Dunboy," being joined by Captain Tyrrell, marched, at the head of 1,000 men, into Muskerry, and made themselves masters of Carraig-na-Chori, Duin-Dearaire, and Macrumpé. Glengariffe, a wild district near Bantry bay, was the mountain fastness where O'Sullivan made resistance against his merciless pursuers ; they continued to make incur- * Pacata Hib., p. 316. '' Coi, Hist. Ireland, p. 450. < Hist. Cath. c. 4. ri-fy. EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE OP o'sULLIVAN BE ARK. 817 ^jf sioiis into the district of Cork, and returned laden witli booty, 1602. as the Pour Masters inform us. Cormac MacCartby, though attached to the English, was suspected of holding secret meetings with O'Donnell, O'Neill, and other Irish chiefs. Being arrested and imprisoned in Cork, he, however, escaped and attached himself to O'Sullivan Bere. But shortly after, finding his castles, Blarney, Kilcree, and Macrumpé, in the hands of the Saxons, Muskerry laid waste, and his wife and sons captured, he surrendered. O'Sullivan, when he heard of V the submission of Mac Carthy, and the still more disastrous news, the death of O'Donnell in Spain, and finding himself forsaken by his faithful allies. Captain Tyrrell having led his few troops to Connaught, and Wilmot, the English captain, having the title of governor of Bere, and proclaming pardon in the queen's name to all who would desert O'SuUivan's standard, iset out with O'Connor Kerry,* at the head of 400 men, to take refuge with O'Neill, prince of Tyrone. On his route to O'Roorke, prince of Brefney, whom he intended to visit, he desperately cut his way through the enemy, who pursued him in every quarter, the MacCarthys of Muskerry, the people of Duhallow, the garrison of Slievelogher, under Captain Buff, the Barrys, Fitzgibbons, and a detachment sent by the Earl of Ormond to check his progress ; overcoming all the difficulties, he crossed the Shannon at Portumna, in boats called curraghs. Phihp O'Sullivan gives a classic account of the O'Sullivan's manly and dauntless courage at this time. It is given at length in the first volume of this work. On reviewing his brave little army, he found it reduced to ^00 men; on this occa- sion O'Mally of Mayo was drowned in the passage of the Shan- non. The Prince of Bere afterwards encountered at Aughrim, >Captain Malby, and Sir Thomas Boarke, brother to the Earl of Clanrickard j Malby fell and O'Sullivan was victorious. After a Hist. Cath., c. 8. 318 ■ HISTOHV OF IRlíliAÍíD. - ' this, whilst on his Wároh, he experiéuoed great dangers, dnd having with heroic fortitude, surmoantéd them all, he afrived at Brefni where he wfes honourably receifed by 0*Bourke> who had already afforded ahelter to William Bourke, chief of the MftcWiUiams of Oonnaught, and to MacGnire, of Fermanagh. MacQuire and O'SnlHvan déteriAined to have recourse to O'Neill, fóí the purpose of indudng him to renew the war against the common enemy. Having, accordingly, set out they forced their "way through áerveral parts on the banks of lake Erne ; MacGuire then got possession of Fermanagh, and Donald O'SttUivan having toade his way to the shore, sailed to Spain, where he was created Knight of St. Tago, by Philip III. As far as we could ascertain th« O'ConnOi'-Kerry went to Scotland, thence to England. At this time, Owen MacEggan, apostolic vicar from the Pope, and elected bishop of Ross by his Holiness, was shot in a skirmish, with the people of Carbery against the English. Dermod MacCarty, a priest, being tied to a Aorse*» tail itas dragged through the city of Cork,- then hung on a gibbet, quartered, his mtraile torn out and scattered through the streets, because he refused to renounce the Catholic faith. Mountjoy meanwhile having received intelligence of the approaching dissolution of the queen, offered a general amnesty to O'Neill and his allies, with the free exercise of their re- ligiou, and the peaceful enjoyment of their estates, on condition that they would lay down their arms. O'Neill, looking on these j^ D terms as most favourable, accepted the offer, and was con- 16U3, fifmed in the title of earl of Tyrone by James I., and Hoderick O'Donnell, brother of Hugh, was created earl of Tyrconnell, While the faithless Niall Garv was left to content himself with the title of baron ofDungannon. Thus ended the boasted con- qutsl of Ireland, after a war of 400 years, while England was conquered in the single battle of Haiitings by Williain the Conqueror. CHARACTEE OF ELIZABETH. 519 Elizabeth, afflicted with melancholy and sadn^s, and aban- doned by her courtiera, who flocked to Scotland to adore the ri. nng sun^ died the Zéth of March, aged 69 years, 44 of which she reigned ; she possessed great talents, and was well learned and bad a knowledge of several languages, Jbat her talents were ob- scured by the perverseness of her dispositioné She was a com- pound of ingratitude, jealousy, cruelty and duplicity, of which her treatment to her favorites afford ample proofs. Ireland was her difficulty, which afflicted her to distraction ; she had constantly to support in Ireland an army of 20,000 men, independent of the naval armaments connected with them, and to support a powerful fleet on the coasts of Spain, to intercept the succors intended for Ireland. The expenses of the wars of Elizabeth, with the Irish, amounted to £300,000 a year. It is no wonder then why she should be distracted. Her court was a theatre in which each of her wily ministers played his part with skill. Her's wast the most wicked ministry that was ever known in any reign. The desire of being admired was her predominant passion. The fine qualities both of mind and body, that, Mary Queen of Scots possessed in an eminent degree above her, brought on that most accomplished woman a tragical end ; Elizabeth having confined her for nineteen years,** signed the warrant for her execution, and abolished a religion that had subsisted from the first ages of Christianity, and substituted in its place, a medley of the tenets of the different reformers; who- ever denied her ecclesiastical supremacy was declared guilty of high treason. The prisons were continually filled with persons whose only crime was their firmly clinging to the religion of their ancestors. According to the most correct calculations, the number of even the English who suffered for their Catholicity amounted to 227, among whom were 97 ecclesiastics." The thousands of the Irish men, women, and children, who suffered « Higgins' Short View, p. 218. >> Baker, p. 370, &.c. : ' « Dodd's Hist, of Church of England, vol. 2, part 4, b. 3, art. 7. :.ryyyfW^m, 820 HISTORY OF IRRLAXD* death fur their religion can never be ascertained in this wotld. The whole island was deluged with blood, and was reduced to a perfect desert. The remnant of the people were more like spectres than human beings ; mothers with infants on their breasts were murdered, children barbarously stabbed, and raised half dead on spikes for a spectacle; others were tied band and foot and thrown into the sea.' This is merely a light sketch of the character of Elizabeth, who ended her career in despair, and died in affliction and sorrow, without one to console her. Had O'Neill been aware of her death, history tells us he would not have made peace with the Viceroy. ^ CHAPTER XXIX. • THE REIGN OF JAMES I. 1603.* James VÍ. of Scotland, and I. of England, was son to Lord Darnley, son of the earl of Lennox, and Mary Stuart, who was beheaded under Elizabeth. The right of all the British kings, derived either from the Saxons, Danes, or Normans, was united in the person of James L The kingdoms of Scot- land and England became united under him, who was the first king of Great Britain and Ireland. James was proclaimed in Dublin, but the same loyalty was not observed in the towiiit of Cork,Waterford, Clonmel, Wexford, Emerick and Kilkenny, till Sir George Thornton, at the head of 800 men, had him proclaimed in the vicinity of Cork. The ancient Irish looked upon James as the descendant of Edward Bruce, who was crowned king of Ireland, and therefore they recognized his title to the crown of Ireland ;** others thought his title to the crown of this country valid by reason of his descent from Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry VII. They therefore forgot their former animosities, and submitted with one accord to the new king. Before James's accession to the throne, he « Abbe M'Geogbegaa, p. 539. *> Kennedj on the House of Stuart. l^Ki^^r^v^-'^ A.D CONSPIRACY AGAINST CATHOLICS. 3?.l gave reason to the 031110110? to expect special protection for their religion ; for he wrote a letter to that effect to Pope Clement VIII., but the wily minister, Cecil, intercepted the letter,» and found means to estrange the king from his Catholic subjects. Two conspiracies, at the time, appeared to interrupt the re- pose of the monarch, fomented, as is believed, by the intriguing policy of Cecil j the first was to overthrow the government, by placing on the throne, Arabella Stuart, the king's near relative.* The next conspiracy, called the gunpowder plot, was more danger- 1605. ous;and was to blowup the king and parliament, at the same time. This was a deadly blow, aimed at the Catholics, by Cecil,' who intended to exterminate them, and confiscate their estates. Cecil, as a rdward for his intriguing against Scotland, having obtained the order of the Garter and the office of high treasurer, then plotted against Ireland, against whose leaders he designed to bring an act of treason. For this purpose he employed St. Laurence, baron of Howth, who having invited the leaders of the Catholics to an interview, told them to defend themselves, as the English court was determined to eradicate the Catholic religion. Notwithstanding their protestations of loyalty, they were accused before the king by this treacherous man, of forming designs against the state and his majesty. The Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell appeared before the council in England, and were advised underhand, by some false friends, to consult for their safety, as there was a witness suborned to convict them.* They readily adopted this perfidious advice, and were immediately proclaimed traitors and their estates confiscated, together with six whole counties in the province of Ulster. One of the special * Baker's Chron., Reign of James I., p. 404. ' Ireland's case briefly stated, p. 9. " Osborne's History of men of the year 1658, p. 26 — Z7, 38. "* Ireland's Case, p. 17. •Doctor Curry, author of «' The Review of the Civil Wars," says in his preface, that, hearing a lady and her child one day, in the Castle Yard, Dublin, impute the plot to Catholics, urged him to write for the purpose of exposing the calumny, and right well he performed his task. 23 ^'■rXr^-iSi-T 822 HISTORY OP IRELAND. enactments was, that no portion of these lands should be sold, transferred to, or farmed, but by Protestants exclusively. St. Laurence declared himself a Protestant, and became partaker of the spoils.* O'Neill, O'Donnell, and Mac Guire, prince of Fermanagh, sailed for France, where they were kindly received by his Catholic majesty : Charles O'Neill and O'Cane were arrested, and confined in the tower of London. Pro- clamations were now issued against bishops, priests, Jesuits, and seminarians: and all who denied the king's supremacy were declared traitors. Niall Garv O'Donnell, his son and brothers, were confined in the tower of London, in which the two former died in 1626; MacGuire died at Genoa A.D. 1608, and Hugh O'Donnell, prince of Tyrconnell, in the same year, in Rome ; Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, died in Rome in 1616. A.D. In the absence of the Earls, Tyrone, Tyrconnell, and Mac 1608. Guire, Cahir O'Dogherty, chief of Innishowen, took up arms in defence of the Catholics. After various and successful skir- mishes with the English, in which this nobleman fought valiantly, he died in defence of creed and native land. The intrepid and daring conduct of a young heroine of the house of O'Donnell should not be omitted here. The story is well told by Abbe Mac Geoghegan. When the Eirl of Tyr- connell was obliged to fly his country, his wife, the countess, was sent under a strong guard to England, where she gave birth to a daughter, whom the king took under his royal protection, and called " Mar2/ Stuart," instead of O'Donnell. Her mother gave her a Catholic education, and had her well instructed in the principles of that religion. When she grew up, she was introduced by her grandmother, the Countess of Kildare, to the king, who gave her a large sum of money as a marriage portion. She was, also, heiress to the fortune of the Countess of Kildare. Her illustrious birth and her splendid fortune caused many noblemeu of the first distinction to seek her in marriage. Finding herself persecuted by th e countess, Ireland's Case Stated, p. 18. tHARACTER AlíD DEATH OF ÍAMÍS I. B23 her grandmother, in favor of an alliance with a nobleman of the Protestant faith, she formed the noble resolution of seeking an asylum in a foreign country. In order to effect her purpose, she was obliged to conceal her sex by changing her apparel. She set out before day from London, sailed from Bristol, and after a long and dangerous voyage, arrived at Rochelle, and continued her journey to Brussels, where she was received with all marks of distinction by Isabella, the Infanta of Spain. On this occasion Pope Urban VIII. wrote to her a letter, highly flattering, and exceedingly complimentary to her heroic conduct. The whole province of Ulster," by an act of proscription, fell to the crown (according to Hume's " Ancient and Modern State of Ireland^') and, " by establishing in it colonies from ' England and Scotland, from being the most barbarous and rebellious, it became the most civilized and best cultivated province in the kingdom ill!" What a boast, what an act of civilization ! to beggar the inhabitants, to depopulate the country, to deprive noblemen of birth and rank of their pos- sessions, in order to enrich courtiers, whose origin is scarcely known. If the Irish are to be taxed with barbaritv, it must have commenced with the English invasion ; for, the craelties practised by the English, for 400 years, were sufficient to sink the most civilized nation in the world into a state of barbarism and ferocity. Hear Hume himself on the subject : — " The English carry their ill-judged tyranny too far ; they deny the Irish the privilege of the laws. They force them from their homes, and compel them to seek an asylum in the woods and bogs ; their insolence and tyranny have changed them into wild beasts." This is the declaration of an Englishman. " To kill a mere Irishman was no crime." The only crime of ' Such was the tyranny and plunder exercised on the native Irish after the overthrow of O'Dogherty, and the flights of the earls, that nothing remarkable occurs in Ireland until 1641, except the tortures inflicted oa Catholic bishops, priests, and their flocks. fc 324 HISTORY OF IKKLAXD. the Irisli was, that they defended their rehgion and properties against the rapacious cruelties of tyrannical usurpers. The authority of James was despotic ; his persecution of the Catholics violeut, his court a scene of luxury, masquerading, balls, amusements, and the intrigues of favorites. His love of pleasure, effeminacy, and want of courage, made him averse to war, which was thought to be the result of prudence. The language he used in reference to Irish Catholics can never be forgotten. " Root out the papists, plant Ireland with puritans» and secure it." The obvious meaning of this to persons who understood him, was to annihilate Catholics. The persons not \)s\^faith, was what he sought to extirpiite. He received but a moderate education, little suited to his rank ; such as it was, it savored very much of pedantry. He was married to Anne, daughter of Frederick II., King of Denmark, by whom he had two sons, Henry, who died before his father, and Charles, his successor on the throne. He had two daughters, Elizabeth, married to Frederick V., Count Palatine of the Rhine, and Sophia to Ernest of Brunswick, Duke of Hanover. James died the 27th of March, 1625, aged 59 years. He reigned 22 years, Rapin writes that neither James, nor any of the Stuarts had much regard for their word. Charles I., only son of James, hav- 1625! ^"8 ascended the throne, married Henrietta, daughter of Henry IV., King of France. He, too, like his father, strove to unite the Scotch, and English in one religion (according to Baker.) To effect this, he ordered the English liturgy to be read in the principal churches of Scotland. At this course of policy, the Scotch becoming outrageous, broke the windowsof the churches, insulted the preachers, and threw at them every missile, that necessity supplied on the occasion. The fanaticism of his Scotch subjects induced them openly to resist his mandates, and under a ma^k of religion, they shook off the yoke and prepared for war. This was the commencement of the decline of the regal authority in England and in Scotland. The next few years are devoid of interest to Irishmen. DISGRACEFUL TREATY OF ENGLAND WITH SCOTLAND. 325 j^ P^ The Scotch applied to the neighbouring states for assistance. 1638. The command of thearmy thej gave to Alexander Lesby, and hav- ing made themselves masterof Edinburgh, Dunbarton, and other strongholds, entered England in 1640. They defeated the Royalists at Newburn, and seized upon Newcastle. The Eoyalists concluded a disgraceful treaty with them, on condition of paying the Scotch £25,000 a month. This we write on the authority of Castlehaven's Memoirs. The Scotch fanatics de- clared, that they would never lay down their arms, till Puri- tanism should be established on a permanent basis in botii nations. The people having demanded a parliament, the king gave orders for the convocation of one, which was called " f/te hloody parliament." Charles proposed to both houses to con- cur with him in putting down the rebellion, and protecting his faithful subjects. Instead of assenting, they became insolent and imperious, and aimed at nothing less than the total over- throw of the monarch and his government. So writes Baker, the Chronicler. The Scotch puritans of Ireland, seeing the abolition of the episcopacy and monarchy determined on in England and Scotland, thought it would be a favorable op- portunity for destroying Catholicity in Ireland. They, there- fore, petitioned the rebellious parliament, to oblige the Irish Pa- pists to turn Protestants, or quit the kingdom, and those who re/used should be hanged at their own doors. So certain were they of the execution of their design, that they publicly boasted, there would not be a single Catholic in the kingdom, at the end oj the year. The Catholics were naturally alarmed at these pro- ceedings, and expected no protection from the Chief Justices, Sir William Parsons and John Borlase, bigotted presbyterians, who governed Ireland, in the absence of the Viceroy, Stratford, whose successor was the Earl of Leicester. The Marquis of Antrim, meanwhile, arrived in Ireland, with orders from the king to the Earl of Ormond, who was then Lieutenant General, 826 HISTORY OF lUKLAND. . ; to concert measures with bis faithful subjects in Ireland for the seizure of the Chief Justices, who were parliamentarians, and to declare in favor of the king, agaisnt the proceedings of the English parliament. The Earl of Ormond observed the strictest secresy towards the ancient Irish, who thought them- selves as much entitled to the confidence of the king as any of his subjects. The treatment of the Irish by the English was cruel in the extreme. On them they looked as a conquered people.* The confiscation of six counties of Ulster — the iron tyranny of the viceroy, Strafford, who procured the sentence of expulsion against the legitimate proprietors, on the plea that Henry II. had claims to their properties 500 years before, and that penal laws were enacted against them — all these grievances passing in review before their minds, the Catholics resolved to anticipate the plans of the Earl of Ormond, and sieze on the Castle of Dublin, and the Chief Justice.'' Lord MacGuire of Enniskillen, who was to guide the attack on Dublin, was betrayed \>y Connolly, his attendant, who, by his perfidy, earned considerable possessions for his descendants in Ireland. MacGuire and MacMahon were sent to England, and hanged at Tyburn, while Sir Phelim O'Neill took pos- session of Charlemont, and other forts in Ulster. The per- secution against Irish Catholics who were faithful to the faith- less Charles was now at its height, so much so that it could be no longer submitted to by men, who had left within them a 1641* sp^i^^ of courage. A parliament composed of Catholics and Protestants met in Dublin, to devise means of putting down the rebellion. This did not suit the designs of the chief justices. Parsons and Borlase, who were often heard to say, "the more rebels the more confiscation.""' The parliament being prorogued, without effecting any good, encooraged the malcontents, who laid siege 'Memoirs of Castlehaven, p. 10. ^ lb., p. 9. * lb., p. 31, MASSACllK OF THE IRISH. 327 to Drogheda, and, commaiided by Philip O'Reilly, chief of Cavan, defeated Major Roper, at Gillian's Town, at the head of 800 men. Lord Castlehaven, who spoke against the oppres- sors of the Irish, was arrested, and imprisoned, but had the good fortune to escape from the hands of his keepers. Charles I., himself, attributes the revolt of the Irish, to the mad zeal of some who wished to restrain them in the exercise of their religion, and to the cupidity of others, who forced them to rebel, in order to confiscate their properties.* He, therefore, transmitted orders to the lords justices of Ireland, to publish a general amnesty in his name, to all who would submit within forty days. These disloyal officers of authority restricted the king's indulgence to ten days, and excluded all landed pro- prietors. Sir John Read, who promised to make the grievances of the Catholics known to Charles, was hanged iu Dublin, and Patrick Barnwall, lord of Kilbrew, who appeared on the faith of the amnesty, experienced the like fate. Sir John Temple says,*"* that the Irish in the commencenient were satisfied with burning the houses, and plundering the properties of Protes- tants." But in the massacre committed in one night, by the garrison of Carrickfergus, on the Catholics of Island Magee» in the county Antrim, (every man, woman and child,) amounting to 3,000, were put to death.« Eighty persons, without distinc- tion of age or sex, were massacred in the village of Santry, Clontarf, and Bullock, near Dublin. The cruelties practised by Lord Broghill, in Cork, by captains Peasly and Brown in Tipperary, by all the Protestant garrisons of the kingdom, and by that barbarous tyrant, Coote, in Wicklow, who gave orders not to spare age or sex, not even a child, were it but "■one hand Lady O'Dempsey, one of the finest women that any country • IreL Case, &c., p. 32, 33. ^ Hist, of Rebel. " Irel. Case, p. 37. ' Mem. of Castleh., p. 29. 328 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ever had, beiug enceinte, was ript up, and the embryo Papist taken out, placed on the point of a bayonet by a soldier. At this sight Coote ejaculated, *' that is the sport I like to see." (Clarendon's Irish RebelHon). These unequalled atrocities drove the Catholics torevenge the death of their friends and neighbors. The excesses of both parties are without excuse, but, still, those who began the tragedy, are the more criminal. The Catholics, who committed cruelties, were disowned by their leaders, and many of them put to death for disobedience of orders.* The carnage in Ireland continued for many years, with more or less violence. Hume draws a horrifying picture of it,"» and says, •* that the English were massacred without provocation, with- out injury, and even without cause." Sir John Temple says, " that there were iiOO,000 Protestants massacred in one pro- vince alone." In order that the impartial reader may decide, on this contested subject, we will give the authority of re- spectable writers, who witnessed what passed in Ireland at the time. Lord Castlehaven says, " The English were the aggressors,' and the crime of the Irish was to follow the bar- barous example of their oppressors." Sir William Petty, an English Protestant, and secretary to the usurper, Cromwell, who appointed him surveyor-general of Ireland, assures us, " that the number killed on boch sides did not exceed 36,000"* • Memoirs ibid. *> Hume's reign of Charles I. * Abbe M'Geog., p. 566. Alleged Massacre of Protestants. fl " It is no wonder that the impious, the profligate, and the debauched should have an implacable hatred to an order of men eminent for sanctity, ornaments to religion, and a check on the turpitude and depravity of the demons of those awful times. As a palliation for the butchery and plunder of the old Irish, and the English Lords and Catholics of the Pale, it was alleged, though without a shadow of proof, that a massacre of Protestants was committed by Catholics on the 23rd of October, 1641. If such a thing had occurred, the dispatches of the Lords Justices of Dublin, dated 25th October, 27th November, and 23rd December of same year, and directed to ;y>-1 MASSACRK OF THE IllISlI.' 329 After these respectable authorities, the reader will be able to judge, who was guilty of partiality and injustice. The rebel- lious parliament of 1641 decreed, that Popery should not be the House of Commons, would give an account of so important a fact» but in them there was not a word on that point, though they specified that ten of the garrison of Lord Moore's house, at Mellifont, were killed by a party of rebels, as they called patriots. There is not a word in the ' Journals of the House of Commons,' relative to a general massacre. The absence of a governmental record of the alleged fact, is a clear proof that the assertion was a pure fabrication, a barefaced falsehood. Milton states, that 600,000 Protestants were massacred! ! ! Though, according to Sir William Petty, a most accurate statist, there were in all Ireland, at that time, only 220,0C0, that is, 380,000 less than Milton said were killed ! The Rev. Dr. Warner, F.T.C.D., reduces the number to 4,080 ; he adds, ' it is easy to demon- strate the utter falsehood of every Protestant historian of the rebellion. Milton, Barton, Temple. Frankland, Rapin, Wormius, Clarendon, and Hume, (the last of whom makes the number but 40,000) — stand convicted of a wilful and satanic lie, by parliamentary evidence as well as by Warner. Ormond gambled away Ireland to Colonel Jones, a Cromwellian, and fled, leaving Dublin to the mercy of that ruthless, maaslaying, city-dismantling, church-desecrating, infant-mangling, woman-torturing faction. How keenly bishop O'Connell cuts up Ormond, in his allusion to Tankardstown battle. We refer to stanza xciii. of the Dirge in first volume. We find in Cartes * Ormond,' vol. I. part 3, p. 496, that Ormond ' gave money and relief to the Covenanters in Ireland, to enable them to massacre the loyal Catholics. Wherever Ormond found the Protestant party, though an ti loyal, likely to be unequal to the loyal Catholics, he was sure to aid either directly — as elswhere shown — by supplying funds, or indirectly, by"betraying the' cause of his king — as his leavii% Dublin vacant for the regicide, Jones. Ormond marched into the Counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Queen's, King's, Kilkenny, and Kildare, was present at, and aided in the atrocities, murders, burnings, and other depredations perpetrated by Sir Charles Coote, Colonel Armstrong, Sir Thomas Lucas, and Sir Patrick Wymes. He fought against Lord Mountgarrett, Lord Viscount Ikerin, Baron Lughmoe, Lord Dun- boyne, the O'Dempsys, the O'Bjrrnes, and O'Cavenaghs, and other well- known loyalists, though he ought to know that the leaders of his own party were secretly disloyal. — See Rushworth's * Historical Collections', part 3, pages 510, 11, 12. This battle was at Tankardstown in the Queen's County, on the Barrow, near the castle of Grange Melon, within four miles of Athy. •-.- ., **í:*^--y^x*'^ ««*♦•..•. "**■ ••*•■»••-•■•*-»'••*'>* 330 . HISrOliY OF IIIKLAND. suffered in Irelavd, or any part of his majesty'» dominions. It also granted, for a small smn of money, 2,500,000 acres o{ arable land in Ireland to hungry English adventurers, taken Might this be the battle alluded to by Dr. O'Connell in stanza zeiii. of The Dirge, wherein he hints that James, that is, Ormond, and the clique, played ' fast and loose ?* " — O'Brennan's Ancient Ireland» pp. 172, 179, 180. Since the aboTe was pat into type it occurred to us, that the matter ought to be more minutely investigated for the satisfaction of the general reader, and to this end we will refer to Clarendon's history of Ormond's rule in Ireland, llie latter was in Cologne when the former wrote his book under the supervision of Ormond, and in his defence. Though the ostensible aim of the book was to refute a libellous essay which exaggerated the number of Protestants, that fell in the Irish wars, *yet the real intention of Clarendon» who was high chancellor of England, was to palliate Ormond's conduct be- fore the continental powers where Ormond was stopping. Clarendon, the writer, and Ormond, his Mentor, were bitter Protestants, and therefore as far from extenuating anything in favor of Irish Catholics, they did as far as they could) exaggerate the matter. They forgot to inform their readers that whatever Protestants (except a very few) fell, were killed on the field of battle, whilst the numbers of Catholics who were put to death, were massacred in cold blood, as Clarendon himself confesses. One or two instances from his book will prove this. (1641.) " The English and Scotch forces murdered in one night all the inhabitants of island MaGee, above 3,000 men, women, and children, all innocent persons, at a time when none of the Catholics of that county were inarms or rebellion. Note, this was the first massacre, committed in Ireland on either side," (1641.) " Some 3,000 men, women and children, of the Irish (of the county of Derry) having freely.'come under the protection of the garrison of Londonderry were killed by the said garrison," (1641.) " Captain Fleming and other officers smothered to death 220 women and children in two caves," " 63 women and children were murthered in the isle of Rossa by Cunningham." (1641, 1642) "The garrisons of Rapho, Drombo, Lifford, and Castle Ragh. an, slaughtered no less than 1,500 inhabitants, never in arms. Their chief murtherers were James Grraham, and Robert Cunningham, commonly called, the killer of old women." *' About 2,000 poor labourers, women, and children of the barony of Terbur, were massacred by the garrisons of Bellashanny and Donegal, and Lieutenant Poe with a naked dagger, asking in a friendly manner, a sick man, to whom he owed money, how he was, thrust it into his side, and telling his wife he should be no longer sick, killed him," liASSACRK OF THB IRISH. 331 for the most part from the dregs of the people, whose origin was obscure or entirely unknown. These acts of the rebel- lious parliament, together with the confiscation of six counties "3,000 of his majesty's army, after quarter was promised them, were put to death by the English rebels adhering to Cromwell." " The armies of Monroe slaughtered 2,000 poor old men womeD and children." (1641) " Many thousand more of the poor innocent people of this county (Dublin) fled several times into thickets of firs, which the soldiers did usually firet killing as many as endeavoured to escape, or forced them back again to be burned.'' (1642) '' In April Mrs. Taaffe, sixty years old, and six women more, were murthered by the soldiers of the garrison ; a blind woman, aged eighty years, was incompassed with straw by them, to which they set fire, and so burnt her ; they hanged two women in 'Kilbride, and two decripit men, that begged alms of them." (1642) " No less than 10,000 of the poor inhabitants of that county (Meath) though they are not taxed with any murther committed on the Protestants, were massacred," " Captaia Barrington caused the arm of a poor woman to be cut off with a hatchet, and perceiving that she grasped with the other hand a sucking babe, she had at her breast, he caused that arm to be also cut off, and the infant's head to be dashed against a ruck in her presence." From page 328 to page 370 contains similar instances of unheard of atrocity. Here we find that in five counties alone, 27,791 Irish were butchered in cold blood. We have carefully collected and added up the entire number of Protestants set forth in Clarendon's work, as put to death in ALL Ireland, and the total is 10171. This is his calculation for all the counties of Ireland. The blood runs cold at the contemplation of such scenes of slaughter. It can be conceived what would be the total loss of the Irish of all the counties that were put to death, when the reader reflects that in four or five counties alone, according to Clarendon, 27,791 perished. It is necessary to quote one or two instances of the toleration of Irish Catholics, to be found at page 335 of same work. " The Libel saith, that 250 Protestants were murthered, whereas not one person was murthered there, (Bellecke iu Mayo,)" (1642) " two Protestants were murthered in that county (Galway) whereof one was a minister, as the Libel says, but it is most certain that the Marquess of Claurickard (then a Catholic) caused the three mea who murthered them to be banged in gibbets in their several places." Here is aa evidenca that the Catholic leaders chastised any delinquent of the Catholic body. " It is observable that in this county of Galway all the time of war, several Protestant ministers, viz. : Dean York, Mr. Corvyn, Mr. Nelly, and other ministers, had 332 HisroiiY Ob' Ireland. of Ulster, (luring the forty previous years, and especially the spoliation by James I., were the causes of the insurrection of the Irish in 1641. The Catholic lords of the English pale, who, hitherto, took no part in the disturbances, and seeing the dangers that threatened their religion and their king, were driven to the s^ alternative of rising in their own defence. They assembled at Kilkenny, in this year, where the celebrated association, called I642! the " Catholic Confederation,"" was formed. The Catholic bishops and clergy being consulted on the expediency of war, there Protestant flocks, and meetings without interruption, living amongst the Irish." Would the Protestants even in our day allow a few Catholics to live so quietly in the midst of a Protestant country ? We are sure they would not ; the facts cited are given to silence for ever the slanderers of the Irish Catholics relative to the allege^ massacre of 1641. Anno 1641. — "It was commonly known to all sides, how cruel the go- vernor of Mannor Hamilton was in that county, (Leitrim) how he usually invited gentlemen to dine with him, and hanged them after dinner^ and caused their thighs to be broke with hatchets before execution.'' " The Libel says three Protestants were murthered in this county, but on due examination, it will be found there was none." A.D. 1641. — Captain Thomas Hues, having summoned thirty-three con- tributors to meet him at Hodgestowne, (Kildare) caused the/n all to be murthered. 1641. The said Hues murthered Mrs. Eustare, aunt to Sir Eobert Talbot, ninety years old,(with two gentlewomen that waited on her,) after she entertained him friendly in her house. It is well known, that the commons of that county, were for the most part destroyed and slaughtered by the English, in so much, that there were not so many left living, as could gather the twentieth part of the harvest. It will be kept in mind that Clarendon's work was written as a calumny on the Catholic Hierarchy to extenuate Ormond's treachery who betrayed the Catholic bishops, and the laity of their flocks who were faithful to Charles whose interest Butler sold for money to the parliamentarians. This vindi- cation of Ormond was authenticated by the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, signed "William Dublin.'' A.D. 1721 — The accounts it gives as regard the Catholics is exaggerated, and in respect to Protestants it is as lenient as impudence could make it. * " Hibcrnia Dominicana," by de Burgo CAlHOLIC CONFEDERACY. 333 declared it to be a just one, it being in defence of their religion, their lives, and their fortunes, and for the preservation -of the king, and the royal family, in order to secure the fidelity of those who composed the assembly, each member subscribed to an oath " to defend the Catholic religion, the person, heirs, and rights of his majesty. King Charles, and the freedom and privileges of the kingdom, against all usurpers, at the peril of their lives and fortunes." Orders were given for the levying of troops, and generals were appointed for the different pro- vinces — Thomas Preston, of Gormanstown, for Leinster, James ^arry, of Barrymore, for Munster, John Burke, of the house of Clanrickard, for Connaught, and Owen Roe O'Neill, for Ulster. Ambassadors were also sent to the courts of France, Spain, and Rome." They were honorably received by the princes of these kingdoms, who sent their representatives to Ireland, to testify their approbation of their proceedings. The confederates com- menced their operations, and, in course of two years, having become masters of the towns in the interior of the country, compelled the parliamentarians to take refuge in the sea ports. They consented to lay down their armsj and agreed to give to the earl of Orraond, who was now appointed viceroy, thirty thousand eight hundred pounds, for the purpose of sending the disloyal army to England.** In the meantime, Lord Muskerry, afterwards Earl of Clan- carty, and Sir Nicholas Plunkett, were deputed to lay the grievances of the Catholics before Charles, who, thereupon sent orders to Ormond to make peace with the Irish, on any terms. The viceroy neglected the orders, which were after- wards restricted, and therefore openly protested against by the confederates.* The English parliamentarians, meanwhile, took into their pay 10,000 Scotch, whom they sent to the North of Ireland, under the command of Major General Robert Monroe. * Mem. of Castlehaven pp 59, fiO. ^ Viadiciarutn Cath. Hib., c. !, p. 6. * Ireland's Case, p. 52. 334 HISrOKY OP IHELAND. On his arrival he seized the Castle of Carlingford and Newry, where he condemed to death two priests, 60 men, and 18 women. In the interim, the parliament sold the person of the king to the Scotch Army in England, for £200,000 sterling, and Ormond gave up all the insignia of rojralitj in Dubhn, to the commissioners, for which act of treason, he received £13,000 and a gold chain and medal. Ormond affected, however, to represent the king in Ireland. Owen Roe O'Neill was, at thia time, commander of the Irish troops in Ulster. His force amounted to 5,000 infantry, and 500cavalry. With this army he marched to Benburb, near the Blackwater. General Monroe, hearing that O'Neill, was encamped at Ben- burb, marched to meet him at the head of 6,000 infantry, and SOO horse, Scotch and Enghsh; he forwarded at the same time a despatch to his brother, George Monroe, who was comman- der of a force at Coleraine, to join him at Glaslough, near Benburb. Young Monroe and his party were cut to pieces by Colonel Bernard MacMahon and Patrick MacNeny, who were sent by O'Neill to prevent their junction with General A.D, Monroe. Both Generals with their respective armies met at Benburb ; O'Neill gave orders to his men to advance within reach of the pike, and to begin by close fighting. His orders were valiantly executed. An English regiment, commanded by Lord Blaney, was cut to pieces. The Scotch cavalry were broken by those of O'Neill, and the rout became general. Lord Montgomery was taken prisoner, besides 20 officers and 150 soldiers, 3,243 of the enemy fell on the field of battle, and several in the pursuit. The whole of the Scotch artillery, arms, tents, baggage, and 32 stands of colors, were captured. The booty consisted of 1,500 horses, and provisions for two months, while O'Neill, lost but seventy men, in killed, and 200 wounded. This victory gave additional courage to the .confederates, who reduced every place in the kingdom to the IMNUCClNi'a MISSION TO IttKLASD. 335 king's power except Dublin, and Londonderry In the mean- time, a scene of cruelty and barbarism, unexampled in history was going on in England, — a king sold to his fanatic subjects, dragged to a prison, and executed upon a scaffold. In this year Pope Innocent X., being importuned by the Rev. Luke Wadding, Heber MacMahon, Bishop of Clogher, and Beeling, Secretary of the Catholic Confederation of Kil- jg*^^- kenny, sent to Ireland the illustrious Nuncio Einuccini, Arcn- bishop of Fermo, and a native of Florence. His Holiness gave him a princely sum of money, and, with it, commands to animate the Irish Catholics to fight bravely as they had begun, in defence of their religion, and directing the Nuncio to promise the Irish in the name of His Holiness, all the aid and assistance Kome could bestow. Einuccini spent several months in France, making arrangements for coming to Ireland, and having procured all things necessary for the enterprise, he set sail and arrived on the 22nd of October, 1645. The joy of the people was excessive when his arrival was made known, especially as the Pope had sent to them through the Nuncio his blessing on their struggle for liberty. His Excellency, Einuc- cini, proceeded towards and entered Kilkenney, on the 12th of November, of the same year, attended with 24^ noble Italians, Bishop MacMahon, and others in his retinue. The streets of Kilkenny had a silk-velvet canopy over the arch through which the Pope's representative was led in procession to the council chamber of the Confederation. Seldom, if ever, was there witnessed a more brilliant spectacle than the Nuncio's entry on that day. When he entered the council room, which was. gorgeously decorated for his reception. Lord Montgarret, the chairman, coldly rose from his seat to pay his court to the legate, who being asked the object of his visit to Ireland, calmly but firmly said, that he had it in command from His Holiness, to see that the Catholics of Ireland would have their . ' -■■•.;■■■ ^ 336 HISTORY OP IRKLAND. properties, and churches restored to them, — that if King Charles secured for them perfect liberty of conscience, it was the wish of His Holiness, that they would observe allegiance to their king as they had hitherto done, that at all hazards he would see ample justice rendered to the Irish catholics. The Nuncio was faithfully ' supported by the native Irish prelates, but Walsh, Bishop of Ossory, and Dease, Bishop of Meath, acting under the advice of Beeling, supported the Ormondist clique, and Clanrickard, (then a Catholic,) against the firm and intrepid policy of Rinncciui, who would make no terms with Inchiquin, a notorious apostate baron ; the Nuncio, after repeated, and ardent but unavailing efforts to unite the Catholic party, retired in disgnst. Their di- vision was most fatal to the cause of creed and country. The reader who would know more of the Nuncio, is refeferred to that splendid work "Hibernia Dominicana," bydeBurgo, Bishop of Ossory. A few of Rinuccini's beautiful letters will be found in the first volume of our present work. Matters of vital interest to Ireland make us digress a little, we now return to the king. Such was the tragical end of Charles I. "Would to God.'' says Cox, "that the tragical scene could be laid at the door of the Irish papists." This is the disposition of a man who attempts to write the history of this people. The next step of the par- liamentarians was, the appointment of Oliver Cromwell to the Government of Ireland. They lauded in Dublin with Ireton, his son-in-law, seven regiments of infantry, four of cavalry, and one of dragoons." On his arrival he marched to besiege Dro- gheda, having taken which he put the garrison to the sword. Ashton, the commander, and several officers of distinction, with 3,000 soldiers, were slain by the orders of this sanguinary tyrant. His next campaign was against Wexford, which he took ^ the treachery of Captain Stafford, Commandant of the castle. 2,000 men of the garrison were barbarously butchered, and 200 of the ladies of Wexford who sought with tears, and on » " Life of Cromwell," pnb. in I^ndon ia 1672, p. 48. > Massacre op 200 women by ckommtell. 8Í57 their knees to propitiate the tyrant's rage, were massacred with savage ferocity at the foot of the cross in the public square. Cork, Youghal, Carrick, Baliyshanjion, and other places, gar* risoued by Protestants, declared in his favor; Kilkenny sur- rendered, but on honorable terms.* His last expedition in Ireland was against Cloninel, which was nobly defended by Major-Greneral Hugh O'Neill,* nephew to Owen £oe O'Neill, at the head of 1600 Ulstermen. On his first attack the enemy was repulsed with a loss of 2,500 of their best soldiers. O'Neill, unable, for want of powder, to hold out against Cromwell, crossed the river at night with his^garrison, and withdrew to Waterford. The citizens, next day, offered to capitulate ; Cromwell, not knowing the state of the garrison, readily granted their demands. Being called off by the parliament to England, to make head against the Eoyalists, he left the command of the army to Ireton, his son* in-law.*» In the mean time, Charles II., who was then at Breda, gave the command of the Royal army in Scotland to the Marquis of Montrose. An army uuder the command of Lesby and Holborn, advanced against him ; the Eoyalists were, some killed, others made prisoners. Montrose was betrayed by Lord Ashton,' condemned and executed on a gibbet. His death was sincerely regretted by all good men. Charles was now obliged to submit to the hard and insolent terms of the fanatics of Scotland, whither he sailed, and arrived safe, though an English fleet was ready to oppose him. He was proclaimed king of Scotland in July, 1650. The news of these things having reached England, alarmed the republicans. An army of 16,000 men, under the command of Oliver Cromwell, was • • See Curry's •' Civil Wars ;" O'Connor's •«History of the Catholics ;" O'Brennan's *' Ancient Ireland ;" Carte's Ormond, Leland, Warner ; O'Connell's •< Native and Saxon ;" Clarendon's " Irish Reb." ' " Scourge of Ireland," p. 87. •• Cox's reign of Charles I., pb 17. • Life of Montrose, p. 178* 24 8SS HISTORY OF IRELAND. dispatched to check the Scotch movement. 24,000 Scots encountered Cromwell at Dunbar, the 1st of September, when a bloody battle took place.. The Scotch lost 4,000 men killed, 9,000 captured, and all their arms and ba^age. Charles, at the bead of 14,000 men, whilst Cromwell was besieging some places north of Stirling,' advanced by forced marches to England. Having been proclaimed king at Carlisle, he pro- ceeded to Worcester, whither he was puirsuid. by Cromwell, who left General Monk and 7,000 men to complete tl»e conquest of Scotland. The king and his troOps suffered a defpat bj Cromwell. Having escaped in disguise, he sailed for France. Most of the Irish army who were steadfast .Royalists, not wishing to live under the iron rule of regicides, whose hands were stained with the blood of their prince, sought permission to leave the kingdom. At this time about 20,000 Irish soldiers and country people were sold as slaves, and transported to America ; and the Catholic nobility were forced to abandon their estates and cross the Shannon into Connaught, where they were to remain, under pain of death, during the will of the usurper, who, after abolishing the monarchy, suppressed on his own authority the parliament which gave him power, and assumed the title of Protector, a title he filled, with tyranny j^ jj and despotism, until Providence terminated his fiendish career. 1658. The Cromwelhans of Ireland, the leaders of whom were Coote and Broghill, finding that the King was likely to be restored after the usurper's death, and that he would very naturally reinstate the ancient proprietors in their rights, deputed Sir John Clotworthy, an intriguing diaracter, to pro- claim through England that the Irish rebelled, and were, therefore, unworthy of getting back their former possessions, to the prejudice of the peaceable Protestants who were already settled in the country. Carte's " Ormond," and many other ■ Heath's Chron., part 2, aa. 1649. 1>ERS1SCUT10!!I Otf TBS iRtSH. 339 hostile Works, attest the contrary iu favor of Irish loyalty, which was so great that the Liberator, O'Conuell, censures it A.D. in his " Native AND Saxon." , 1660. jjj ^jjg mean time, Charles, eldest son of Charles I., ascended the throne, with the general expectation that his rule would be just, impartial, and prosperous. Of all those who contri- buted to the murder of his father, ten only were executed in England, and three were the only victims in Scotland,' viz. the Marquis of Argyle, Guthry, and Captain GifTan. His Majesty's faithful Irish subjects hoped to participate in the universal rejoicings. This anticipation was derived from the subjoined passage in the king's address to bo.th houses of parliament after his restoration : — " I think it is not necessary to observe that the people of Ireland deserve to be partakers of our clemency ; they have always submitted with alacrity and obedience to the services beneficial to our interests, which conduct on their part is worthy of our protection, favor, and justice." The good intentions of the king towards his Irish subjects were not carried into eifect, owing to the intriguing poHcy of his wicked ministry, who so influenced him that, instead of punishing, he rewarded with honors, dignities, and large gifts of land, the murderers of his father (" Ireland's Case," p. 85, &c.), the persecutors of the Eoyal family, and they who caused himself to spend twelve years in sorrowful exile. The true and lawful, and always loyal proprietors, were permitted to die in want and misery. The king's declaration act for the settlement of Ireland (in reality the settlement of traitors and rebels) was enforced, and followed by an explan- ation act from the parhament, which declared " that the Irish, who never joined the confederates before the peace of 1648, 366?. should be reinstated in their inheritance." Tor this purpose " a court of claims" was established iu Dublin, which continued •Heath's Chron.. part 1, A.D. 1661. S40 HISTORY OF IRELAXD. its sittings for six months, and out of 8,000 Catholic claimants only 500 were pronounced innocent, while only 7,000 of the 8,000 were examined. And, in order to defeat every future effort for the obtainment of justice, it was enacted "that when any doubt should arise, the Protestant should have the benefit of it." This can be seen by the Irish statutes, p. 38. No example in history can be found of a king so generous as Charles II. was to infamous rebels, the usurpers of the crown (" Ireland's Case," p. 73) who appropriated to themselves, by parricide and rebellion, the properties of others, whilst so many widows and orphans were deprived of subsistence, and so many noblemen of rank, instead of receiving rewards for their services, were stript of their patrimonies. The Crom- wellians of Ireland, instead of shewing their gratitude to Charles II., plotted against his person, first in 1663, and again in 1671. Both these conspiracies were crushed at their birth. During the reign of Charles II., the penal laws against the Catholics were occasionally suspended, Catholic peers allowed to sit in parliament, ecclesiastics tolerated, and the youth taught ^■^' the principles of their religion. Charles died in 1 686, after re- ceiving the sacraments according to the rites of the Church of Eome. CHAPTER XXX. THE REIGN OF JAMES II. The Duke of York, brother to Charles II., was proclaimed king, in London, under the title of James II. j he was proclaimed in Dublin by the Dukeof Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Congratulatory addresses poured in from all the cities, corpor- ations, and universities of the kingdon». The parliaments of England and Scotland, vied with each other in securing to the king immense revenues for the support of his majesty. Those members, who voted for his exclusion from the throne in the for- REVOLUTIOR IN ENGLAND. 341 mer reigns, were pardoned ; the^Duke of Monmouth and Argyle put to death for their rebellion, and Pates convicted of perjury. All these circumstances promised to the king a peaceful and gl^ous reign. But James's zeal for the Catholic religion, and the unbounded confidence he placed in his wicked ministry, very soon changed the aspect of affairs. A plot projected by Lord Shaftsbury, some time before, was the utter ruin of James II. The English nobles belonging to the faction solicited the Prince of Orange, the king's son-in-law, to come to their assist- ance, for the defence of their religion and liberty. Henry Sidney, Sir Peyton, and Sir Gwynn, proceeded secretly to Holland, where they were kindly received by the Prince of Orange, who commanded an armament of 50 ships of war, 400 transport vessels, and 20 frigates, having 13,000 troops, with arms for 20,000 men, on board. The fleet under the command of admiral Herbert, and vice admiral Evertzen, landed at Torbay, without opposition. The Prince of Orange marched to Salis- bury, where he was joined by Lords Colchester and Wharton, Colonel Godfrey, the Earl of Abingdon, Captain Charges, and Lord Cornbury, the Earl of Clarendon's eldest son, with his regiment of dragoons. The king, at the head of 30,000 men, marched to Salisbury, to oppose the Prince of Orange ; here his principal officers deserted him, among whom were Lord Churchill, the Duke of Grafton, Colonel Barchay, the Prince of Denmark, the Duke of Ormond, the Duke of Queensbury's eldest son, and many others. So general was the revolt that the king returnqd to London, in order to procure an asylum for himself, the queen, and Prince of Wales. The .queen and Prince of Wales set off by night from Whitehall for Prance, where they were joined sometime after by the king, and received by King Louis with all that beneficence and greatness, which eminently characterized that monarch. In the height of this astonishing revolution, the Prince of Orange commanded the peers of 842 HISTORY OP IRELAND. Scotland to repair to St. James's in London, where they held á meeting, which in spite of the Earl of Arran's proposal to in- vite the King to Scotland, arranged to surrender the govern- ment of the kingdom, to the Prince of Orange, who promised to protect the religion and liberties of their country. The Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, w^s succeeded by the Earl of Clarendon, the king's brother-in-law ; he was shortly after recalled, and succeeded by Bichard Talbot, Earl of Tirconnel. The Irish still continued faithful to their king. But the Cromwellians, and the English and Scotch fanatics, whom James I. established in the north of Ireland, on the first news of the Prince of Orange landing in England, ran to arms and declared in his favour, against the grandson and brother of the benefactors to whom they were indebted for their fortunes and possessions. Major Pool, an officer of Cromwell, opened the scene and began hostilities ; under the command of two com- panies of cavalry, he commanded the tenants of Lord Bellew to pay hira a fine of£500, under pain of martial law. Lord Bellew, apprized of his attack sent his son, 18 years old, with a troop of dragoons to resist his demand. Young Bellew defeated Pool's troops, and killed himself with a blow of a pistol on the head. Soon afterthis occurrence, LordBlaney attempted to surprise the town and castle of Ardee, but being defeated in his object he was obliged to retreat. At this time, the nobility of Ireland determined to give a proof of their loyalty to their king, by raising for his service 30,000 men equipped, clothed, and armed, in addition to the old corps commanded by Mouutcashel, Tir- connell, Clancarty, Antrim, &c. There appeared very shortly in the field, the regiments of Enniskillen, of Hugh MacMahon, Edward-Boy-O'Reilly, MacDonnell, MacGennis, Cormac O'Neill, Gordon O'Neill, Felix O'Neill, Brian O'Neill, Donnell, Nugent, Lutterel, Fitzgerald, Galmoy, O'Morre, and Clare, &c. The nobles who raised these regiments at their own expense SIEGE OP DERRY. 343 could not support it long. In tlie meaiitiine, the Earl of Tir- counell sent Richard Hamilton, Lieutenant General of the king's aroiy, at the head of 2,000 men, against Hugh Mont- gomery, Lord Alexander, who raised for the Prince of Orange, an army consisting of 8,000 rebels in Ulster. The royalists under Hamilton attacked Lord Montgomery and his party so vigorously that he was put to flight, and after leaving two com- panies of infantry in the garrison at Hillsborough, he sailed for England from Donaghadee. The king, who was still in France, seeing how favourably his Irish subjects were disposed towards him, and thinking that his presence might be a check to the enemy, sailed for Ireland, with the celebrated Gabaret, and landed in iCinsale. He was joined at Cork, by the earl of Tirconnell, whom he created duke, with whom he proceeded to Dublin. Meanwhile, Hamilton encountered Major General Dundee, at the head of 2,000 in- surgents, at Bloody Bridge, on the river Finn. Hamilton, after repairing an arch of the bridge broken by the insurgents, crossed with his infantry, while the cavalry crossed the river in view of the enemy ; this intrepid act of the royalists so dis- concerted General Dundee, that he retreated with his forces, a great many of whom were killed in the pursuit. Dundee sur- rendered at Culmor, and embarked for England. Hamilton, in the mean time, received deputies from Derry garrison, which consisted of 6,000 men, proposing terms of caiutulation, to which he consented, on condition that the city would surrender at 12 o'clock next day. The terms were ratified on both sides, which General Hamilton communicated to the king, who was just arrived from Dublin with M. Rose, deputy marshal of France, Lord Melford and some troops. The king, displeased with the terms, summoned the garrison to surrender at discre- tion : the besieged, driven to the last extremity, made frequent sallies, but were repulsed with great loss. The garrison was so 344 HISTORY OF IRKLilfD. straitened for provisions, that they were obliged to eat cats, dogs, and leather. In the mean time, major-general Kirke appeared in Lough Foyle, with an English fleet of 20 ships of war, and 300 transport vessels, laden M'ith provisions and other warhke stores. Two vessels, under the command of captain James Hamilton, were sent to relieve the garrison at Derry, till further aid from major Kirke. The royalists, after a siege of 73 days, were forced to withdraw, and the king, by the advice of M. Bose, collected his forces in the centre of the kingdom, and invited his faithful subjects to join him, in consequence of which he had an army of 20,000 men assembled at Drogheda. The king, hearing of Schomberg's* arrival in Drogheda, sent lieutenants Butler and Garland to reconnoitre the enemy, who brought word to the king, that a favorable attack conld be made on Schoraberg, as the most of his soldiers were carried off by disease. The king put his army in order of battle, and, from an imprudent clemency towards his English subjects, who were ready to tear the sceptre from hishands, made nothing more than an ostentatious parade be- fore the enemy, and retired to winter quarters, thus committing two egregious oversights, which deeply affected his cause, and eventually caused the loss of Ireland. First, he rejected the ^rms of capitulation entered into between General Hamilton and the garrison of Derry, and next, had be attacked Marshal Schomberg, he would have forced him to decamp, and return to his ships which were in the harboor of Dundalk. ieao. In the meantime, Louis XIV. sent to Ireland.seven French battalions under the command of Count Lausun, in exchange for six Irish battalions, forming the brigade of MounCcasheL Meanwhile, the Prince of Orange arrived in Ireland, with an army well provided in every thing, and well trained ; he had * Marshal Schomberg, with 300 French officers, on account of their re- ligion, left France, and went to Holland. i A.D. B^ í- r.íTf^' ■•;,*'-.,../. ■-.-.-.-. ^.. _.-.--. , ,— - _. -..- - ■ .-' -í '57*^.*ff J« BATTLE OF THE B0Y2í£. S45 with him 60 pieces of cannon, his army amounted to 45,000 mei^ while King James's amounted only to 23,000 lately raised^ badly provided with arms, not well disciplined, and having only 1 2 pieces of artillery. Both armies encamped on the banks of the River Boyne, near Drogheda. The Prince of Orange, witli one half of his army, marched along the river to Siane, where he was opposed by Sir N^eal O'Neill, with two regiments of dragoons, who were forced to give way. Schomberg at- tacked the pass at Old Bridge, guarded by General Hamilton, which he took, but lost his life in' the attempt. The Duke of Berwick who commanded the king's cavalry, had to begin an unequal attack with the enemy's infantry ; after renewing the charge ten times, he was obliged to give way, and join the king, who rallied his entire army and put them in order of bat- tle ; the Prince of Orange did the same, bat did not dare to at- tack them ; the night coming on, the king ordered his army to march to Dublin, where they arrived the following morning. The king seeing that he could not save the city, gave the com- mand of the troops to the Duke of Tyrconnell, and embarked for France. The Duke of Tyrconnell and Count Lausun, on their way to Limerick, were pursued by the Princeof Orange, who forced them to place their infantry in the garrisons of Athlone, Limerick, Cork, and Kinsale, and quarter their cavalry in the County of Clare. Tyrconnell gave the command of the gar- risonof Limerick to Monsieur Boisseleau, and four Irish officers. The Prince of Orange laid siege to the city, and having 30 pieces of cannon incessantly playing on the place, a breach was effected ; six thousand English soldiers mounted to the as- sault, but were immediately hurled back with a loss of many lives, and pursued to their very camp, to the great disappoint- ment of the Prince of Orange, who went to Waterford, and em- barked for England. In the meantime, Cohmel Sarsfield sur- J)rised an English convoy, who were conveying artillery to tha 346 HISTORY OP IRKLAND/ Prince of Orange ; he spiked the cannon, blew up the powder, and put the convoy to the svford. Lord Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough, on his ar- rival in Ireknd, laid siege to the towns of Cork and Kinsale, which capitulated. The Duke of Tyrconnell, Count of Lausurtj and Monsieur Boisseleau^ went to France, havijig conBded the affairs of the kingdom to the Duke of Berwick. Shortly after, M. De St. Ruth, as Commander, and Chevalier De Tesse, ar- rived in Ireland with warlike stores and provisions. ^J^* In the meantime. Baron Ginkle, commander of the Protes- tant army, laid siege to Bally more commanded by Colonel Ulick Burke, who surrendered at discretion ; he then marched towards Athlone, commanded by the Marquis De Usson, and Chevalier De Tesse. Athlone was taken after a vigorous defence on the part of the besieged ; 1,000 of the Irish were killed, and 300 taken prisoners. After the taking of Athlone, the royal array, under the com- mand of St. Ruth, marched to Ballinasloe, and having crossed the river Suck, encamped at Aughrim. Colonel Walter Burke, with his regiment, was posted in the castle to oppose the enemy's passage, who were in close pursuit, but cannon instead of mus* ket balls, being forwarded to him from the camp he could not accomplish his object. In fconsequence of which, the enemy's cavalry passed without opposition, while their infantry crossed an adjoining bay, and.i:- 1 .'..• d ... 9th. The oath of allegiance administered to Boman Catho- lics who survive, is the one made by parliament in the first year of the reign of their present m^esties. j , 10th. No person who shall break any of these articles, shall cause any other to lose the benefit of them. 11th. The lords justices promise that all persons comprised in the above articles, shall be protected from all arrests and ex- ecution, for eight months to come. 12th. The Lords Justices, and Baron De Ginkle, agree to in- tercede with the king and parliament, that the estates of Col. John Brown, who stood indebted to several Protestants, shall be secured to Roman Catholics, charged with, and liable to the payment of the aforesaid debts. For the true performance of which, we hereunto set our hands, Charles Porter, Thomas Coningsby, Baron De Ginkle. Present, Scravenmore, H. Maccay, T. Talmash. The military articles agreed upon, between Baron De Ginkle and the Lieutenant Generals, De IJsson and De Tesse, &c. 1st. All persons of what condition soever, who wish to leave the kingdom, shall have liberty to go to any country beyond the seas (England and Scotland excepted) with their families, plate, jewels, &c. 2nd. All general officers, colonels, and soldiers of all kinds that are in any garrison, now in the hands of the llrish, shall have liberty to go beyond the seas, without any impediment directly or indirectly. 3rd. All persons who are willing to leave Ireland, shall de- clare it on Tuesday next at Limerick, the forces scattered through 350 htSTOUY OF I&ILAND. the couiitie» of Cork, Clare, and Kerry, on the 8th inst. before Monsieur Tameron, and Golonel Withers. / ;i :i..i > 4th. All English and Scotch officers, bow serving in Ireland, shall be included in this capitulation. . ''"■'• - 5thh All Ffsench officers, merchants, &c., shall have free leave to pass into France, or any other country, with their plate, horses, equipages, papeis, &c, ■' ? . : 6th. That if any of the said officers, fee, be robbed, or plun- dered of the said effects, by the troops of General Ginkle, the said General will order it to be restored, and compensation to be made. 7 th. To facilitate the transporting of the said troops, the said General will furnish 50 ships, without paying for them. 8th. That a commissary be appointed to visit tlie said ships, and that all the troops march to Cork, to embark there, &c. 9th. That the said ships be furnished with food for hcrrses, and provisions for the troops, which provisions wiH be paid for as soon as they disembark in any port of France. lOth. Hostages to be given for the safe return of said ships. 1 Ith. That the garrisons, Clare Castle,] Eoss, and all the foot that are in garrison in the counties of Cork, Clare, and Kerry, shall have the advantage of the present capitulation. 12th. That the troops of horse and dragoons in the coun- ties of Cork, Clare, and Kerry, shall have the benefit of this capitulation, and that they shall pay for everything till they are shipped, except forage and pasture for their horses. 13th. Those of the garrison of Sligo, that are joined to the Irish army shall have the benefit of this capitulation. 14th. The Irish have leave to transport 900 horses, &c. 15th. It shall be permitted to them, to buy hay and corn at the king's rate wherever they can find it,'and to carry all neces- sary provisions out of the city of Limerick. 16th. It shall be lawful to use the hay preserved in the stores of the county Kerry, for the horses to be embarked. ,\--^"'^m TRBA.TY OF LIMERICK. SiJ^t 17th. That all the prisoners pf war, who were in Ireland^ the 28th of Sept. shall be set at libierty on both sides. .,, 18th. The General will furnish the sick and wounded sol- diers who cfinnot pass to France^ at the first embaikment, with medicine and provisions till thej^ ar§ eur^d. - ,;.i ;: 19th. That the general will send two s]iipsj wit)) two persons, to France, to give notice of the signing of the treaty, .; ^ ,, .. 20.th. That all who are to pa^ to jB'rance, ^ball not be stoj^ed on account of debt or any other pretex.^. 21st. If after the signing of this treaty, any French ship ar- rive in any port of Ireland, the general will order a passport to all who pass to or from the s^id ship, to tlie place where the troops are quartered. 22nd. After the arrival of the fleet, there shall be a free communication between it and the troops to be embarked. 23rd. In consideration of this capitulation. Limerick divided into Irish and English, to be put in the hands of the general, or any other person he shall appoint. 24th. It shall be prohibited, to offer anything offensive to tJie Irish troopers who remain in the English town, till the troops embark in the first 50 ships. 25th. That it shall be lawful for the garrison to march out with arms, baggage, drums beating, colours flying, &c. 26th. All the magazines of provisions shall be taken care of for the subsistence of the Irish army, who are to pass to France, &c. ■ , , . ' : 27 th. That there shall be a cessation of arms at land and sea, till the ships return to their respective harbours after the tran- sportation of the troops. ; 28th. That for the security of the execution of this capitu- lation the besieged give the following hostages ..... and the general shall give 29th. That if there is any change in the army before the 35i HISIOIIY Oí IRKLA?ÍD. execution of this capitulation, all who are after to command the army, shall be obliged to observe and execute the said articles. , . ^ In faith of which we have subscribed our names, the 13th of October, 1691. Signed, De Usson, De Tesse, Sarsfield,Wackop, La-Tour Montfort, Charles Porter, Thomas Coningsby, Baron De Ginkle. The Prince of Orange had affixed the great seal of England to the treaty of Limerick, which had been ratified in the most solemn manner by his generals. He also bound himself and his successors to use every effort to have all the articles of it fulfilled and ratified by the parliament. But to the disgrace of maukinci, experience proves that power has more influence in the fulfilment of treaties than the good faith of those by whom they are signed. Numerous acts of parliament were passed to annul several of these articles. An act, called ** Premunire," to prevent the increase of Popery. To convert, or be converted to the Catholic church, or give children a foreign education, subjected the Irish Catholics to the severity of this odious enactment. All archbishops, bishops, deans, priests, monks, and all other ecclesiastics, were commanded to quit the kingdom before the 1st of May, 1698, and should any of them have the boldness to return, they were to be punished as guilty of high treason. The Irish nobility were deprived of their arms and horses, and debarred from purchasing lands, or becoming members of the bar, or filling any office ; they were also obliged to take the most infamous oaths. After the celebrated treaty of Biswick, in 1697, when peace was restored to all Europe, the greater part of the standing army of England was to have been disbanded, but money was wanting to pay the ariears of the officers, contractors, &c. For this purpose parliament granted a supply of a million of money, to be raised by the confiscation of the estates of the Irish Catholics who had taken up arms for James II. after the year 1688. commissioners' eeport ov confiscated lands. 353 Commissioners being appointed to ascertain what those estates would produce for the above-mentioned purposes, made the following reports to the House of Commons, which shews that 3921 Irishmen artd 57 Englishmen were proscribed, and what immense fortunes the most obscure characters, at this time, unjustly acquired. The Report of the Commissioners of the confiscated lands of the Irish concerned in the Rebellion of 1688, to the honor- abljB House of Commons, December 15, 1699. ■s 1st. Gentlemen — In virtue of a power granted to us by an act of parliament granting to his majesty the sura of £1,484,015 \s. ll^d, in order to enable him to disband the troops, &c., we have inquired into the state of the confiscated properties in Ireland. (From the first to the twelfth paragraph the commissioners account for the difficulty they had to contend with.) 12th. On account of the late rebellion of 1688, 57 persons were proscribed in England, and 3921 in Ireland. The aggre- gate, with the names of the counties, is inserted in a book presented with this report, No. 2. 13th. The lands, with the names of the owners, the number of acres, the names of the counties in which they are situated, the annual revenue, and the value of capital, are contained in a book presented with this report, No. 2. 14th. We calculate that the confiscated lands in the following counties were 1,060,792 acres, producing an annual income of £211,623 6«. Sd. sterling. Real value amounts to £2,685,130 sterling. . 15th. We deem it our duty to inform you of the number of acres restored to their former owners bv virtue of the treaties of Limerick and Gal way. 16th. In virtue of three letters from King William and Mary, in 1693 and 1694, it was decided that 491 persons should 25 354 HISTORY OF IRELAND. have the benefit of the treaties of Limerick and Galway. Their names, rank, time of possession, &c., is contained in book No. 3. 17th. In consequence of a commission dated February 25th, in the 8th year of the reign of his majesty, 792 persons were found entitled to the benefit of the above treaties ; their names, &c., in book No. 4. 18th. The estates thus restored contain 233,106 acres, annual value £55,763 6«. 6d., real value £724,923 4*. Od. terling. The rent value, &c., is contained in book No. 4. 1 9th. We humbly submit to your wisdom whether their majesties' letters could invest any person with power to summon his majesty's subjects from any part of the kingdom, and try them without any judicial power, without the authority of parliament. 20th. We consider it our duty to inform you that in these extraordinary courts exorbitant salaries are demanded, contrary to the treaty of Limerick, which declared, that none but clerks should be paid 21st. In general it appears that many abuses have been committed by the last court that was established, and that the articles of Limerick and Galway are favorably interpreted towards the proscribed. 22nd. We have to inform you that many ancient proprietors are reinstated by the repeal of their sentence, or pardon from his majesty. 23rd. This is of two kinds, the one, the result of trial, marked in books 3, 4. 24rd. The other granted as favors from their majesties, marked in book No. 5. The number of acres thus restored is 74,733. 25th. We shall now lay before you proofs that money was the means of restoring many persons to their properties. 26th. Lord Bellew gave Lord Ruby £1,(>00 to obtain his COMMISSIONERS* REPORT Oí CONFISCATED ESTATES. 855 pardon from the king ; he gave Lord £omney the rent of his estate for three years, amounting to about £9,000, on condition that he would not be opposed to his pardon. 27 th. John Keadiff gave Mrs. Margaret Uniack £200, to obtain his pardon through Lord Romney. 28th. Sir John Morris gave Mr. Richard Uniack £200, and Mrs. Margaret Uniack £300 for his pardon. 29th. Harvey Morris gave Mrs. M. Uniack £100 for his pardon. ^Oth. John Hussey gave Lord Athlone £300 for his pardon. 31st. Edmond Roche gave Richard Darling, Lord Romney 's steward, £500 to obtain his pardon. 32nd. John Burke, Lord Bophin, agreed to pay Lord Albe- marle £7,500 to remove the sentence of proscription against him. 33rd. Thus we have given an account of the estates that were confiácated since February 13, 1688. We will now in- troduce those to whom the confiscated lands were given. 34th. Since the battle of the Boyne, dO patents have been given, granting lands to 60 persons. The following is a list of the principal. 35th. Lord Romney received three grants, containing 49,677 acres. 36th. Lord Albemarle, 108,633 acres, as a reward for his services. 37tb. Lord Woodstock, 185,280 acres, as do. 38th. Lord Athlone, 26,480 acres, as a reward for his services. 39th. Lord Galway, 36,148 acres, as do. 40th. Lord Rochford, 39,871 acres, as do. 41st. Marquis of Puigan, 3,512 acres, as do. 42nd. Lord Mountjoy, 11,070 acres, as do. 43rd. Lord Coningsby, 5,966 acres, as do. 356 HISTOKY OK IllELAND. 44th. Mr. Thomas Keightlj, 12,381 acres, as a reward for liis services for 99 years. 45th. Colonel Gustavus Hamilton, 5,382 acres, as do. 46th. Doctor John Leslj, 16,077 acres, as do. 47th. Sir Thomas Prendergast, 7,082 acres, for discovering a conspiracy. 48th. Mr. Jolm Baker, 1647 acres, as a reward for his services. . 49th. Mr. James Corry, 17,925 acres, and £2,000 sterling, 50th. The remainderof the grants are inserted in book No. 6. 51st. All these lands are plantation measure, 264 of which are equal to 441 English acres. 52nd. All these lands are rented much below their real value. 53rd. The greater part of these lands have been conceded under the seal of the Exchequer, for a limited number of years. 54th. We shall now inform you of the costs incurred on the confiscated estates. 55th. All statutes, judguients, mortgages, &c., on the above jands amount to £161,936 sterling, which is marked in book No. 7. 56th. We have mentioned only the first and real sura of costs. 57th. We think it probable that judgment and mortgage are the same debt. 58lh. It is probable many judgments were issued for the execution of private contracts. 59th. The whole debt was laid on the lands of the proscribed. 60lh. Several judgments have been issued by inferior courts of law. 61st. These statutes and judgments were carried into ex- ecution. 62nd. Many of these debts were purchased at low prices. 63rd. Several persons, who got possession of these estates, have received the greatest of the debts. COIIMISSIOXERS* REPORT OF COXPTSCATED ESTATES. 357 64.th. Ifc is probable many of these debts are imaginary. 65th. The donors and their stewards made the debts on their estates appear heavy, but they more than compensated by other confiscations. . 66th. After the battle of the Boyne, a commission was ap- pointed to seize upon, and dispose of the estates and flocks which were confiscated for his majesty's use. They took pos- session of immense tracts of land and cattle, which they valued at £185,552; a horse was valued at 20 shillings, a sheep at 2s. 6d., and so on in proportion ; robbery and plunder was so frequent this time, that men in the highest offices were impli- cated in them. Lord Coningsby took 300 head of cattle that remained in the field after the battle of the Boyne, and the plate and chattels of Sir Michael Creagh,Lord Mayor of Dublin, without accounting to the king for them. 67. It is the general opinion that many persons have de- rived considerable profits from these confiscations. 68. The clerks of the revenues delivered great quantities of valuable efl'ects to Sir Charles Porter, Major General Kirk, &c. 69. The debts and mortages, belonging to the proscribed to whom restitution of their properties were not made, amount to £120,013. 70. We calculate that the profits, the receipts, while the creditors were in possession of the estates, and the debt still due — bring the receipts to a balance. 7 1 . We are of opinion, that there is much more due to the proscribed, than we are able to discover, as our knowledge is taken from the Court of Exchequer alone. 72. Among the forfited property 297 houses in Dublin, 36 in Cork, 226 in difl"erents towns in the kingdom, 61 mills, 28 fairs and markets, 72 rectorships, six ferries, and a great num- ber of fisheries, value £50,000. 358 HISTORY OP IRELAND. 73. We have not comprised fallow lands in our calculations. 74. We have valued the confiscated properties according to their value as farms. 75. We think the trees on the confiscated properties to have been worth £50,000. 76. We think the scattered portions of land, of which we could make no correct estimate, to be about 80,000 acres. 77. The dreadful havoc has been committed upon the woods of the proscribed, on those of Sir Valentine Brown, in Kerry, on the estates of Lord Clancarty, on the estate of Feltrim, near Dublin, and in the forest of O'Shaughnessy, near Galway, belonging to Mr. Toby Butler. 78. Several persons, not proceeded against for the last in- surrection, are debarred from the benefit or any article of treaty. 79. The death of several of the accused has deprived the king of many extensive estates. 80. Nevertheless, we are of opinion that large sums might be derived from the lands subject to confiscation, by adopting proper measures. 81. The king's interest is much neglected inConnaught. In this province there are 50 Catholics for 1 Protestant, so that it is impossible for the latter to obtain justice at all. 82. The house of Clanrickard has an extensive estate in this district, which fell into the king's hands by the proscription of Lord Bophin; if these lands were sold to Protestants it would favor the interest of the Protestant religion. 83. The money received for confiscated estates by those on whom they were bestowed is £68,155 8s. S^d. Lord A.thlone sold laud to the amount of £17,684 12s. Od. Lord Eomney sold some for £30,147 lis. Od. Lord Albemarle for 13,000, Lord Coningsby for £2,200, and Mr. Thomas Keightly for £5,123 16s. Od. 84. Several proclamations have been issued, offering a quar- COMMISSIONERS* REPORT OF CONFISCATED LANDS. 359: ter of the lands to be confiscated to those who would point them out. 85. His majesty has derived no' advantage from the confis- cated lands, as several obscure persons seized on the confiscated lands, and at present enjoy large estates. 86. The auction of the confiscated lands in the city of Dub- lin greatly contributed to this abuse. 87. The conduct of Thomas Broderick, and William Connelley, who were masters of the auction, no one daring to enter into competition with them, they purchased these lands to very great advantage. 88. Several of these estates were purchased by the com- missioners under borrowed names. 89. An extensive estate has been let in farms, without being put up for sale. It belonged to Sir Valentine Brown, and Nicholas Brown, Lord Kenmare, in the counties of Kerry and Limerick. 90. Before we conclude our report, we will lay before you an abridgement of our estimates. The whole of the lands con- fiscated since February 13th, 1688, amount in real value to £2,685,135, 5s. 9d. The estates restored in consequence of the treaties of Limerick and Galway, amount to £724,933 4s. 6d. Those restored by favor amount to £260,863 7s. 3d. The debts on the confiscated estates are £161,936 16s. 5d. To the credit of the above debts we place £120,013 13s. lOd. due to the proscribed. After all calculations, the gross value of the estates confiscated, and not restored, is £1,699,343 14s. Od. Besides the above, all the personal property of King James II. except a small portion, given to Lord Athlone, was granted by letters patent to Elizabeth Villiers, Countess of Orkney, and it consisted of 95,649 acres. To the above report we affix our names. Francis Annesley. James Hamilton. John Trenchard. Henry Longford, Dublin.' 360 HIStORY OF IRELAND. The following is the calculation of the confiscated lands in the different counties, since July 13, 1688. Counties. Antrim Armagh Cork Carlow Clare Cavan Dublin Down Fermanagh Galway King s County .... Kildare Kilkenny . Kerry Limerick Longford Louth and Drogheda Meath , Mayo Monaghan , Queen's County.. ,. , Roscommon Sligo Tipperary ......... Wicklow,, , Westmeath Wexford Waterford Total Acres. Annual Value. Real Value. A. 10,103 4.962 244,320 26,30.^ 72.246 3,830 34,546 9,07y 1,945 60,825 30,459 44,281 30,152 90,116 14,882 2,067 22,508 92,452 19,294 3,832 22,657 28,933 5,562 31,960 18,164 58,083 55,882 21,343 R. £ 2 1,946 588 32,133 7,913 12,060 1 478 i6,0(;i u 1.016 339 10.225 3 6,870 1 16,551 2 5,243 3,652 3 4,728 2 348 6,331 31.546 3,186 558 5 002 5,808 998 3 8,888 2,719 14.633 2 7,551 4,190 1,060,790 3 «. d. 18 6 12 6 11 6 17 12 6 6 6 4 18 18 6 3 11 10 9 11 4 6 5 16 8 9 15 17 6 12 3 12 10 221,624 16 3 £ 25,284 7,644 417,737 95,872 156,791 6,222 208,796 13,212 5,057 83,528 89.321 215,175 68,161 47,483 61,470 4,530 82,310 410,100 37,598 7,264 65,031 69,767 12,985 115,552 35,348 190,237 98,169 54,476 «. d. 6 2 6 2 1 2 6 18 4 6 18 14 5 12 10 6 9 3 18 3 8 13 9 2 7 6 2 6 19 2 6 16 6 10 2,685,130 4 9 The gross value of estates confiscated, and not restored, is one million, six hundred and ninety-nine thousand, three hundred and forty three pounds, fourteen shillings sterling. Report of the Commissioners, December 15th, 1699. CHAPTER XXXI. As soon as tranquillity had been restored, the English par- liament began to exercise supreme authority over Ireland. A PBNAL LAWS AGAINST CATHOLICS. 381 bill for the exclusion of Catholics' from both houses of parlia- ment, and all offices of distinction. Under the administratiou of Lord Capel, several penal statutes were added to those al- ready enacted against Catholics. An act was passed for the annihilation of the woollen manufactures of Ireland,and to pre- vent her from exporting wool to any country but England. In this reign was passed " the act of settlement," which limit- ed the crown to Protestants. In this reign also commenced the national dtbt. William, to guard against the danger of making himself unpopular, thought it more politic to borrow money for the purpose of carrying on the affairs of the nation, than to in- crease the taxation, hence the origin of the debt. At this time was established, by act of parliament, a standing army. Thisactmust be renewed each year to keep up the standing army. Ko nation * We had intended at an earlier stage of this volume to enter oar protest against being called '* Roman Catholics," inasmnch as the term " Roman" we find no where used in our early Catholic writers, nor in any public official documents of the Church. We do indeed find that oar Holy Father, the Pope of Rome, uses the words " Roman Church ;" but that is for the pur- pose of distinguishing it from the " Greek Church," which is schismatical. We find the words " Roman Catholic Church" used in the Nicene creed ; but at a very early period there were heretical and schismatical churches which claimed the name " Catholic." It was then necessary on the conti- nent to apply the term " Roman," to mark out the true centre of orthodox Catholicity. We find Fhotian of Constantinople, the great schismatic of the ninth century, claiming to be the centre of Catholicity. On such occasions as that it was expedient to apply " Roman Church." The application of the term in Ireland would imply that there are other Catholics than these who adhere to the See of Rome. It is time that this fallacy should cease. Either a party has the faith of Christ, given to St. Peter, and from him handed down through his lawful successors, the Popes of Rome, or he has not ; if the latter, then he cannot be a Catholic ; for, the name " Catholic'* has reference both to space of time and of countries. These two characteris- tics no religion possesses except that which Rome taught more than eight- een centuries back, and still teaches, " the same to-day, yesterday, and to- morrow,*' unchanged and unchangeable — as invariable, as indestructible as the divine, living fountain, whence it issues. It has been spread over all 363 HISTOIIY OF IRELAND, that has a standing army can be free. Por a standing array is the enslaver of a people ; they are the tools of the powers that be, and, at the command of a few, must act as they are ordered. Newton, Locke, and Dryden, flourished in this reign. There is scarcely to be found, in the whole range of history, an instance of such an honorable observance of a. treaty as that of Lord Lucan, better known as Sarsfield. Scarcely had the treaty been signed, when word was brought that sufficient foreign aid had arrived on the coast of Ireland, and were within a few hours' sail. However, Sarsfield, considering that Irish honor was pledged when he signed the treaty on the large stone on the north side of Thomond Bridge in Limerick, de- clared that he. was bound by his word of honor to surrender the city to the Williamites. He did so accordingly. Here is times and over all countries since Christ first established it This can be said of no other code of Christian principles. The Protestants themselves, amongst them Archbishop Usher of Armagh, one of the great- est men of that spurious faith, admit the doctrine of Rome was orthodox up to the sixth century. They recognize the doctrine of the early Fathers of what they insultingly call " the Roman Catholic Church/ Yet they can- not point out what Pope, or Council of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, or any sub- sequent Council, down to that of Trent, which "corrupted the pure faith of the early Fathers." !!! Luther, " their God," knew well in his soul, that hig own avarice, lust, unbridled ambition, and pride were the base parent of the base creed. As we, Catholics, know and believe, that, where there is not truth, there cannot be Catholicity, we should avoid the use of the word " Roman." We are glad to find that " The Tablet" and •• Nation" News- papers never use it in any of their leading articles. When we find " Roman" prefixed to Catholic bishops, and affixed to Catholic curates, we confess we feel surprised. The appellativion, Paul, Archbishop of Dublin, John, Arch- bishop of Tuam, John, bishop of Clonfert, Charles J. O'Connor, C.C. Sandyford, is quite sufficient. Doing more than this is making a humilia- ting concession to parties who call themselves " True Catholics." Those in official governmental places make it a point to call us " Roman Catho- lics," by which they mean " idolaters." We should not yield to such an insolent imputation. It is time that Catholics do take their proper place as men, resolved to be equal, at the same time, not seeking to be superior, in a temporal point of view. PENAL LAWS AGAINST CATHOLICS. 363 a lasting proof of the inviolable observance of a most important treaty by Catholics, and that at a time, when it was in their power to withdraw the consent, which dire necessity had forced from them. Let us briefly show the reader the false conduct of the Protestant King William, and Queen Mary, in their infamous infraction of their solemn oath. The treaty of Limerick, whicli, as the reader can see on reference to it, was to secure the Catholics in the full and unrestricted exercise of their religion, was sworn to by William and Mary. Yet in the first parliament, convened in their reign, they not only did not get confirmed, but openly violated the articles of said treaty. One or two instances will bear out our assertion. By the treaty Catholics were at liberty to educate and rear their own children ; by the penal law of William and Mary, they could do neither. By the treaty they were to have the free exercise of religion; by the penal laws their prelates and priests were banished, and if they returned, they were hanged. By the treaty Catholics were allowed the use of arms ; by the penal laws of William, they were prevented carrying them. By the treaty Catholics were allowed to intermarry with Protestants; by William's penal laws they were debarred. By the treaty the profession of law was open to Catholics ; by the penal laws it was shut against them. By the treaty of Limerick Catholics could buy, sell, bequeath, and devise land, or real property; by the penal laws they could do neither. By the treaty Catholics were entitled to the enjoyment of every political franchise, except a few places un- der government ; by the penal laws they were excluded from all offices, even the most menial. By the treaty Catholics were protected against taking any oath except that of allegiance to William and Mary; by the penal laws they were required to take oaths which they could not under pain of damnation. By the treaty of Limerick Catholics were acknowledged as free sub- jects of a British king; by the penal laws they were treated 864 HISTORY Of- IltKLAND. t\orse than slaves. Let us hear what Henry Pariiel Esq., who was a member of parliament, a Protestant barrister, says, on the subject, " the penal laws never should have been enacted, there was a solemn compact between the Catholics and the English government ; there was a breach of that contract by the English government, notwithstanding the Catholics fulfilled their part of the agreement. That man (he alludes to William) must be a base hypocrite who assumes to himsc If pre-eminence in virtue and morality, and makes perpetual the disabilities of the Catholics, which were the perfidious means, adopted by a wicked legislature to influence men's consciences by corrupt motives, and tempt and bribe them to apostacy." Parnel's work on the penal laws against Catholics is a most valuable work, and the more so, because it is brief and argumentative. We will have to refer to it occasionally during the remainder of this volume, A.D. The death of William took place on the 8th of March, of this year; his age was 58 years. Had not ambition corrupted his heart, he might have been a talented prince, buthis conduct to- wards James II., his uncle and father-in-law, was unnatural, and it might be said that his sudden death, the result of a fall from his horse, was a sensible chastisement, having trampled on, and burst asunder all the ties of marriage, blood, and religion. Anne, daughter of James II., and wife of the King of Den- mark, succeeded William. In her reign, the Irish parliament assembled biennially, and the severest of all enactments were passed against the " Roman " Catholics — a bill to prevent the growth of Popery, and to render it impossible for any of them to acquire property, or fill any office, without having first re- ceived the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to the rite of the Established Church. Nothing important occurred in this reign except the severe enactments against the Catholics. *'^** Anne was succeeded by George, Elector of Hanover. George I., son of Ernest Augustus and the Princess Sophia, .-•^^. A.D ^" 'W^ REBELLION IN SCOTLAND. SCS grand-daughter of James, ascended the British throne. The Irish parliament recognized the king's title, set a price on the pretender's head, and attainted the Dake of Ormond, the Lord Lieutenant, for adhering to him. In his reign a bill became law to relieve dissenters from penalties inflicted on them by the existing laws, and the heads of a bill introducing additional severities against the Catholics were presented to the Duke of Grafton, the Lord Lieutenant, to be transmitted to England, in order to receive the usual sanction. A patent was granted for the coining of copper halfpence and farthings, to the amount of £108,000 produced from materials not worth £8,000. This measure was vigorously opposed by all parties, and tSe ruinous consequences of it to Ireland, were ably shewn, by the celebrated Dean Swift, in his 1727. Drapier's Letters. The patent was revoked the following year. In this year died George L, and was succeeded by his son, George 11. In his reign it was enacted that no Eoman Catholic should vote at the election of a member of parliament. In consequence of a great scarcity of provisions in Ulster, many families emigrated to America, and serious disturbances took place in many towns in the South, the inhabitants striving to prevent the exportation of corn. Acts were passed at this time for the encouragement of agriculture, and the linen ma- nufactures, and for the better maintenance of the clergy, (Pro- testant,) and the king remitted his hereditary duties on wool and yarn exported to England. The great famine in Ireland Parnel, (in his treatise on the penal laws), attributes to the fact that Catholics were persecuted, and thus discouraged from ac- quiring property, as they would be robbed of it when acquired. He says that the laws, alluded to, were the prolific source of Irish poverty and ignorance. The illustrious Burke asserts the same. Surely no one would exert himself to amass wealth, as he felt, that when amassed, it would be taken from bim. But •■w 866 HISTOUY OF lEBLAND. as Parnel and Burke ptate, Irish Catholics were not allowed the means of getting riches. In consequence of a vote of the House of Commons, condemning the tithe of agistment, the clergy ceased to collect this tithe, and confined their demand to sheep and tillage. At this time, an alarming rebellion broke out in Scotland, the object of which was to place on the throne Charles Edward Stuart, son of the Pretender, (as he was falsely called.) Ire- land was now in a state of dranqaillity, but the writings of Charles Lucas gave considerable uneasiness to the government. His publications regarded particularly the considerations of Ireland, as a separate kingdom, and his memorial to the earl of Harrington, Lord Lieutenant, gave so much alarm that the House of Commons issued a proclamation for the seizure of his person. Apprehensive of his safety, he went to exile, and re- turned in a few years, and was elected by the citizens of Dub-- lin as their representative in parliament. For some time Ireland had been threatened with a French invasion, in which three armaments were to co-operate. Of these only one reached Ireland, under the command of Thurot. On his arrival, he took possession of Carrickfergus, which was defended by Colonel Jennings. He, afterwards, fell in action near the Isle of Man, and histhreefrigateswere seized by Commodore Elliott. George A D. II-» after a reign of S3 years, died at the age of 77. George III. 1760. grandson of George II., mounted the throne. Different parts of the kingdom of Ireland were, for several years past, dis- turbed by local associations cúleá, Levellerst Whitebogs, Heart» of oak, and Hearts of tteel, who by force of arms, endeavoured to obtain the redress of the grievances of which they complained. The Hearts of steel were the tenants of the Marquis of Donegal, who, on the expiration of their leases, were dispossessed, 1772. as they could not pay large fines for their lands to the proprie- tor. These were exclusively, if not all, Protestants. Ireland was. EXPORTS PREVENTED. 867 at this time, shut out from the American market, the manufac- tures of herh'nens had declined; she was prevented from export- ing her provisions, drained by remittances for the payment of Irish troops, employed abroad, and the interest of a national debt to creditors, commerce was crippled, trade stagnant , manu- factures declined, and internal productsof every kind fell to a low rate. Rents and taxes could not, therefore, be paid, and conse. quentlytherevenuefailed,asthesource8weredried up. Toremedy these grievances, the English House of Commons proposed to pass a bill, which would extend to Ireland many commercial ad- A,D 1778 vantages, but they were so opposed by the mercantile interests of England, that they negatived the bills founded on their own previous resolutions. The Irish parliament made a law enab- ling Catholics, by subscribing to an oath of allegiance, to ac- quire full property in land, for a lease of 999 years, and they ^ relieved them from a law, which justified a son to force a settle- ment from his father, by professing the established religion. At this time, France joined the Americans, and Ireland was threatened with a French Invasion. In order to repel the foe, and save the kingdom from the grasp of France, the Irish 1779, formed themselves into companies under the natee of volun- teers ; officers were elected, arms and uniforms were pur- chased, and 16,000 muskets were delivered to them by the government. They soon amounted to 42,000 men. The in- fluence of this armed body became visible in the bold and de- termined manner by which they asserted the independence of Ireland. The Irish parliament assembled, and, on the motion of Hussey Burgh, it was unanimously resolved to insert in the address to the king, these words. — " We beg leave to assure your majesty, that it is not by temporary expedients, but by a free trade alone, that this nation is now to be saved from im- pending rain." In the November following. Lord North, the / Prime Minister, laid before the British Houseof Commons some 368 HISTORY OF IRELAND. propositions for the freedom of Irish commerce. This he did without meeting with any opposition. From this we learn that the union of Irishmen alone can win back national inde- pendence. Notwithstanding these concessions, an opinion daily gained ground, that without a legislature of its own, perfectly independent, the commerce of this kingdom would be precari- ous and uncertain ; declarations to this effect were published by different bodies of the volunteers, the substance of which theimmortal Henry Grattan submitted to the House of Commons, in April, in a motion for their agreeing to a resolution " That no person on earth, save the king, lords, and commons of Ire- land, had a right to make laws for Ireland." Bills were passed for the modification of Poyning's act, and the independence of judges. The parliament was prorogued, while the volunteers increased to «30,000 men. A meeting of the representatives of 143 corps of volunteers of the province of Ulster was held at Dungannon, where resolutions were adopted asserting " that the claim of any other body of men, but the king, lords, and common» of Ireland, to make laws to bind this kingdom, was unconstitutional and illegal, and a grievance which they were unalterably determined effectually to redress*^ These resolu- tions were agreed to by all the other volunteer corps of Ire- land. Whilst the parliament negatived the question, connected with the commercial and political state of the kingdom, bills were carried through the house, for extending the privileges of Catholicity, with respect to landed property, the disabilities of the clergy, and the education of their children. Meantime, the English ministry lost America, and the king recommended 'Hhe affairs of Ireland to the most serious consideration of the English and Irish houses of parliament, for its final adjust- ment." This was followed by lavi-s, abolishing all interference j^D^ of English privy councils with Irish bills, and placing the par- 1782. liament of Ireland in the same state of independence as that UNITED IRISHMEN. 369 of Great Britain. The Irish parliament then voted to Mr. Grattan £50,000 as a reward for his invaluable services, aad passed a law renouncing, in express terras, the legislative au- thority of the British parliament in Ireland. A day of public thanksgiving to God for this signal triumph over misrule, was appointed by parliament. A national convention, consisting of delegates from all the provinces, assembled in Dublin, where they prepared a plan of reforming the parliament. A bill for the more equal representation of the people, was proposed by Mr. Flood in the House of Commons, but negatived by a large majority. It was rejected a second time, though supported by Mr. Pitt, the Prime Minister. Its rejection caused a national congress, composed of delegates from counties and towns to meet shortly after in Dubliu to further their object. The re- sult was, a more advantageous system of commerce between Great Britain and Ireland, founded on eleven propositions agreed to by the Irish parliament, but remodelled by the En- glish legislature into 24 propositions which presented quite a new system. Mr. Orde, the secretary, moved for leave to bring in a bill, founded on these propositions. He carried his motion by a majority of 19 in a house of 235 members. This small majority induced the ministers to abandon the measure. Par- liamentary reform, and Catholic emancipation, were the great political questions which agitated the kingdom at this time. In order to effect this, an association was formed under the name of United.Irishmen, consisting of both Protestants and Soman Catholics,* " for the purpose of forwarding a brotherhood of * Parnel, in page 205 of his work oa the Penal laws, denies that there were any Catholics amongst the United Irishmen at first. He says thai the object of that body was separation from England, not Catholic Eman- cipation, and that they were republicans. Parnel was well informed on the subject. He states that in " 1797, 100,000 Protestants were armed and or- ganized for insurrection ; and he maintains that the insurrection was essen- tially a Protestant movement. If it broke out in 1 7(^7, it would be so. Therefore it was so in 1798." 26 ■'l 370 HISTOKY OF IRELAND. affection, a communion of rights, and a union of power among IrishmeTi of all classes, in order to obtain a complete reform in the legislature, founded on the principles of civil, political, and religious liberty.'* The Irish Catholics formed a convention, composed of delegates from several towns and counties, which assembled in Dublin, where they proposed a petition to the king, which was graciously received by his ma- jesty, and recommended to the consideration of the Irish par- j^y^" liament. "The Irish Catholics were, this year, admitted to the elective franchise, and acts were passed to prevent the impor- tation of arms, and the election, or appointment of conventions, or other unlawful assemblies, under the pretence of petitioning. A bill was introduced at this time in the commons, to relieve the Catholics from the remaining disqualifications; it was rejected on the second reading, but an act was passed for the establishment of a "Eoman Catholic" College, to educate candi- dates for the " Romish'' priesthood. In order to meet tlie danger which now threatened the kingdom, a militia of 16,000 men was raised, an ^'Insurrection Act" was passed, the "Habeas Corpus Act" suspended, and an armed force of yeomanry em- bodied. 1798. The state of the country became every day more and more alarming. Some of the confederate chiefs were arrested by means of informers. The rest of the leaders, noi waiting for foreign aid, fixed on the 23rd of May for the commencement of the " Rising." The mail coaches were stopped on their leaving Dublin ; several skirmishes took place near Rathfarn- ham, Lucan, Lusk, Dunboyne, Barretstown, &c., in which the insurgents were partly victorious. Those of the insurgents who were defeated were made prisoners, and immediately hanged. Proclamations were issued by General Lake, the Lord Mayor, and the Lord Lieutenant, commanding all, except magistrates and members of parliament, to remain in their Battle of vinegar hill. 371 houses from 9 o'clock at night till 5 in the morning, and all persons acting or assisting in the rebellion were to be punished according to martial law. Carlow was attacked hy the insur- gents on the 25th of May, and during the battle between themselves and the garrison the town was set on fire ; eighty houses were consumed, and about 400 of the insurgents con- sumed. The insurgents, afterwards, attacked Enniscorthy, where they killed 100 of the garrison, and caused the rest of the party to retreat to Wexford, whither they pursued thera, and took possession of the town without opposition. On the 1st of June they attacked Newtown Barry, which they took unopposed, as Colonel L'Estrange and the garrison, consisting of 500 men, immediately fled. The insurgents were equally successful against Colonel Walpole, at Tubberneering, where Walpole received a bullet iu the head, and his division put their feet in requisition, and betook themselves, in disordered flight, to Arklow. On the 5th of June they,attacked the town of Eoss, and gained partial possession of it, until vigorously resisted by Captain Johnson, at the head of the royal troops. The insurgents were defeated, after a battle of 10 hours, with serious loss, while about 300 of the royal party were killed or wounded. The insurgents of the north, hearing of the continuous victories of their party in Wexford, assembled in the vicinity of Antrim, and penetrated into the town. Being set on by General Nugent, at the head of the royalists, the general was defeated and obliged to retreat ; he encountered them again, near Ballynahinch, with 1500 men, with as little success. The Wexford insurgents, after committing various depredations, retired to Vinegar-hill, which was become their principal station. To surround this* post on all sides, at once, was the plan of General Lake, and several armies moved from different quarters for this purpose. Generals Dundas, Duif, Loftus, Eustace, Johnson, and Needham, rallied their forces. ■'■.\:^-'.ví 372 HISIOKY OF IRELAND. The royal troops, amounting to, at least, 13,000 men, commenced the assault on the station of Vinegar-hill* The insurgents maintained their ground obstinately and gallantly for some time, and then fled to Wexford. Thence they directed their course to the Wicklow mountains, where they took up their station. During all this time Dublin was vigilantly guarded by a large military force. Trials and executions were going on ill rapid succession until Lord Cornwallis, the new Lord Lieutenant, arrived in Ireland on the 20th of June. He issued a proclamation granting a general amnesty to all concerned in the rebellion, who did not kill except in the heat of battle, — who had not been leaders, — who would surrender their arms, abjure all unlawful engagements, and take the oath of allegiance. About 30 of the leaders were excluded from the benefit of this act. Soon after the commencement of the insurrection the sum of £100,000 was voted by the House of Commons for the relief of the refugees, who appeared destitute of subsistence, to be divided in sums not exceeding £50. The royalists too claimed a compensation, the amount of which was £l,0:i3,000 — the sum claimed by those of Wexford alone amounted to five hundred and fifteen thousand pounds. In the meantime. General Humbert arrived from France in Killala, in the County of Mayo, with 1100 men. The garrison of KiUala, not able to oppose them, fled in confusion ; Baliiua surrendered to the French the day following, A royal army, under the command of Generals Hutchinson and Lake, arrived in Castlebar to oppose the French, who appeared within two miles of that town on the morning of the 27th of August, Humbert's force consisted of 800 men, and about 1,000 peasants. They * It canaot be expected that ia an abridged history of this kind, which can do no more than glance at leading events, we will give a full account of the Insurrection of '98, which is so pregnant with interest. As we are writing for all we express no opinion of our own. f ■ ARRIVAL OF THK KRKNCH IN KILLALA. 373 attacked, on the flank, the royal army, who, seized with terror, shrunk from the assault, and in the greatest possible confusion escaped from the town. Had Humbert puslied on when he gained Castlebar, we have it from parties who were leaders in the insurrection, he would have redeemed Ireland. Instead of doing so he tarried in the place, drinking wine, and himself and his officers flirting with ladies. " He was not the man for the emergency." Lord Cornwallis, hearing of the arrival of the French, determined to march in person to oppose the invaders. He arrived at Hollymount on the 4th of September, but finding that the French abandoned Castlebar, and pro- ceeded towards Sligo, he moved eastward in a parallel direction through Clare and Ballyhaunis, towards Carrick-on-Shannon, while Colonel Crawford, General Lake, and General Moore, hung on the French in the rear. The French general was opposed in front by General Vereker from Sligo, whc», after a brisk encounter for about an hour, was obliged to retreat, with the loss of his artillery, to Sligo, and thence to Bally- shannon. Humbert crossed the Shannon at Ballinlra, and arrived at Ballynamuck on the 8th of September, closely pur- sued by the above-mentioned generals, while the Viceroy crossed the Shannon to intercept his way to Granard. In this situation Humbert arranged his forces, and put them in order of battle ; after a vigorous and an obstinate defence, for about an hour, the French retreated. The army of Humbert was intended only as the vanguard of a more formidable force. A brig from France arrived in the County of Donegal on the i6th of Sep- tember, having on board James Napper Tandy, Brigadier- general in the French service. On hearing of the surrender of Humbert's forces; on the Uth of October, the principal French armament appeared near the coast of Donegal, consisting of 1 ship of the line and 8 frigates, having on board 4,000 soldiers. They were prevented from landing by the fleet qi 374 . HISTORY OF IllKLAND. Sir John Borlase Warren. The ship of the line and six frigates were captured in the chase. On board the man-of-war was found Theobald Wolfe Tone, who, by his extraordinary exertions and incomparable talents, rendered himself particularly conspi- cuous in the cause of the " United IrisJimen'' a full narrative of which organization, its leaders and principles, is to be found in the volumes of E. R. Madden, M.D., the present secretary of the Loan Fund Society, Dublin castle. He was condemned to die, being denied the indulgence of being shot as a soldier instead of being hanged as a felon. Tone put an end to his existence in prison on the 19th of November. Thus ended the insurrection of '98. Scarcely had the agitation caused by it subsided when the public attention was attracted to the discussion of a legislative union between Great Britain and Ire- land. The nation was immediately divided into unionists and ANTiuNiONisTs. Numcrous meetings were held for the purpose of discussing the question, and resolutions against the measure adopted by several bodies. The subject was now introduced into the British and Irish parliaments. It was favorably received in the former, but in the latter it was indignantly 1800 rejected. On the re-assembling of parliament in 180O the union became the principal subject of discussion. On account of the fraud, bribery, and corruption, practised by the advocates of the measure," the opposition against it had decreased con- siderably since the preceding year. After several animated and interesting debates, a bill passed both houses for the incorporation of the parliaments of both kingdoms. The terms of the proposed union are contained in the following proposi- tions : — 1st. That on the first of January, 1801, the two realms should become the United Kingdom of Great Britain ' See Appendix, Black list, for a more detailed account of the scandalous means resorted to, by Lords Clare and Castlereagh, to rob Ireland of her parliament. INSURRECTION AND KXECLTION OF KMMET. 37& and Ireland. 2nd. That the succession of the crown should remain on its present basis. 3rd. That the United Kingdur» should be represented in one parliament. 4th. The number of peers in the Imperial Parliament, for Ireland, should be 32, and the commons 100. 5ch. The churches of England and Ireland to be united in one church. 6th. A fair proportion of commercial privilege should be extended to Ireland. 7th. Each kingdom should have the discharge of the public debt already incurred : and for fifteen years to come the national expense should be defrayed in the proportion of 15 parts to Great Britain and 2 parts for Ireland. 8th. The laws and courts, both civil and ecclesiastical, should remain as they were now established in each kingdom. This scheme wa5' approved of and the union carried. Shortly after the passing of the act of union the whole of Mr. Pitt's ministry resigned, feeling that they were unable to carry the measure of Catholic Euiancipation, which they were pledged to the Irish prelates to carry. But this great event of national importance was reserved for that great and illus- TKious Irishman, Danikl O'Connell, of whom every Irish Catholic should feel proud, and to whom every Catholic through the world should be grateful. While the English were obliged to recommence hostilities against France, under her first consul, Buonaparte, the Irish in Dublin made another attempt to dis- . _ solve the connection between Great Britain and Ireland. On A.D. 1803. the 23rd of June au insurrection' broke out in Dublin, which cannot be silently passed over. About this time, Buonaparte *■ Robert and Thomas Addis Emmet were the sqns of Doctor Emmet of Dublin. An accomplished education refined their feelings, and such men will ever feel a lively sense of wrong. Robert's love of Ireland was culti- vated to the greatest perfection. Though a Protestant he felt the chains that clanked round the limbs of his countrymen without any distinction of creed or party. He yearned to shiver the fetters that bound the hands of the Irish slaves, having before his mental vision this beautiful line — . , " As the slave retires the man returns." 376 HISTORY or Ireland. advanced into Eussia at the head of a powerful army; after de- feating the Russians he advanced to Moscow, where he in- tended to winter, but the Russians burned the city, which oc- He knew that a nation of slaves could not be prosperous, and) consequently, not happy. Irishmen were deprived of God's first best gift to the angels — freedom — the great prerogative of man. This he would have restored to them ,at any risk. Hence he conceived the project of an insurrection, seeing that parliament was deaf to the demands of the people. Elsewhere we shewed, on the authority of Parnel, that the insurrection of '[)S was essentially a Pro- testant movement, into which some southern Catholics afterwards fell. The morality or immorality of an armed revolution depends on the grounds of popular grievances, and the chance of success. If the grievances be great, as at the time when the Pope sent Rinuccini to aid the Catholics to assert their rights with the sword — and if there be a moral certainty that success will be the result of the struggle, then recourse to arms has never been condemned by theologians. Of this fact the history of nations assures us. Spain, for centuries, groaning under the iron rule of the Moors, being roused by the act of one youth, Alberto, flew to arms, and won back its freedom. Greece, bowed down and trampled on by the cruel Mahomedan, as well as by the Romans previously, remembering the ancient prestige of their ancestors in war, arts, sciences, and polished literature of every class, hoisted the standard of resistance to foreign oppression, and, fired by the burning poetry of Byron, shivered its chains, and is now free. Even though the feat achieved by William Tell, having mingled with the river of time, has passed on into the ocean of eternity, yet an allusion to it is not without its interest. Switzerland was for ages a prey to the unrelenting misrale of Austria, when Tell, feeling for the wounds of bis country, though only a peasant, raised the flag of independence, and, in a favorable hour, sounding the tocsin, called his countrymen to action, and tore down the bloody flag of the oppressor. The history of the past beckons on to free- dom all the oppressed nations of the earth. The Christians themselves, by force of arms, entered the Holy Land, and thus gave a proof, that in case of inevitable necessity recourse to arms is not only permitted, but sanc- tioned by morality. The Israelites themselves, under the direction of God, cut their way with the sword to the land of their ancestors. They suffered much before they triumphed ; so must every people who are in thraldom ; but patience, and taking advantage of the first opportunity, will secure inde- pendence. But necessity alone, and a moral certainty of tuccess can sanc- tion an insurrection in. any country, as the evils of war are legion, and the INSTJRRKCTION AND fcXECUTION OF KM MET. 377 currence obliged the Emperor to retrace his steps, and expose his army to all the hardships of war, famine, a severe winter, and intense cold. All this proved very disastrous to Buonaparte. coasequences terrible. Let us hear Robert Hall on the art of war. " The warrior is revolving, in the gloomy recesses of his mind, plans of future devastation and ruin. Prisons crowded with captives, cities emptied of their inhabitants, fields desolate and waste, are among his proudest trophies. The fabric of his fame is cemented with tears and blood ; and if his name is wafted to the ends of the earth, it is in the shrill cry of suffering huma- nity, in the curses and imprecations of those whom his sword has reduced to despair." Langton, the Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, at the head of the barons in arms at Runnymede, wrung from the imbecile hands of king John of £ngland the " Magna Charta," the great charter of English liberty. In 1691, the people of England, thinking that James II. was trampling on their rights, revolted, and introduced William, Prince of Orange, and placed him on the throne. In this they supply us with the fact, that a successful struggle to change the constitution is not, in their opinion, against the law of God. In our own days the present Emperor of France, when only a private gentleman, joined in a revolution which over- threw monarchy, and instead thereof substituted a republican government. This again was exchanged for the imperial diadem which now graces the brow of Napoleon. No dogmatic theologians have condemned these changes. But to return to Emmet. From his biographer we will quote one sentence as to his character — " Emmet was moulded in the happiest combination for his destined services, he was an accomplished speaker, with a high intellect to master and employ knowledge, a love of country, united with great vir. tues." After the failure of the men of '98, he went to France, whence he returned in 1803, and took into his friendship Nicholas Gray and Henry Hughes of Dublin, Hope and Lennon of the North, Quigley of Rathcuffey, County of Kildare. He searched out not wealthy men, but honest men ; Hughes contributed several thousand pounds towards a fund to purchase materials for the manufacture of pikes and other war weapons ; those were placed in a depot to the rere of the house in Thomas-street, at the corner of Bridgefoot-street, now the property of William J. Fitzpatrick, the ac- complished author of The Life and Times of the late glorious Lord Clon- curry. We may here state that it affords us pleasure to learn that Mr. Fitzpatrick is writing the life of the great Doctor Doyle, Catholic bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. From John Lennon, who was a linen-weaver, we learned many interesting facts, connected with Emmet. Lennon was a poet. ^"""^rm 3.78 HISTORY OF IRELAND. A.D. He was defeated afterwards at Leipsic and Dresden, and obliged Í814. Iq abdicate in favor of Louis XVIII. who was restored to the throne of his ancestors. The ex-emperor retired to the island and died only a few years ago. What we did not hear from the poet we had from Quigley, whom we visited many years after his return from the place in which he spent fourteen years' transportation. Lenuon was arrested, as well as six others of Emmet's true men, but escaped to Oranmorein Galway, and left the country. Their leader supplied them with ample funds. Quigley died a few years since as attached as ever to the spirit of liberty. Through a yard, to the rear of the house 139, Thomas-street, articles of food were brought from the house which was an inn, to the men in the depot. Flem- ming, an hostler who attended the men, proved a traitor, and communicated all to the government. Quigley told us he had .^5,000 men of Kildare coming unto Emmet who had arms ready for them. Their project was to capture the castle. But when they reached Palmerstown, Quigley having heard that the citizens, whose word was pledged to " rise," broke their word and did not appear in Smithfield, told the Kildarians that they might go home, not to endanger their lives for men who were unworthy of freedom. Himself and a trusty few of his men went in to Emmet, and all advised him not to make the attempt. Advice was useless ; he would be at the Cas- tle. The result is easily told — He failed, and was arrested in a house in Harold's Cross, being betrayed into the hands of his pursuers by a man named Palmer» in whose house he had stopped. He was condemned and hanged with six of his party. The place of execution was exactly opposite St. Catherine's Church in Thomas-street, and before the door of the house at the rear of which was the depot. His remains were some time after re- moved to St. Michan's Protestant Church in Church-street, Dublin. The murder of the humane Lord Kil warden remains a stigma on the parties concerned in that movement ; but Emmet had nothing to do in the atrocious act. Lord Norbury — that man of blood — was one of the judges before whom the young and chivalrous Emmet was tried, and by whom sentence of death was pronounced on him. Being, as a matter of form, asked by the infamous judge what he had to say why sentence of death would not be pronounced, the daring patriot delivered one of the most eloquent and powerful speeches that ever issued from the lips of any man ; as a specimen of eloquence it stands unsurpassed ; not equalled, when we consider the orator's position, standing on the brink of his grave. One or two passages will serve to give the reader a notion of the whole. Addressing Norbury, he says :— ■" I do not imagine, that seated where you are, your mind can ■iV'" >i INSURRECTION AND EXECUTION Of EMMET. 379 of Elba, from which he sailed shortly after and arrived on the coasts of France with a few troops. The French monarch re- tired to Lisle, and Buonaparte organized an army, and ad- be so free from impurity as to receive the least impression from what I am going to utter. The man dies, but his memory lives ; when my spirit will have joined those bands of martyred heroes, who have shed their blood on the scaffold, and in the field, in defence of their country, I wish that my memory and name may animate those who survive me, — while I look down with complacency on the destruction of that perfidious government, which upholds its dominion by their blasphemy of the Most High, — ^which displays its power over man, as over the beasts of the field, — which sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand, in the name of God, against the throat of his fellow, who believes or doubts a little more or a little less than the go- vernment standard, — a government, which is sated to barbarity by the cries of the orphans, and the tears of the widows it has made." (Here Norbury interrupted Emmet.) " I appeal to the Immaculate God ! I swear by the throne of heaven, before which I must shortly appear !! by the blood of those murdered patriots who have gone before me ! ! — that my conduct through all this peril and all my purposes, has been governed only by this consideration I have uttered, and by no other view than that of their care, and the emancipation of my country from the superhuman op- pression under which it lies, so long and too patiently travailed,— and that, I confidently assuredly hope, that wild and chimerical as it may appear, there is still union and strength enough in Ireland to accomplish this noble enterprise ! ! l" " Sell the independence of my country to France, and for what ? Was it for a change of Masters ? No ; but for my ambition ? O, my country, was it personal ambition that could influence me ? Had it been the soul of my action, could I not, by my education and fortune, by the rank and consideration of my family, have placed myself amongst the proudest of your oppressors ? My country was my idol : to it I sacri- ficed every selfish, every endearing sentiment, and for it I offer myself up to God I No, my Lord, I acted as an Irishman, determined on delivering my country from the yoke of foreign and unrelenting tyranny, and from the more galling yoke — a domestic /actiont who are the participator» in the parricide, for the ignominy of exertions, with an exterior of tplendor, and conscious depravity. It was the wish of my heart to extricate my country from this doubly rooted despotism i* I wished to place her indepen- dence beyond the reach of any power on earth ; I wished to exalt her to the * The OrangeBoea. ■^ 380 uisTOKY or Ireland. vanced towards Brussels, but his career was terminated at A.D. Waterloo, where with an array of 60,000 men he met the duke 1815. of Wellington at the head of an army of 100,000; this battle, the most interesting that ever was fought, lasted from sunrise till evening. Buonaparte was defeated, and shortly after con- veyed as a prisoner to the island of St. Helena. Shortly after, a peace was concluded with America. The distress of the empire, occasioned by the continual wars, was greatly increased by a deficiency in the crops the following years, the price of provisions reached such a height as put it out of the power of the greater part of the population to purchase the necessaries of life. But timely pnrliamentary grants, and the munificent spirit of individuals, saved the country from famine, until the approach of an unusually abundant harvest."" Not- highest station in the world." . . " Life, any more than death, is un- profitable when a foreign nation holds my^country in subjection. There are men concerned in this corupiracy (as Norbury called the insurrection), not only superior to me, but even to your own conception of yourself, my Lord — men, before the splendor of whose genius and virtues, I should bow with respectful deference, and who would think themselves dishonored to be called your friends, and who would not disgrace themselves by shaking your blood-stained hand." (Here again Norbury interrupted). '* Shall you tell me on my passage to the scaffold, than I am responsible for all the blood, that has been, and will be shed in the struggle of the oppressed against the oppressors ? Shall you tell me this, and shall I be so very a slave, as not to repel it? Am I to be appalled and falsified by a mere remnant of mortality ? by you, too, who, if it were possible to collect all the innocent blood that you have shed in your unhallowed ministry, in one great reser- voir, your Lordship might swim in it." . . "I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world — it is the charity of its silence. Let no man write my epitaph. For as no man who knows my,' motives, dared now vindicate them, let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb uninscribed, and my memory in oblivion, un.il other times, and other men, can do justice to my character — when my country take* her place among thejnations of the earth ; then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written. I have done." a During the reign of George HI. no measures were passed for Ireland V:'^ PllOSPKRlTli OF IKKLANU BKFORK THE UNION- S8l witlista tiding the periodical attacks of famine on the people of Ireland, still there was no country in the habitable globe ad- vanced so much in prosperity as this country did while under the influence of its domestic legislature. . This is not an unfounded declaration, but resting on the un- questionable authority of the most eminent men of the day, and men who were not prejudiced in favor of Ireland. Lord Clare, in his speech in 1798, says, "There is not a nation on the face of the habitable globe, which has advanced in cultivation, in agriculture, in manufactures with the same rapidity, in the same period as Ireland," viz. from 1782 to 1798. Mr. Pitt in his speech of 1799 in favor of the Union, suys, "It will be proved by the documents I hold in my hands, that the trade at this time is infinitely more advantageous to Ireland, than to England, Great Britain imported from Ireland to the amount of more than three millions, in the manufacture of linen, and linen yarn, and between two and three millions, in provisions and cattle, besides corn and other articles of pro- duce, whilst the manufactures imported to Ireland from Great Britain, very little exceeded one million sterling." Lord Pluukett in his speech in 1799, says, " she is a little island, with a population of about five millions of people, hardy, gal- lant, and enthusiastic, possessed of all the means of civilization, agriculture, and commerce, well pursued and understood, and a constitution fully recognised and established, her revenues, her trade, her manufactures, thriving beyond the hope or the example of any other country of her extent, within these ad- except penal ones. Some of these will be found in this volume, as will some of those of William III. and Anne. Indeed it might be said that our history is no history since the English first invaded us. From that time to this, the only tale we have had is one of woe, plunder, and blood. Irish history is yet to be made ; and deeds, to form the basis of it, are still to be achieved. We had a history, — The foe destroyed it. 382 HISTORY OF IKKLAND. vancing with a rapidity astonishing even to herself, and enjoy- ing and acknowledging her prosperity." A great many more authorities of equal respectability could be cited, bearing laudable testimony to the rapid advances made by Ireland in civilization, agriculture, and manufactures, while under the parental eye of her domestic parliament. We will adduce incontrovertible proofs of England's jealousy at the rising prosperity of Ireland, and of the basest corruption and the most depraved ingenuity that was exercised to promote the mU- called Union, which would be more appropriately termed the ** bear's hug*' of its victim. Lord Castlereagh's words, repeated by Grattan, are these, ** Half a million or more were expended some years since to break an opposition ; the same, or a greater sum, may be ne- cessary now;" and Grattan added, "The threat was proceeded on, the peerage sold, the caitiffs of corruption were everywhere, in the lobby, in the streets, on the steps, and at the door of every parliamentary leader, offering titles to some, office to others, corruption to all." Lord Chief Justice Busbe says, ** The basest corruption and artifice were excited to promote the Union. All the worst passions of the human heart were entered in the service, and all the most depraved ingenuity of the human intellect tortured to devise new contrivances for fraud." Lord Pluuket says, "I will be bold to say that licen- tious and impious France, in all the unrestrained excesses to which anarchy and atheism have given birth to, has not com- mitted a more insidious act against her enemy, than is now attempted by the professed champion of the cause of civilized Europe against a friend and ally in the hour of lier calamity and distress.'' The same brilliant orator and statesman again adds, '* I accuse the government of fomenting the embers of a lingering rebellion, of haíllooing the Protestant against the Catholic, of artfully keeping alive domestic dissensions for the purpose of subjugation." :■.'!* v;t*^ GARRISON OF LOUGH FOYLE. 388 Lord Grey, in his speech in 1800, says. Twenty-seven counties have petitioned against this measure, in fact the nation is nearly unanimous, and this great majority consists not of bigots, fanatics, or Jacobites, but of the most respectable of every class in the community^" Lord Chief Justice Bushe at another time says, " I strip this formidable measure of all its pretensions, and all its aggravations. I look on it nakedly and abstractedly, and I see nothing in it but the denial of the rights of nature to a great nation, from an intolerance of its prosperity." Mr. Saurin in his speech in 1800 says, "you may make the union binding in law, but you cannot make it obli- gatory on conscience." Lord Plunkett pronounces, "I deny the competency of parliament to carry the act of union. 1 warn you, do not dare lay your bands on the constitution. I tell you if you pass this act, no man in Ireland will be bound to obey it ; yourselves you may extinguish, but parliament you cannot extinguish — it is enthroned in the hearts of the people — it is enshrined in the sanctuary of the constitution — ^itis as immortal as the island which it protects.*' Such was the evidence of men most adverse to Ireland, and most anxious to conceal her great- ness. In order to restore ill-fated Ireland to her original splen- dor and prosperity, the great Leader of the Irish embarked in an arduous and glorious struggle, a struggle that was calculated to make the first land on earth possess that bounty and benefit which nature and nature's Q-od intended should be her inheri- tance. He gave satisfactory assurances of his incomparable skill, and his indomitable perseverance. But before we allude to his gigantic struggles on behalf of his country and the faith of St. Patrick, to sever the chains, that, for centuries had clanked on the limbs of his Catholic country- men, it is necessary, for the clearness of our narrative to 8tate> that in 1821 George IV., the greatest monster that has ever dishonored humanity or disgraced a throne, came to [re- v 381 HISTORY OF IRKLAND. laud to avoid the odium of a trial he had instituted against his Queen, and to delude the Irish Catholics with three weeks idle pageantry, but, fortunately, O'Connell, the great Emancipator, A.D. established the Cathohc association at Mr. Fitzpatrick^s, No. 4, Capel-street, which was afterwards removed to the Com Ei- change, Burgh Quay. It consisted, at its formation, of only seven members, which in a short time, by the concentration of public opinion, and by the hearty union of enlightened liberal Protestants and Catholics, wrested from an orange ministry Catholic Emancipation. At the age of eighteen we assisted at the glorious triumph of Clare, when we first had the great honor 1828. of an introduction to O'Connell. Our heart beat high with hope for the freedom of poor Ireland under such a Leader. On the 4th of July the voting began, and on the 8th O'Connell was declared duly elected by the Orange Sheriff, Malony. When he presented himself to take his seat in the House of Commons, being asked to take an oath which conscience did not' approve he was declared ineligible lo take his seat. But Wellington and April. ^^®^ introduced a bill to abolish that form of oath, and the bill be- came law which made Catholics eligible to sit in parliament. Wel- lington declared, that so bold and united was the demand for the emancipation that the denial of it would involve the country in civil war, and from his experience as a soldier he shuddered at tiie idea of such ; that he could never think of shedding the blood of his countrymen, especially as the result would be dis- astrous to the interests of the united kingdom. In this policy the liero of Waterloo showed himself the statesman, as he could bend to circumstances, and bow to public opinion rather than endanger the safety of the empire. O'Connell went back to Clare and was re-elected ; he then returned to London and took his seat in parhament. By the act of Eman- cipation all offices in the state, excepting the throne, the vice- royalty, and lord chancellorship in both countries, were thrown NATIONAL TRADKS POLITICAL UNION. 885 open to Catholics. Ho» ever, they are still debarred from a par- ticipation in the literary honors and emoluments of Trinity College^ Dublin, if we except a few "mere foundation" scholarships. A society, called " The National Trades Political Union,"existed at this time. Though got up by the trades of Dublin, yet it had, amongst its members, O'Connell, Tom Steele, and all the leading political characters of the times. It's President was John O'Brien, of Henry-street, Dublin, paper stainer ; and its honorary secretary was James Martin, of York-row, chemist. It possessed and exercised great political influence at elections, as long as it continued to act without allowing itself to be the tool of designing public men. As soon as it was thus managed it lost its prestige and died. It was our pride to be one of its members, as indeed it was of every national convention since 1828. During that time we have seen much that would deter other men from ever again taking a part in public matters. However, the motto of a true man must be "nil desperandum." The Israelites suffered much before they gained the promised land. Spain and Greece, ground down by centuries of oppression, at last arose in their might, and shook off the yoke. History is a grand instructor. These examples hold out hope for Ireland. The only thing of national importance in the reign of William IV. was the tithe agitation. In this year there was a resistance, almost universal, to the tithe system. Cattle, corn, or goods distrained for tithes, could find no purchasers j and the clergy of the Established Church were involved in litigation with their parishioners all over the kingdom. They obtained the assistance of the military to distrain the property of the people, and to overawe them into obedience. Scenes, laughable as well as melancholy, resulted. A regiment of Hussars were employed in driving a flock of twelve geese in the county of 27- ^'■■■■■ 386 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Kilkenny; whilst at Newtownbarrj,Castlepollard,Carrickshock, Inniscarra, and some other places, there were sanguinary affrays between the soldiers and the people. An event which happened at Gurtroe, near Rathcormac, in the county of Cork, must not be omitted. Archdeacon Ryder brought a party of the military to recover the tithes of a farm, held by a family, named Ryan. The Ryans, who were Catholics, resisted the payment of money to a Protestant pastor, from whom they, of course, derived no spiritual benefit. The order to fire on the people was given to the military ; and thirteen persons were wounded, and eight killed in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Ryder ! ! ! He was then paid his tithes by Mrs. Ryan, whose son was shot before her eyes. After the previous catastrophe and other fea ts of a similar character, Parliament struck off one-fourth of the tithes, and made the landlords, instead of the occupying tenants, liable to the established clergy for the remaining three-fourths. This was a great relief to the tenants to the extent of one-fourth of the tithes. With respect to the other three-fourths, as the landlords are liable to pay them to the clergy, they, of course, take care to exact them under the name of rent from their tenantry. There was also a parliamentary reform in this year, by which Ireland got five additional members, which increased our representatives to 105. About forty members were returned in this year at the general election pledged to support the Repeal of the Union. Had not the elective franchise been uiijustly withheld from the people, nearly all the constituencies would have returned Repealers, all sects and parties being convinced, that nothing, short of a parliament in College-green, Dublin, could restore this country to a secure and permanent condition of national prosperity. Such an assembly would check the drain of absenteeism, which is one of the greatest sources of our poverty, and would cherish and enlarge our ■, "y-'^y!^ AD THE COERCION ACT. 887 manufactures, make trade flourish, and keep tlie gentry at home to watch over, and encourage native industry. An Irish parliament would heal all our miseries. A Coercion Act was passed laying restrictions on the right of the Irish people to meet and petition the legislature. The object of this act was to crush the movement for Repeal ; which national measure was denounced in a foolish and ferocious speech, delivered by the king on opening the session. O'Connell, in his place in the House, denounced the Eoyal speech as " a brutal and bloody speech." ^?^ Tiiis year his Grace the Most Rev. John Mac Hale, arch- 1134. bishop of Tuam, (called "The Lion of the Fold of Judah") was translated to the above see from Killala, where he was known as the celebrated " Bishop of Maronia in parlibus." His writings under that signature, as also of *' Hierophilos," whilst in Maynooth, spread his Grace's fame to the uttermost bounds of the globe. His works are many and brilliant. His " Evidences of the Principles of the Catholic Church," his translation of Moore's select Melodies, of Homer, Virgil, and of other things, have wreathed around his Lordship's brow a crown of imperishable laurels. As a patriot, a refined classical scholar, a learned theologian, a zealous and fearless defender of the faith, and an adept in the Irish language, he stands alone in the British empire. His virtues as a prelate shed a lustre on the church of Ireland. To his Grace Irish Catholics owe, and willingly yield, the undying homage of their admiration. In him they recognise the unswerving champion of national rights, and the peerless sentinel on the watch towers of Israel. The Repeal question was introduced by the great Irish Tribune in this year. But to the surprise of the public the measure was opposed by Spring Rice, who attempted to shew that Ireland had been improved by the destruction of her parliament. Mr. Rice's paradox, being congenial to the 88H HisTony of irkland. prejudices of his audience, O'Comiell's ruotion was defeated, for the time, bj an immense majority. This defeat did not, in the least, dishearten the Irish people. Knowing their cause was just and righteous, they determined to wait, and work and watch, till an opportunity would arise when their voice, as in the case of Emancipation, would be potential. The Liberator's policy was to act as if he placed faith in the con- joint promise, made by the king, lords, and commons. In rejectiiig his motion for Repeal, they promised solemnly to remove all the grievances of Ireland ; and, accordingly, O'Con- nell, for the next six years, occupied himself in the experiment of extorting a fulfilment of that solemn pledge from the British legislature. For this purpose, in the summer of 1838, 0'Connell . jj formed the National Association, which was inaugurated in 1838. the Coburg Gardens, Harcourt-street, Lord Miltown presiding. This body comprised the rank, wealth, and intellect of Ireland. The next political body was the " Precursor Society," founded jg^g in 1839. O'Connell, feeling that the Irish nation had no confidence in these societies, got up The Loyal National Repeal Association. Tliis was in the third year of Victoria, William IV., her uncle, having died in 1837. This year was also remarkable for the wide spread of the glorious doctrine of Total Abstinence from all intoxicating dnnks. The Very Rev. Theobald Mathew, a Capuchin Friar of Cork, rose up, as if inspired by God, to call his countrymen to unite with him in crushing the monster intemperance, which his benevolent heart felt was a great stigma on his country, though not more addicted to it than England or Scotland. Millions flocked to his standard, and renounced the habit of drunkenness. After his superhuman efl^orts in Ireland, he went to America and England. His health, becoming impaired he went to Madeira, whence he returned, in a very infirm state, DEATH OF THE VERY RKV. THEOBA.LD MATHEW. 389 i - and on the 8th of December, 1855, died, aged 66, in Cork, and was buried in the cemetery of the Botanic Gardens of that city. According to his own wish his remains were laid beneath the great stone cross of that churchyard. The Apostle of Temperance was born on the 10th of October, 1790, and was ordained on Easter Saturday, 1814. His father was James Mathew, Esq., of Thomastown, near Cashel, county of Tip- perary. The name of his father's estate was Rathdoheen. The apostle's family was closely related to that of Lord Landafif, of Glamorganshire in Wales. A committee to assist in releasing him from difficulties, in which dishonest men had placed him, was held in Dublin in 1854, of which James Burke, Esq., Barrister, was secretary, and Doctor G. T. Hayden an active member. A-D- This year the Very Rev. Mathew Flannagan, D.D., P.P. of Francis-street, combined the trades of Dublin in a movement in favor of native manufacture. Of this movement Thomas Mooney was the guiding spirit, and when he went to America it dwindled away. John Gray, Esq , M.D., was, on the motion of the President, Doctor Flannagan, appointed honorary secretary, which led to the retirement of Thomas Mooney. The Very Rev. John Spratt, D.D., was the centre of the Temperance movement in DubHn. He is at present the zealous President of The Irish Total Abstinence Society, French-street, Dublin. This body was founded in 1840, and has never lagged in its efforts to spread the principles of Total Abstinence. Through its agency, under the wise and untring supervision of its venerated President, intemperance has been kept under not only in the city, but in the suburbs. For several years Doctor Spratt held open air meetings, which were attended by immense crowds. He visited, also, Belfast and other provincial towns that invited him amongst them. He was born in 1798 ; in 1815 went to Spain, where he studied, and after his ordination 390 HISTORY OF IRELAND. at Cordova', in 1822, returned to Dublia same year. Pope Pius V-III., by a Rescript, dated August 8th 1829, conferred on him the degree of D.D. He is the founder of the Catholic Young Men'sSociety,Lower Abbey -street, Dublin. This Society is of incalculable advantage to the best interests of Catholicity, and is under the patronage of His Grace the Most Brev. Paul CuUen, Archbishop of Dublin and Apostolic Delegate. It was established in 1854. Dr. Spratt's convent is in White- friar-street, Dublin. His incessant labors in the cause of religion and morality have been attended with immense benefit to his countrymen. Many lay advocates of Tem- perance have, from time to time, assisted Doctor Spratt, but the only two, that have continued without faltering, are James Haughton, Esq., of Eccles-street, and the author of this work* This year is rendered famous for the establishment of one of the most powerful and perfect organizations that has ever ex- isted. The machinery was such that each of its members, his position in society, and his residence were known by T. M. Ray Esq., the Secretary, who, in 24 hours, could have made known a resolution of the body to every member of it in the united king- dom. As soon as O'Connell's perseverance had, finally, con- vinced the people that he was thoroughly resolved to fight out the peaceful battle to the last, and not to use the Repeal cry as a mere instrument to obtain other measures, the people rallied round their tried leader. But in order to preserve the Union, efforts quite in character with those which Pitt's government had put in requisition to carry it in 1800, were now used. They thought, that, as it had been, originally, acl lie ved by bribery and terror, it could best be preserved by the same means. Ac- cordingly, Tiord Fortescue, the Whig lord lieutenant in 1841, announced that anti-repealers only should be admitted to any place or officain the gift of the government. And in 1843, troops were poured into the country, and state prosecutions in- WAR IN INDIA. 891 stituted against nine of theleaders, iu the hope that the dis- play of military power, conjoined with the harassing persecution of the illegal proceedings, might terrify the people from seeking their national rights.* England was now engaged in the attempt to extend and consolidate her Indian empire ; and Irish soldiers, as has been usual in such cases, fought and bled in the contest. The 44)th regiment, consisting entirely of Irish, was totally destroyed. i842t Ireland had no interest whatsoever in the event of the strug- gle in India. For, the greater and more numerous her victories the more insolent and oppressive did she become towards Ireland. O'Connell's maxim was, " England's difficulty, Ireland's oppor- tunity," and by the reasonable use of that maxim did he gain some concessions from reluctant ministers. In this 3 ear the ministry moved Victoria to speak against repeal ; and a speech denouncing it, was composed for the queen, which her majesty read from the throne at the close of the session in 1843. The a There existed in Ireland a branch of the English Chartist Association. The object of the body was to obtain the restoration of the points of the " Magna Charta," the great bulwark of English freedom. The readers are aware that in the 12th century Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, at the head of the barons, wrested that measure from the hands of the imbecile King John. It was that act that crushed the feudal system ; up to tliat epoch the barons were slaves of the monarchs, the gentlemen of the barons, and the farmers of the gentlemen. But the Magna Charta made them in- dependent of each other, and made the owner of a few acres of ground as independent of the landlord as was the latter of the crown. It provided that, 1st. Every man who arrived at the age of 21 years, should have a vote, provided he be of sane mind, and not convicted of crime. 2nd. That the election of representatives to serve in parliament be by ballot. 3rd. That there be a new parliament each year. 4th. That there be electoral. dis- tricts. 5th. That there be no property qualification. la a report of the Repeal Association passed at a meeting of the body, April 4th, 1842, these principles were embodied, the resolution was proposed by O'Connell, and passed. The late Fergus O'Connor, Esq., a native of Cork, was the leader of the Chartist movement ill England. ';^^_rr-.'--^r'r^TW'':''-'tí7^/^^ r'.>r'<í/o':i;- 392 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ininistry hoped that the well known loyalty of the Irish people would induce them to abandon a measure distasteful to the monarch. In this they were disappointed, because, though the veople of Ireland were deeply grieved to see Victoria on the throne made the tool and mouthpiece of a faction, opposed to their liberties, they still persevered. The queen's mistake ou the subject of Repeal could, of course, have no effect on the national resolve of millions, suffering the bitter evils of the Union. Their sentiment was precisely the same as that which was expressed by the Duugannon volunteers in 1779. " We know our duty to our sovereign, and are loyal; but we also know our duty to ourselves, and are determined to be free." When the agents of alien misrule saw the determined resolve of the inhabitants of this island, the Lord Lieutenant (Earl De Grey) issued a proclamation to prevent a public meeting to A.D. petition parliament for Repeal, which was advertised to be held ^^^^' at Clontarf, on the 8th of October, 1S43, and at which a large numbers from great distances, and even from England, prepared to attend. The viceregal proclamation was issued at so late an hour on the 7th, that it was perfectly impossible to convey the knowledge of its contents to tens of thousands who were, actually, at the moment, on their journey to the meeting. We well remember happening to attend the meeting of the committee of the association on the 7th of October. We supported Thomas Davis and John O'Connell, who were for holding the meeting, despite of any unconstitutional attempt on the part of the Irish executive to crush public opinion. The Liberator was not for holding the meeting .The pro- priety of doing so, was a longtime, discussed; O'Connell was, at first alone in his opinion. He, then, withdrew into an ad- joining room, but having got the proof- sheet of the proclamation, he after an hour's absence returned, and, without further discus- BÍou, called ou John O'Connell to take his pen to draw up a ■••■■T^^'- MONSTKR MEETING AT CLONlARF DKFIATED. 393 counter proclamation. It ran thus — "^Whereas a piece uf paper purporting to be a proclamation of Lord De Grey has appeared, we hereby call on the people not to meet on the 8th/' It was intended by his Excellency to commit a carnage of the people if they assembled. Sir Edward Blakeney was opposed to the conduct of De Grey on the occasion, and it was confidently rumoured, that he said he would not allow the military, under his command, to butcher a peaceful meeting, when assembled to talk over what they conceived to be oppression The mili- tary met on the ground, but their thirst for blood was not gra- tified on the occasion, as there was no meeting. The following are the names of the parties who were prosecuted on account of the Repeal agitation : — Daniel O'Connell, John O'Connell, Thomas Steele, Charles Gavan Duffy (Editor of the Nation), John Gray (Editor of the Freeman''^ Journal), Richard Barret (Editor of the Piloi), Rev. Mr. Tyrrell, P.P. of Lusk, Rev. Mr. Tierney, P.P. of Clontibret, and Thomas Matthew Ray, the Secretary of the Repeal Association. The Rev. Mr. Tyrrell died before the close of the prosecution, and the verdict against the Rev. Mr. Tierney was overruled by the bench. The go- vernment secured a conviction of the other traversers, exclud- ing from the jury-box every man who did not entertain political hostihty to the defendants. The management of the jury-list was pronounced by the Tory Chancellor of England (Baron Lyndhnrst) to have been " /raudulent." In consequence of this verdict, found by a packed jury, the seven traversers were imprisoned on the 30 th of May, 184.4<. Several other " Monster" meetings for repeal were held, at each of which the author attended ; an attempt to trample on the legal right of the people imparted fresh vigor to the ma- chinery. However, in 1844 there appeared an incipience of dis content amongst some members as to the disbursements of the funds. As we took an active and prominent, though an ™:p!«T-!r: -T,j,ijj)5Jiv5^í :y-»>«r;Tr>.'?- -f:^:/^. '^'f^''^^ J^^^^m^'T ■, '^>T-^W'^^ 394 HISTORY OF IRELAND. humble, part, in the agitation, haviu» collected several hundreds of pounds, and acted as honorary local secretary of the Linen - Hall Ward, which the Liberator called " the Model Ward," we will not enter on a disquisition of the causes of discontent amongst the members of the committee. It was said by parties, who knew matters intimately, that financial matters, and not a difference about principles, was the origin of the fatal division, though it afterwards assumed that appearance. Be that as it may, the author left the Society in April, 1844, and took no part in any political body until the time of the Irish alliance in 1849, if we except having written a letter to the League, which was formed in the Music Hall in 1848, and the object of which was to unite the Conciliation Hall Ee- pealers and the Confederates. To neither of these parties, at the time, bad we the honor to belong; but as soon as there seemed a chance of a union we gave in our adhesion. On the very night before the formation of the League, a report ran in well informed circles that there was seen on the Lord Lieutenant's table in the Castle a despatch for the Cabinet in London» to the effect, that Repeal could no longer be withheld without a civil war, and recommending that the measure would be con- ceded. Unfortunately for Ireland all the leaders did not join ; and when astute Clarendon found that the old curse pre- vailed in the council of the trusted men, he did not think it necessary to forward the despatch. We should, before this have noticed what is detailed in the next paragraph. The Repealers, instead of being discouraged, feeling indig- nant at the outrage committed on their leaders under the forms of law, immediately began to work with augmented energy ; there was an immense increase of the repeal rent, and a large number of new adhesions to the Repeal Association. One year's imprisonment to Daniel O'Connell, and nine months to the others, was the term of punishment for attempting to APPEAL TO THE HOUSE OF I.OUDS. 395 effect a moral reform. The prisoners, knowing that the law was violated by the verdict, had against them, appealed, by writ of error, to the House of Lords ; and that tribunal re- versed the judgment of the court below. The prisoners were forthwith discharged, having been imprisoned for over three months. The five law lords, who heard the appeal, were Lynd- hurst. Brougham, Cottenham, Campbell, and Denman. The first two were for confirming the sentence, the three last for reversing it. Lord Denman's memorable words in the House of Lords should never be forgotten. " If such peaotices AS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE PKESENT INSTANCE IN IRE- LAND SHALL CONTINUE, THE TRIAL BY JURY WILL BECOME A MOCKERY, A DELUSION, AND A SNARE." The pHsOUerS were liberated on the 6th of September, 1844. There was a great ovation ; all parts, leading to Bichmond prison on the South Circular-road, were filled with carriages and cars. After his imprisonment O'Connell never again appeared the same man as before that illegal act. On Tara hill, the 15th of August, 1843, he had but to express his will, and the million and a half of hearts, who were as true to him as were men to a Leader at any time in the annals of history, had placed him in a po- sition that no foreign government would have dared to lay hands on him. On that day he was the uncrowned monarch of the Irish nation. We had followed him to death or victory. " There is a tíde ia the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune ; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries." Government established what are called the "Queen's 1845. Colleges" in Cork, Galway, and Belfast. Its senate meets in Dublin castle, and confers degrees such as are given by the University of Trinity College. In the former Catholics are admitted to all the honors and emoluments of the institution. But few Catholics frequent these schools, the Prelates, being A.D. 396 H1ST0UY OF IRIvLAND. opposed to them, and the Pope having condemned them as " Godless Colleges/' Learning, not based on Catholic teaching has, always, been dangerous to faith and morals. This we write from our experience as a public professor of many years' stand- ing. The real object of their erection was to seduce the youth of Ireland from the Catholic faith, and to corrupt the literary adults by hiring their services in these colleges. It is, however, fortunate that no honorable, patriotic Catholic Irishman has been known to accept of the places in them. This year also was carried out the design of rearing a Catholic church as a lasting memorial of the immortal patriot and sanc- tified Archbishop O'Toole, the metropolitan of Dublin in the days of Henry II. Irishmen should have, and have, enshrined in the te/nple of their hearts the memory of the great O'Toole, the lineal descendant of the kings of Wicklow. The Venerable Archdeacon John Hamilton, P.P. of St. Michan's, Dublin, exerted all the powers of mind and body to have built, and did build, after overcoming many difiBculties, the present church on the North Strand. It is a fine specimen of modern archi- tecture, and is in the Gothic style. The architects were John . Burke, and J, B. Kane, Esqs., and this, being a monument to commemorate departed worth, and more of national than local interest, is, therefore, noticed. The dissensions, which appeared in the Repeal ranks, and the 1847. P*^° *^® great Liberator felt at seeing the cruel conduct of the Whig Government in allowing thousands of the people whom he loved dearly to perish of famine, began to force his noble spirit to bend. The strong hale man drooped, and when drooped, sought rest for his afflicted heart in a foreign land. The last Sunday he was in Dublin we had the melancholy pleasure of an interview with him in his study. We shall never forget his kind wish expressed in our behalf, and his desire that when he would return we should often call to see him. Alas ! Providence .J lyvw^-.S' ,' ■■''.'-•' -"'-■.■■:.■."■-:-■■■• -■■•■■■':,.-..' ■ - ■ >>:7í;~>-T^»i?^í^i5^ DKATH OF O'CONNELL. 397 had settled it otherwise ; he was not to return. Ilovr truly did he possess and enjoy the confidence of the Irish people. Mr. O'Connell represented the county of Clare with 250,000 inhabitants, Waterford with 300,000 inhabitants, Kerry with 260,000 inhabitants, Meath with 300,000 inhabitants; he represented the city of Dublin twice. In a word, he was " the man of the people.'' He represented all Ireland. The subjoined from "The Gazette De France,'' 1844, is so apposite, that we prefer it to any words we could command. "If there be any spectacle worthy of the respect and admiration of man, it is that of O'Connell and the people of Ireland at this moment. What effect can be imagined more astonishing, more venerable, than this single man, who without parade or ostentation, reigns over an entire people by the authority, in- fluence, and example of virtue. He is, as it were, the force of persuasion in all its power, free from every artifice and material auxiliary. What monarch can say with more justice than he, * my people.' What nation can exclaim with so much justice as Ireland, ' my chief, my representative ?* Yes, it is a royalty which should put kings and princes to the blush. Do they receive more respect, more homage, more love ? Are they better obeyed ? The reason is, because O'Connell is burn- ing for the nationality of his country. She is all to him, and he to her. Ireland, her religion, her habits, her rights, her poverty, her sufferings, her griefs, have their living representa- tion in him. O'Connell is the incarnation and personation of them all. Is there anything more imposing than this chief, whom 7,000,000 of people obey, like one man, whose arms are as devoted to him as their hearts, yet he yields not to any emotion of pride, auger, or hatred. At the head of 7,000,000 of men capable of resisting, and brave in battle, he has submitted to injury, and persecution ; he has stretched forth his hands, he has bent his head under the portals of the prison. Gentleness .7r^,^''^<íV'':r ft 398 HISTORY OP IRELAND. in might, forbearance in strength, is the noblest exercise of virtue — from the depth of his dangeon, he is more a monarch than Victoria, more a minister than Sir Robert Peel. Combi- nation of the foulest character, subtlety and mean artifice, cor- ruption and the grossest fraud, were practised to lead him to prison ; from his prison he commands peace and is obeyed. The splendor of thrones, the attraction of sovereign power, the eclat of royal magnificence, are dimmed by the glory which surrounds the Dublin Penitentiary. The condemnation of O'Connell is a crime against England, already stained by the apostacy of Henry VIII., by the usurpation of the regicide J Cromwell, by the invasion of the prince of Orange, by spolia- tion, and by the violation of all justice committed by the Tory party. O'Connell's constancy without pride, his firmness with- out arrogance, his abnegation of all personal interest, his devo- tion to the cause of all, his love of liberty and justice, all pro- ceed from the influence of his holy religion. How justly can we apply to him the lines of the poet, Eneidos, lib. 1, line 611. In freta dum fluvii current, dum montibus umbrae Lustrabunt convexa, polus dum sidera pascet. Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt. The great Irish chieftain was born at Cashen, within one mile of Cahirciveen, in the County of Kerry, on the 6th of August, 1775, so that at his death he was 72 years old. His early education was at Cove in the county of Cork, though if memory serves us right, we heard him say that a country teacher gave him some lessons in his tender years in Kerry. He, subsequently studied at St. Omers in France, which place he left at the time of the Revolution of 1783. He was called to the bar in 1798. We need not add that his professional career was an uninter- rupted chain of triumphs. This extraordinary Irishman, the most popular patriot that ever existed, breathed his last in Genoa in Italy, on the 15th of May, 1847. His heart was conveyed to ■•itr^mi^' CHARACTER OP o'cONNIiLL. 399 Rome. On the eve of his birth day, the 5th of August of the same year, his remains lay entombed in Glasnevin cemeteryjover which iserected a Round Tower; towards it many admirers come to offer up a prayer for the mighty spirit of him, whose ashes are de- posited beneath. We deem it a duty as an impartial, unbiassed writer, to place on record that, from all we could see of William Smith O'Brien, Esq., his conduct was that of a man, devotedly attached to the land of his ancestors. Ashe had, scarcely, joined when we left, we can, therefore, have no bias towards either section of Repealers. He ^as importuned to become a member of the body, and, after much argument, he was finally gained over. His holding back so long was an evidence of his upright conscience. He had nothing to gain but much to lose by giving in his adhesion. He broke through family and sacred ties, as soon as his conscience warned him that he ought to join his couptrymenin an effort to win back national independence. The author, during the time of the accursed division, was a mere spectator, but a narrow inspector of what was passing in review before him, and he could not, if he had as many eyes as Argus, discern in the whole of Mr. O'Brien's career, from the day he became a member of the association up to the present, but what was an unmistakcable evidence of his sterling worth, as a man and a patriot. He was condemned to death for his country ; he was sent to penal exile where he experienced the greatest trials that a refined mind, and a quick perceptive genius had ever to encounter. He is now returned to the bosom of his family, in whose affections he reigns, as also in the hearts of all true Irishmen. A branch of the society of Saint Vincent de Paul is esta- blished in Dublin, and sub-branches spread throughout Ireland. This society has been the source of great blessings to thousands of distressed families of every creed. There was got up a 400 HISTORY OP IRELAND. branch of the ''Society for the Propagation of the Faith" in for- eign parts. Large sums of money have been contributed for that glorious purpose. The Very Rev. Andrew O'Connell, D.D.,P.P. Irishtown, is its honorary secretary, and diligently does he guard its interests. This eminent divine also, built a beautiful church in the Gothic style j it is called " The Star of the Sea.'' Through the means of this body hundreds of zealous and devoted young men, have been ordained and sent forth to the most remote parts of the globe, carrying with them, as their predecessors of old, the lamp of faith, and the seeds of enlightenment to infidel and barbarous nations. With this society is identified the college of All Hallows, Drumcondra, Dublin, the great nursery of young priests for foreign missions. It was founded by an humble,and holy young priest, the late Rev. John Hand. Out of this college was consecrated the present pious and patriotic bishop of Kerry, the Most Rev. David Moriarty. The college of St. Vincent de Paul, Castleknock, A.D. is also in connexion with this society. ^^^^' On the 14th of May, 1850, Thomas Mooney, having returned from America, called together a few friends at 12 Lower Ormond Quay, when a movement was got up for the revival of Irish manufacture. The first subscription of ten shillings was paid by the Author. The late Doctor Thomas George Hayden, of 82 Harcourt-street, his lady and son, con- tributed several hundred pounds to the movement, which eff'ected, to a great extent, a taste for native manufactures. Mr. E. Wilhams was first chairman, Mr. C. Coyne moved and Doctor Bevau proposed the first resolution. Mooney's eff'orts were spread all over the country, and awoke the dormant feelings of the people to a sense of the necessity of co-operating in so humane an institution. The late immortal and pure patriot, the noble Lord Cloncurry, was the most generous donor to its funds. Often had we the high honor of an interview with his Lordship on the subject. His heart and soul was with us. GREAT IRISH EXHIBITION. 4-01 His large soul yearned for the day that his loved Ireland might take its place amongst the nations of the earth. His Lordship thought, and truly thought, that the manufacture movement was a step in the right direction. His money in hundreds was contributed to uphold the society. Almost all the Poorhouses of Ireland, through the influence of the Board at Essex Bridge, introduced industrial training, and were making articles of manufacture for the use of the inmates. The fruits of the movement still remain. All the unions began to train the pupils to habits of profitable manufacture. Schools were established by Thomas Mooney, but unfortunately the bane of Ireland — division — set in. Mooneywent to Australia, and once again the movement was broken up. After several interviews which Thomas Mooney and other leading members of the Board of Irish Manufactures held with William Dargan, the great , Eailroad contractor, the latter conceived the project of getting up an exhibition of manufactures, which he, accordingly, did, and, for that purpose, contributed a princely sum of money to carry into effect his object by erecting a suitable building at the house of the Royal Dublin Society, looking into Merriou Square. The exhibition was attended by her Majesty, Victoria, Queen of England. This display produced very little substantial fidvantage to Ireland. Another of a similar character was got up the year 1852 in Cork, the history of which has' been ably given by John F. Maguire, M.P. When the true character of the recently established Queen's Colleges was detected by the vigilance of the Holy See, Pope Pius resolved upon neutralizing its tendency. Little time was lost in devising an adequate antidote. At the National Synod of Thurles, on the 22nd of August, 1850, the Irish Hierarchy, with the Apostolic Delegate at their head, formally denounced the Queen*s University, and stated that arrangements were in progress for establishing a Catholic Lfniversity in connexion 28 402 HISTORY OF IKICLAND. with the church. From that time the necessary preparations were cairied ou with uiiceasing vigor, one of the earliest measures being tlie selection of the Very Rev, Dr. Newman to preside over the new Institution. A Rescript having been received from His Holiness, directing the Irish Prelates to hasten the concluding arrangements for this purpose they assembled in the Cathedral of the Conception, Dublin, on the ISth of May, 1854, and on the Feast of Pentecost the Very Rev. Dr. Newman made his profession of faith as Rector of the Irish Catholic University. On the 3rd of November the first admission of students took place at the University House, Stephen's-green, the formal inauguration being postponed in consequence of the absence of so many of the Irish Prelates in the Eternal City. The next year the University was opened with becoming dignity and grandeur. The inaugural lecture was delivered by the Very Rev. Rector, and it was appropriately entitled " the opening of schools." The second lecture of the series was delivered by the Very Rev. Dr. Leahy, V.P., now Lord Archbishop of Cashel, whose learning, erudition, and piety, render him an ornament to the mitre of Cashel. jg5Q' On the 22nd.of August this year occurred an ever memorable event. His Grace the Lord Primate, Most Rev. Paul CuUen, Delegate Apostolic, in compliance with the recommendation of the Holy Father, convened a national synod, which was held at Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and over which his Grace presided. All the Prelates of Ireland, attended by their Chaplains and Theologians, and all the heads of the religious orders, assembled on the occasion. Rarely, if at all, was there ever witnessed in Ireland so solemn and so religiously pompous an array, as on that grand national occasion. Subjects of the greatest moment were therein discussed and settled. The Prelates unanimously and conformably with the wish of his Holiness, condemned the Queen'» Colleges as daiigerous to faith and morals ; hence THE IRISH TENANT LEAGUE. 403: no Catholic, either as professur or pupil, can belong to these institutions without incurring the censure of the Cliurcli bj implication. On the 8th of August a most important conference was held in the Assembly Rooms, William-street, Dublin, by Frederick Lucas, Charles Gavan Duffy, George Henry Moore,^P. M'Mahon, John F. Maguire, M.P.'s ; John Grey, Esq., M.D.; James M'Naight, LL.D. ; Dr. Grattan ; Eev. Thomas O'Shea, C.C. ; Rev. John Rogers, Rev. Messrs. Rentoul, Coulter, P.M.s; &c. Rev. Thomas O'Shea and Mr. Girdwood acting as hononary secretaries. The Conference was held to consider the insecure condition of the tenant farmers of Ireland. It was attended by several members of Parliament, Magistrates, Deputy Lieu- tenants, P. L. Guardians, corporators, clergymen of the Catholic and the Presbyterian church, and extensive farmers. After two days spent in. grave deliberation a society called " The Irish Tenant League" was formed, a council elected to prepare a Bill for Parliament to secure the cultivators of the soil in the capital invested by them in it. On the 6th of September, 1852, another conference was held in the same place, which was attended by forty-two members of Parliament, dignitaries of the Catholic and Presbyterian church, and other influential patrons. At this conference a resolution, previously adopted by the Council of the Tenant League, pledging the members to hold themselves independent of, and in opposition to, every cabinet that would not grant the Tenant Right Bill, as approved by the council. On the same evening a banquet was given in the Rotunda to William Sharman Crawford, Esq., which was attended by the same parties that met in conference, besides 600 gentlemen, lay and clerical. Tristram Kennedy, K-^q., late member for Louth, occupied the chair. Letters approving of the proceedings of the League were read from the Hierarchy of Ireland. As the Author was placed in a prominent position 404 HfSTORT OF IRKLAND. in getting up the banquet, and at it, he does not wish here to allude to the dawning of division which having occurred that night, greatly weakened its eflBciency. The League continues still in existence, and hopes ultimately to obtain a full measure of Tenant Right for the farmers of Ireland. On the 19th of August of this year a great aggregate meeting of the Catholics of the United Kingdom was held in the Eotundo, in the city of Dublin. This was one of the most imposing assemblages ever held in Ireland, being attended by Catholic prelates from all parts of the empire, by Peers and Representatives. We have before us a full report of its pro- ceedings, edited by James Burke, Esq., Barrister, who was one of the secretaries on that important occasion, and who was the chief agent in making the arrangements for the meeting. Ou the motion of Lord Gormanstown (Preston) the chair was taken by The Most Rev. Paul Cullen, Archbishop op Armagh and Primate op all Ireland. His Grace, on taking the chair, made a most powerful and eloquent speech, fully characteristic of a learned prelate and a devoted patriotic Irishman. His Grace the Most Rev. John Mac Hale, the Lord Archbishop of Tuam, made one of his most brilliant displays. His Grace denounced, in unmeasured terms, English tyranny, and the base system of proselytism pursued amongst the Catholic youth of Ireland. At this meeting was unanimously adopted the following resolutions : — " That we hereby solemnly pledge ourselves to use every legitimate means, within the constitution, to obtain a total repeal of that act (the Ecclesias- tical Titles Act), which imposes on the Catholics of this empire any civil or religious disability whatsoever, or precludes them from the enjoyment of a perfect equality witk every other class of their fellow subjects/' " That as one of the great constitutional and practical means of carrying out the objects of this meeting we pledge ourselves AGGREGATE MEETING AT THE KOTUXDA. 405 to make everj effort to strengthen the hands and increase the power of these faithful representatives, who, in the last session of Parliament, so energetically devoted themselves to the for- mation of an * INDEPENDENT PARTY Íu the LEGISLATURE,' having for its object the maintenance ofcivil and religious liberty in the British empire, and that the following prelates and members of the legislature be a committee to define, with accuracy, the objects which are to occupy the association, to frame the rales and regulations by which it shall be governed, and to submit the same to the next general meeting of the Association/' In support of this motion a brilliant and eloquent address was delivered by George Henry Moore, Esq., the independent and unpompromising member for Mayo. At the end of about twelve months, the Catholic Association, which was so auspi- ciously inaugurated, and which excited so much attention, and filled the minds of Catholics with so many bright hopes of the future, died for want of proper organisation, and, therefore, of funds to keep up a staff. The anomaly of almost an entire nation of Catholics being forced by law to contribute to the support of the clergy of a very small minority, being long felt as the prolific source of division amongst Irishmen, and conse- quently of national weakness, the religious equality committee, comprising men of all creeds and parties, started into existence ; its president was George H. Moore, Esq., M.P., for Mayo. The leading principles of the committee are the following: — 1. The Irish Church Establishment oppression, iucludhig its revenues and their future appropriation. 2. The penalties and prohibitions imposed by law upon Catholic ecclesiastics. 3. The laws which disqualify Catholic and dissenting sub- jects from holding certain offices. 4. The practical oppression which, though not directly sanc- tioned by law, are connived at by the executive, and cannot be redressed by an appeal to the existing laws. 1855. 406 HISTOltY OF IRKLANU. . „ This vear his Grace the Most Rev. Paul CuUen, Lord Ab. 1)^52. of Armagh, was translated to Dublin. On his entrance he re- ceived several congratulatory addresses from the clergy of the archdiocess, over which be now presides as metropolitan and Apostolic delegate. ^ The Catholic university, on the recommeudation of the glori- ous PIO NONO, was established by the subscriptions of the Catholics of several parts of America, England, Scotland, but principally of Ireland. It is situated in Stephen's-green, Dublin ; the Rector is the Very Rev. John Heiiry Newman, D.D., once the brightest luminary of the Puseyites. He is considered as one of the most distinguished scholars of the day, and an eminent divine. Great were the anticipations of Irishmen when first the design of its erection was conceived. It is now in working order, and we have, only, to express our hope that all our anticipations will be realized, jgj- This year a grand statue was erected in Limerick to the me- mory of the illustrious Liberator,^ Daniel O'Connell, whose efforts in behalf of his countrymen will be green in their hearts when the statue will have melted away before the devouring influence of time. As we write, funds are being collected for the like national object in Galway and Ennis. We trust that Dublin will follow the example. A statue to the memory of the immortal Irish bard Thomas Moore, was erected in College street, opposite the Bank of Ireland. We had prepared, for insertion in thin volume, an appendix of ecclesi> astical history, king James' army list, the names of the members who voted for, and against the Union, an abstract of the penal laws against CatboUcs, as well as other matters of vital interest, but we found we had, already, far outstepped our prescribed limits of 350 pages. In such a book as this all that can be effected is, that we would record matters of national interest i to note local affairs would All volumes. From want of time to collect infor- mation we apprehend some facts of national interest will be forgotten. Such will be the result of necessity, not of neglect or iuattention. Thetie articles we are, therefore, reluctantly obliged to omit. We trust, that some writer, who will have more ability, time and means, will follow, and perfect what we have feebly, but zealously attempted. A TABLE OF THE KINGS OF IRELAND, FROM " THE ROLL OF KINGS." The first number marks the year they began to reign, the second the duration of each king's reign. ftrar«i A.M. Pronounced. Yei gned. 2738 Heber and Heremon ruled jointly ... 1 2738 Heremon, after the death of Heber ... 14 2752 Muimhne Luighne Mivny Leeny ... 3 2755 Er, Orbha, Eearon & Feargna Orva, Farney ... 10 2756 Irial ... Etreeul ... 10 2766 Eithrial Eelvreeul ... 20 2786 Conmaol • • • ... 30 2816 Tighermas Thee-ermas ... 50 2866 Eochaidh Eadgothach ... Aughy Aydgooagh ... 4 2870 Cearmna&Sobbairce ruled jointly Karnma, Soerky 40 2910 Eochaidh Faobhaiglas Aynghy Pweevaiglass 20 2930 Fiachadh Labrhuino Feeaghav Lavuing 24 2954 Eochaidh Mumho Ayaghvo Mooivo 22 2976 Aongus Ollmuchach Angus Ollmughagh 18 2994 Eadna Airgtheach Ayna Arghagh 27 3021 fiotheachta Rohaghta ... 25 3046 Seadna Shayna 5 3051 Fiachadh Fionnsgothach ... Féeaghoo Finnsgoghagh 20 3071 Mtiineamhoin ... Munavin ... 5 3076 Faildergoidh ... Faldergy ... 7 3083 OUamh FodhU Ollav Fyola 30 3113 Fionnachta Finnaghty 15 3128 Slanoll SlannuU 15 3143 Geide OUgoihach Gaydy Ollgoghagh 17 3160 Fiachadh Feeughao 24 3184 Bearngall Berngall ... 12 3196 Oilioll Ulleeull ... 16 3212 Siorna Saoghalaeh Sheema Seelagh 21 40S HISTORY OP IRBLaND. A.M. 3233 Rotheachta 3240 Elim 3241 Gillacha 3259 ^^' rmleach ... 32f2 Nuadha Fionn Fail 3292 Breasrigh 3301 Eochaidh Apthach 3302 Fiona 3322 Seadhna lonaraice 3342 Simon Breac ... 3348 Duach Fionn ... 3353 Muireadach Balgrach 3357 Eadlina Dearg 3369 Ludgaidh lardhoin 3378 Siorlamh 3394 Eochaidh Naircheas Pronounoed. Rohaghta » • • Gallagha Nuva Finn Faw{l Brassree ... Ayughy Appagh Finn Sliayna Innarig Tcart relgiMd. ... 7 1 ... 9 ... 22 20 9 1 . 20 . 20 . 6 . 5 Muiraydagh Bawlgragh 4 Ayna Derg Louy Eeurinn Sheer Ihav Ayughy Norcheas . 340b Eochaidh Fiadhmhuine & his Ayughy Feevuiny brother Coniung Beg Aglach Coning Beg Aylagh . . . 3411 Lughadh Lam-dearg 3418 Conuing Beg Agleach 3428 Art ... 3434 Fiachadh Telgrach* 3441 OlioU Fionn ... 3450 Eochaidh 3457 Airgeadmhar ... 3480 Duach Laghrach 3490 Luighaidh Laighe 3497 Aodh Ruadh ... 3518 Diothorba 3539 Ciombaoith Louy Lhdv-derg Feeughao UlleeuU Finn Afjuyhoo Argidwar Dooagh La Louy Leey Ee Roo Deehorba ... Kimbath ... 3559 Macha Mongruadb (queen) Macha Mungroo 3566 Reachta Righdhedrg ... Raghta Ruderg 3686 Ugaine M6r ... ... Uigane More * O'Flaherti does not give this king. 12 9 16 12 5 7 10 6 7 9 7 23 10 7 21 21 20 7 20 30 KINGS OF lUKLAND. 409 A.M. 3616 Laoghaire Lore 3618 Cobthach Caolmbreag 3648 Labhradh Loinsgheach ... 3666 Meilge Maolbthach 3673 Modhthorb 3680 Aongus Ollamh 3698 Taran Gleofathach 3709 Fearchorb 3716 Conla Criiaidh Cealgaoh ... 3720 Oiliolla Caisfhiaclagh ... 3745 Adamhar Foltcbaoin 3750 Eocbaidh Foltleathan .i. 3761 Feargus Fortamhuill 3773 Aongns Tuirmheach 3803 Conall Collamhrach 3808 Niadh Seadhamhuia 3815 Eadna Aigneach 3843 Criorathan Cosgrach 3850 Rughraidhe, The Great ... 3880 Jonadhmar 3883 Breasal Bodhiabha 3894 Liighaidh Luighne 3899 Congall Claringneach 3912 Duach Dalta Deaghadh ... 3922 Fachtna Fathach 3940 Eocbaidh Feidhlioch 3952 Eocbaidh Aireamh 3964 Eidersgoil 3970 Nuaghadh Neacht 3970 Coiiaire, The Great 4000 Lugbaidh Riabhdearg 4020 Connor Abhradhruadgh ... 4021 Criomhthan Niadhnar 29 Pronouncid. Years relsped. Leary Lork ... 2 Covagh Kayulmra ... 30 Lavroo Lytisagh ... 18 Maylge Maulvayh ... 7 Moochorh ... 7 Angus Oilan ... 18 Eeran Glofahagh ... 7 Far chord ... 11 Konla Kalgagh ... 4 Ollilla Kasfiaghlagk... 25 Adawar Fultcheein ... 5 Aughay Foltleahan ... H Fergus Firiavell ... 12 Angus Tiragh ... 30 Conall Collawragh ... 5 Neeao Sheahan ... 7 Ayuiny Aignagh ... 28 Kreevan Cosgragh ... 7 Ruory ... ... 30 Innomar ... ... 3 Bokeeva .. ... 1 1 Louy Leeny .. 5 Connell Klareenagh ... 13 Ddeeghao ... 10 Faghagh (a giant) ... 18 Feeleeiugh ... 12 Ayughee Arriv ... 12 Hedrisgall (ODriscoll) 6 JVooaghvo Naght •.. i Canary the Great ... 30 Louy Rivderg ... 20 Awrav rooa ... 1 Kreevan Neeoonar ... 16 / 410 mSTOUY OF IKELAND. V. A.D. Pronounced. Yean reigned. ■4 Fearaidhach Fionfachtnach Feareeagh Finfaghnayh 20 24 Fiachadh Fionn • • • Feeughoo Finn • • • 3 27 Fiachadh Fionoluidh • • • Finnelly ... • •• 27 54 Cairbre Ciuncait • • « Carbry Kincat • • • 5 69 Elim • •• • •• * •• • 20 79 Tuathal Teachtmar • • • Toole Teaghmar • •• 30 109 Maol • • • Mayul • • • 4 113 Feidhlirahidh Reathlmh ar Feelivee Raghtwar • * « 9 122 Cathaoir Mor ... • • • Caheere More • • • 3 125 Conn Ceadchatliach • • fl Conn Kaydcaha ■ • • 20 145 Conaire • • • Conary • •« 7 152 Art Aonfhir • • • Innir • • • 30 182 Lughaidh MacConn .«. Louy Mac Cann • • • 30 212 Fear g us Dubhdheadach • • • Duvavuigh • •• 1 213 Cormac Ulfhada ■ • • Uilloda ■ • • 40 253 Eochaidh Gunait • a • AyughyjGunnit • • • 1 254 Cairbre LiflPeachair • • • Carbry Liffeeghir ... 27 281 Fatbach Airgtheach an( i Faghagh Arghagk, Fathach Cairptheach • • Karphagh • • • 1 282 Fiachadh Sreabhthuine • • • Feeughoo Strevhuiny 30 312 Colla Uais • • • " •• • • • 4 316 Muireadhach Tireach • • • Muroough Theerugh 30 34-6 Caolbbach • • • Calvagh ... 1 347 Eochaidh Moighmeodhim iyugliy Meevayun 7 354 Criomhthan • • • Kreevin ... 17 371 Niall of The Nine Hostages • •• 27 398 Dathy • •• Dahy 23 421 Laogbaire (In his reign St. Patrick came to Ireland) • • • Lcary 30 451 Oilioll Molt ... • • • • • • 20 471 Lughaidh • • • Louy 20 491 Mortough • * • Murty 24 515 Tuathal Moalgarbh ... Toole Mayulgarv 13 528 Diarmuid • • . Dertnott ... 22 KINGS OF lllELAND. 411 A.D. Pronounced. Years reigned. 550 Feargus & Daniel • • • 1 551 Eochaitlh & Baodan Ayngee 3 554 Ainmereach Anmirry ... 3 557 Baodan Bay dan ... 1 558 Aodli or Hugh ... Ee 27 585 Hugh Slaineand Colman Rimidh Rimy 6 591 Aodh Uairiodhnach • • 1 Ooreenagh 27 618 Maolcbobha • • • Mayulghova 4 622 Suibhne Meain • • Sweeny Mayne 13 635 Daniel I. • • • •• 13 648 Conall Claon, and Ceallach • • • 13 661 Blathmach, and Diarmuid Blawmagh, & Dermott Ruadhnaigh • • • Rooneeugh • • • 7 668 Seachnusach • »• Shauffknessy ... 6 674 Cionnfaola • • • Kinnfola • • • 4 678 Fionnachta Fleadhach ... Finnetty Fla-agh • •• 7 685 Loinsgeach • •• Lynch • • • 8 693 Congall Cionnmaghair • • • Connell Kin-Meagher (0)9 702 Feargall • • • Farrell (0) 17 719 Fogaithach • • • Fogarty (0) 1 720 Cionavith • • ■ Kinnett 4 724 Flaithbheartach • • • Flaherti ... 7 731 AodhOllan ... • • • Ee Oil an ... 9 740 Daniel II. • • • • • • 42 782 Niall Freasach ... • •• • •• 4 786 Doncbadha • • • (0) Donoffhue 27 813 Aodh Dorndighe • • ■ Fee Dormey 24. 837 Chonchabar • • • (0) Connor 14. 851 Niall Caille ... • • • Neeul Colli/ 17 866 Tuigesius, the usurping Dan e 13 879 Maolseacbluin ... • • • Malachi I. 16 895 Hugh Fionnlath • • • Finly 18 913 Flan Sionna • • • Shuinna ... 38 951 Niall Glundubh • • • Gloonduv ... 3 412 HISTORY OF IRELAND. 954 Donagh 984 Congall ... ... (O)Connell 994 Daniel IH. 1004 Maolseachluin ... ... Malachi II. 1027 Brian Boroimhe ... fíorivi/ 1039 Maolseachluin, (This is the same as the aliove^ 104-9 Donagh ... ... ., . 1098 Turlagh 1110 Mortough ... ... Murty ... 7 1130 Turlagh 1150 Mortough Mac Neill, Mac Lachlnin 1168 Roderic O'Connor, the last king A great many authors admit, that the Irish took their origin from the Scythians, viz. Ware, Newton, Nennius, Walsingham, Harris, and Camden, but they differ as to the time of the comipg of the Milesians to Ireland. Keating and Carabrensis say about 1,300 years before Christ, and O'Elaherty (in his Ogygia, part 2, p. 83) says, they arrived in Ireland in the reign of Solomon, 1,000 years before Christ ; MacCurtin agrees with Keating. The Four Masters make the arrival much earlier. FINIS.