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A READING BOOK IN IRISH HISTORY BY P. W. JOYCE, LL.D.
A READING BOOK IN IRISH HISTORY BY P. W. JOYCE, LL.D.
One of the Commissioners for the Publication of the Ancient Laws of Ireland Author of "A SHORT HISTORY OF IRELAND" "A CHILD'S HISTORY OF IRELAND" "IRISH NAMES OF PLACES," "OLD CELTIC ROMANCES" "ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC" AND OTHER WORKS RELATING TO IRELAND LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY DUBLIN: M. H. GILL AND SON 1900 [ All rights reserved ]...
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
As this little book is intended chiefly for children, the language is very simple. But to make matters still easier, all words and allusions presenting the smallest difficulty are explained either in footnotes or in the "Notes and Explanations" at the end. Advantage has been taken of the descriptions under the several Illustrations to give a good deal of information on the customs and usages of the ancient Irish people. Although the book has been written for children, it will be found, I hope, s
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I. LEGENDS AND EARLY HISTORY.[1]
I. LEGENDS AND EARLY HISTORY.[1]
In our Ancient books there are stories of five different races of people who made their way to Ireland in old times, with very exact accounts of their wanderings before their arrival, and of the battles they fought after landing. But these narratives cannot be depended on, for they are not real History but Legends, that is stories either wholly or partly fabulous . Of the five early races, the two last, who were called Dedannans and Milesians, were the most remarkable; and they are mixed up with
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II. THE SONG OF INISFAIL.
II. THE SONG OF INISFAIL.
I. II. III. Thomas Moore ....
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III. THE RELIGION OF THE PAGAN IRISH.
III. THE RELIGION OF THE PAGAN IRISH.
So far as we are able to judge from our old writings, the pagan Irish had no one religion common to all the people, and no settled general form of worship. They had many gods; and it would appear that every person chose whatever god he pleased for himself. Some worshipped idols; and we read of certain persons who had spring wells for gods: while some again adored fire, and others the sun and moon. The people also worshipped the shee or fairies, who were supposed to live in grand palaces undergro
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IV. CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE.
IV. CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE.
Our old books contain very full information regarding the Irish people, and how they lived, more than a thousand years ago. In early times Ireland was almost everywhere covered with forests; and there were great and dangerous bogs and marshes, overgrown with reeds, moss, and coarse grass. Many of these bogs still remain, but they are not nearly so large or dangerous as they were then. Great tracts of country were uninhabited, so that the whole population was much less than it is now. The people
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The Fate of the Children of Lir[6]; or, The Four White Swans. V. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS.
The Fate of the Children of Lir[6]; or, The Four White Swans. V. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS.
During the time when the Dedannans ruled in Erin, there was a chief named Lir, who lived in Ulster, and who was much beloved for his goodness and his hospitality. He had four little children: a girl, named Finola, who was the eldest, and three boys, Aed, Ficra, and Conn: and Finola and Aed were twins, as were also Ficra and Conn. Their mother died when they were very young, and they were then placed in charge of one of Lir's friends named Eva, who was a witch-lady. The four children grew up unde
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VI. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON LAKE DARVRA.
VI. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON LAKE DARVRA.
Lir and his people, hearing that Eva had arrived at Bove Derg's palace without the children, became alarmed, and went southwards without delay; till passing by the shore of Lake Darvra, they saw the swans. And the swans swam up and spoke to them, at which they wondered greatly. But when they told Lir that they were indeed his four children whom the witch-lady had turned into birds, he and his people were struck with amazement and horror ; and they uttered three long mournful cries of grief and l
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VII. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON THE SEA OF MOYLE.
VII. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON THE SEA OF MOYLE.
Miserable was the abode and evil the plight of the children of Lir on the Sea of Moyle. Their hearts were wrung with sorrow for their father and their friends; and when they looked towards the steep rocky, far-stretching coasts, and saw the great, dark, wild sea around them, they were overwhelmed with fear and despair. They began also to suffer from cold and hunger, so that all the hardships they had endured on Lake Darvra appeared as nothing compared with their suffering on the sea-current of M
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VIII. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR REGAINED THEIR HUMAN SHAPE AND DIED.
VIII. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR REGAINED THEIR HUMAN SHAPE AND DIED.
Great was the misery of the Children of Lir on the sea of Moyle till their three hundred years were ended. Then Finola said to her brothers— "It is time for us to leave this place, for our period here has come to an end." So the swans left the Sea of Moyle, and flew westward, till they reached the sea round the Isle of Glora. There they remained for three hundred years, suffering much from storm and cold, and in nothing better off than they were on the Sea of Moyle. Towards the end of that time,
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IX. HOW RELIGION AND LEARNING FLOURISHED IN IRELAND.
IX. HOW RELIGION AND LEARNING FLOURISHED IN IRELAND.
As soon as St. Patrick had entered on his mission in Ireland, he began to found monasteries, which continued to spread through every part of the country for hundreds of years after his time. Though religion was their main object, these establishments were among the chief means of spreading general enlightenment among the people. Almost every monastery had a school or college attached, at the head of which was some man who was a great scholar and teacher. The teachers were generally monks: but ma
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X. THE RED BRANCH KNIGHTS.
X. THE RED BRANCH KNIGHTS.
Nearly two miles west of Armagh are the remains of the ancient palace of Emain, or Emain Macha, often called Emania. They consist of a great circular rath or rampart of earth, with a deep trench outside it, and a high mound within, the whole structure covering a space of about thirteen acres. At one time the circular ring was complete, but of late years some portions of it have been levelled or removed. The houses in which the kings and heroes of old, with their numerous households , lived and f
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Deirdre; or, The Fate of the Sons of Usna.[19] XI. THE FLIGHT TO ALBAN.
Deirdre; or, The Fate of the Sons of Usna.[19] XI. THE FLIGHT TO ALBAN.
Concobar Mac Nessa king of Ulaid [20] ruled in Emain. And his chief storyteller, Felimid, made a feast for the king and for the knights of the Red Branch; who all came to partake of it in his house. While they were feasting right joyously, listening to the sweet music of the harps and the mellow voices of the bards, a messenger brought word that Felimid's wife had given birth to a little daughter, an infant of wondrous beauty. And when Caffa, the king's druid and seer, who was of the company, wa
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XII. CONCOBAR'S GUILEFUL MESSAGE.
XII. CONCOBAR'S GUILEFUL MESSAGE.
At this same time a right joyous and very splendid feast was driven by Concobar in Emain Macha to the nobles and the knights of his household. And the number of the king's household that sat them down in the great hall of Emain on that occasion was five and three score above six hundred and one thousand. [23] Then arose, in turn, their musicians to sound their melodious harpstrings, and their poets and their story-tellers to sing their sweet poetic strains, and to recount the deeds of the mighty
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XIII. THE RETURN TO EMAIN.
XIII. THE RETURN TO EMAIN.
Going next morning on board their galleys, Fergus and his companions put out on the wide sea: and oar and wind bore them on swiftly till they landed on the shore of Erin near the house of Barach. And Deirdre, seating herself on a cliff, looked sadly over the waters at the blue headlands of Alban: and she uttered this farewell:— I. "Dear to me is yon eastern land: Alban with its wonders. Beloved is Alban with its bright harbours and its pleasant hills of the green slopes. From that land I would n
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XIV. TROUBLE LOOMING.
XIV. TROUBLE LOOMING.
Let us now speak of Concobar. As he sat among his nobles, the thought of Deirdre came into his mind, and he said:—"Who among you will go to the Red Branch and bring me tidings of Deirdre, whether her youthful shape and looks still live upon her: for if so there is not on the ridge of the world a woman more beautiful." And Lavarcam said she would go. Now the Sons of Usna were very dear to Lavarcam: and Naisi was dearer than the others. And rising up she went to the Red Branch, where she found Nai
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XV. THE ATTACK ON THE SONS OF USNA.
XV. THE ATTACK ON THE SONS OF USNA.
Coming forth on the lawn of Emain, King Concobar now ordered a large body of hireling troops to beset the Red Branch: and he bade them force the doors and bring forth the sons of Usna. And they uttered three dreadful shouts of defiance , and assailed the house on every side; but the strong oak stood bravely, and they were not able to break through doors or walls. So they heaped up great piles of wood and brambles and kindled them till the red flames blazed round the house. Buinni the Red now sto
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XVI. DEATH OF THE SONS OF USNA.
XVI. DEATH OF THE SONS OF USNA.
Believing now that they could no longer defend the Red Branch, Naisi took council with his brothers; and what they resolved on was this:—To sally forth with all their men and fight their way to a place of safety. Then making a close firm fence of shields and spears round Deirdre, they marched out in solid ranks and attacked the hireling battalions and slew three hundred in that onslaught . Concobar, seeing the rout of his men, and being now sure that it was not possible to subdue the Sons of Usn
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XVII. AVENGING AND BRIGHT.
XVII. AVENGING AND BRIGHT.
Thomas Moore. Thomas Moore....
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XVIII. THE WRATH OF FERGUS MAC ROY.
XVIII. THE WRATH OF FERGUS MAC ROY.
Barach's banquet was ended. Fergus, anxious and impatient, returned with his people to Emain. And when he found that the sons of Usna had been slain in violation of his pledge, and that his son, Illan the Fair, had fallen while defending them, his grief and wrath knew no bounds. Caffa the druid was none the less incensed ; and he was in sore anguish : for he it was, who, trusting in Concobar's deceitful promises, persuaded the sons of Usna to give up their arms and yield. And he pronounced the d
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XIX. ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: Part I.
XIX. ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: Part I.
Among most nations of old times there were great leeches or physicians, who were considered so skilful that the people believed they could cure wounds and ailments as if by magic . In some countries they became gods, as among the Greeks. The ancient Irish people, too, had their mighty leech, a Dedannan named Dianket, who, as they believed, could heal all wounds and cure all diseases; so that he became the Irish God of Medicine. He had a son, Midac, and a daughter, Armedda, who were both as good
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XX. ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: Part II.
XX. ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: Part II.
Medicine, as a profession, like Law, History, &c., often ran in families in Ireland, descending regularly from father to son; and several Irish families were distinguished leeches for generations, such as the O'Shiels, the O'Cassidys, the O'Hickeys, and the O'Lees. Each medical family kept a book, which was handed down reverently from father to son, and in which was written, in Irish or Latin, all the medical knowledge derived either from other books or from the actual experience of the
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XXI. THE FENA OF ERIN.
XXI. THE FENA OF ERIN.
In the third century of the Christian era lived the Fena [32] of Erin, a famous body of warriors something like the Red Branch Knights of an older time. Their most renowned commander was Finn Mac Cumaill [Cool], King Cormac Mac Art's son-in-law, who of all the heroes of ancient Ireland is at the present day best remembered in tradition by the people. Finn had his chief residence on the Hill of Allen, a remarkable flat-topped hill lying about four miles to the right of the railway as you pass fro
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XXII. THE CHASE OF SLIEVE CULLINN.
XXII. THE CHASE OF SLIEVE CULLINN.
In which Ossian relates how Finn's Hair was changed in one Day from the Colour of Gold to Silvery Grey. On a morning in summer, Finn happened to be walking alone on the lawn before the palace of Allen, when a doe sprang out from a thicket, and, passing quite close to him, bounded past like the wind. Without a moment's delay, he signalled for his companions and dogs; but none heard except his two hounds, Bran and Skolan. He instantly gave chase, accompanied only by his two dogs; and before the Fe
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XXIII. SAINT BRIGIT: Part I.
XXIII. SAINT BRIGIT: Part I.
Of all the Irish saints, Brigit and Columkille are, next after St. Patrick, the most loved and revered by the people of Ireland. Like many others of our early saints, Brigit came of a noble family. Her father Dubthach [Duffa] was a distinguished Leinster chief, descended from the kings of Ireland. For some reason, which we do not know, he and his wife lived for a time in Faughart near Dundalk, which was then a part of Ulster: and at Faughart Brigit was born about the year 455. The family must ha
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XXIV. SAINT BRIGIT: Part II.
XXIV. SAINT BRIGIT: Part II.
Brigit, although now at the head of a great community, and very strict in carrying out her Rules, still retained all her humility and gentleness of disposition. With such a large family, there was plenty of work to do; and it was all done by the nuns, as they kept no servants and called in no outsiders. The abbess herself, so far as she was able to withdraw from the cares of governing the establishment, took her part like the rest in most of the domestic occupations . In some of the old accounts
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XXV. SAINT BRIGIT: Part III.
XXV. SAINT BRIGIT: Part III.
Late in life Brigit's influence over young people was unbounded: for her very gentleness gave tenfold power to her words. Once, seeing a young man, a student of the neighbouring college, running very violently and in an unbecoming manner, in presence of some of her nuns, she sent for him on the spot and asked him why he was running in such haste. He replied thoughtlessly, and half in jest, that he was running to heaven: on which she said quietly: "I wish to God, my dear son, that I was worthy to
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XXVI. IRISH SCRIBES AND BOOKS.
XXVI. IRISH SCRIBES AND BOOKS.
In old times all books were handwritten, printing being a late invention. There were persons called Scribes , many of whom made writing the chief business of their lives. From constant practice they became very expert ; and the penmanship of many of them was extremely beautiful and highly ornamented, much more so than any writing executed by the very best penmen of the present day. In Ireland, most of these scribes were monks, inmates of monasteries; but many were laymen. These good and industri
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XXVII. THE GILLA DACKER AND HIS HORSE. [34]
XXVII. THE GILLA DACKER AND HIS HORSE. [34]
Once upon a time, when Finn and the Fena were hunting over Munster, Finn and some of his companions encamped on the slope of Knockainey hill [35] to rest for awhile. And they sent Finn Mac Bressal to the top of the hill to keep watch and ward , while they amused themselves, some playing chess, and some viewing the chase all round and listening to the sweet cry of the hounds. Finn Mac Bressal had been watching only a little time, when he saw on the plain to the east, a Fomor [36] of vast size com
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XXVIII. THE FENA CARRIED OFF BY THE GILLA DACKER'S HORSE.
XXVIII. THE FENA CARRIED OFF BY THE GILLA DACKER'S HORSE.
Patiently and in silence the Fena stood till the giant came up; when he bowed his head, and bended his knee, and saluted the king with great respect. Finn addressed him; and having given him leave to speak, he asked who he was, and what was his name; also what was his profession or craft, and why he had no servant to attend to his horse—if, indeed, such an ugly old spectre of an animal could be called a horse at all. The big man made answer and said, "King of the Fena, I will answer everything y
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XXIX. DERMOT O'DYNA AT THE WELL.
XXIX. DERMOT O'DYNA AT THE WELL.
Great was the astonishment of the Fena, and great their dismay, on seeing their comrades carried off in this manner on the back of the big horse. And now they took counsel ; and what they resolved on was, to send Dermot O'Dyna and a party of the Fena in a ship to search for their companions. And Dermot and the others went on board, and sailed to the west for many leagues, till they lost sight of the shores of Erin. At length they came to an island with steep cliffs all round, so high that its he
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XXX. DERMOT O'DYNA FIGHTS THE WIZARD-CHAMPION, AND AFTER A TIME RESCUES HIS COMRADES.
XXX. DERMOT O'DYNA FIGHTS THE WIZARD-CHAMPION, AND AFTER A TIME RESCUES HIS COMRADES.
Hardly had Dermot taken the horn from his lips, when he saw a tall wizard-champion coming towards him from the east, clad in a complete suit of mail, and fully armed with shield and helmet, sword and spear. A beautiful scarlet mantle hung over his armour, fastened at his throat by a golden brooch; he had a gold torque round his neck; and a broad circlet of sparkling gold was bended in front across his forehead, to confine his yellow hair, and keep it from being blown about by the wind. As he cam
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XXXI. SAINT COLUMKILLE: Part I.
XXXI. SAINT COLUMKILLE: Part I.
Saint Columkille [39] was born in the year 521, in Gartan, a wild district in the county Donegal, not far from Letterkenny. He was a near relation of the kings of Ireland of his time; for his father was great-grandson of the mighty King Niall of the Nine Hostages (see p. 5 ): and his mother was related to the kings of Leinster. He spent his boyhood in a little village near Gartan; and when he was old enough, he was sent away from his home to a school kept by a distinguished bishop and teacher, S
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XXXII. SAINT COLUMKILLE: Part II.
XXXII. SAINT COLUMKILLE: Part II.
During St. Columkille's residence in Iona he visited Ireland more than once, on important business: and we may be sure that he was delighted when the opportunity came to see again the land he loved so well. The most important of these occasions was when he came over to take part in a great Meeting—a sort of Parliament for all Ireland—which was held at a place called Drum-Ketta in Derry. The proceedings at this meeting will be found described in the "Child's History of Ireland." Amidst all the ea
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XXXIII. PRINCE ALFRED IN IRELAND.
XXXIII. PRINCE ALFRED IN IRELAND.
It has been already stated (p. 47) that in early ages great numbers of foreigners came to Ireland to study in the colleges. Among those was Aldfrid or Alfred, [42] Prince of Northumbria, one of the Kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy . His history is interesting to us as exhibiting an example of the class of persons who came to Ireland for education in those days, and as showing the close relations existing between many of the royal families of England and Ireland. In the year 670, on the death of h
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XXXIV. THE VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE.
XXXIV. THE VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE.
An Account of the Adventures of Maildune [47] and his Crew, and of the Wonderful Things they saw during their Voyage of Three Years and Seven Months, in their Curragh, on the Western Sea. In that part of Thomond [48] lying opposite the Aran Islands there once lived a young chief named Maildune. When he was an infant, a band of marauders landed on the coast, and plundered the whole district, and slew his father by burning the house over his head. Maildune grew up knowing nothing of all this, for
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XXXV. AN EXTRAORDINARY MONSTER.
XXXV. AN EXTRAORDINARY MONSTER.
During the next few days, the wind bore Maildune's curragh along smoothly, so that the crew had not to use their oars. The island they now came to had a wall all round it. When they approached the shore, an animal of vast size, with a thick, rough skin, started up inside the wall, and ran round the island with the swiftness of the wind. When he had ended his race, he went to a high point, and standing on a large, flat stone, began to exercise himself according to his daily custom, in the followi
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XXXVI. MAILDUNE MEETS HIS ENEMY, IS RECONCILED TO HIM, AND ARRIVES HOME.
XXXVI. MAILDUNE MEETS HIS ENEMY, IS RECONCILED TO HIM, AND ARRIVES HOME.
The next land the travellers sighted was a small island. On a near approach they recognised it as the very same island they had seen in the beginning of their voyage, in which they had heard the man in the great house boast that he had slain Maildune's father, and from which the storm had driven them out into the great ocean. They turned the prow of their vessel to the shore, landed, and went towards the house. It happened that at this very time the people of the house were seated at their eveni
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XXXVII. TENNYSON'S "VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE."
XXXVII. TENNYSON'S "VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE."
("Founded on an Irish Legend: a.d. 700.") Of the tale called the "Voyage of Maildune," the oldest copy is in the Book of the Dun Cow, which was copied from older books eight hundred years ago: but here the story is imperfect at both the beginning and end, portions of the book having been torn away at some former time. There is, however, a perfect copy in the Yellow Book of Lecan. [50] It was translated and published for the first time in "Old Celtic Romances" in 1879. When this book appeared, th
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XXXVIII. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE. [53]
XXXVIII. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE. [53]
Part I. At page 47 of this book it has been related how missionaries and learned men went in great numbers from Ireland to the Continent in the early ages of Christianity to preach the Gospel and to teach in colleges. A full account of the lives and labours of these earnest and holy men would fill several volumes: but the following short sketch of one of them will give the reader a good idea of all. Donatus was born in Ireland of noble parents towards the end of the eighth century. There is good
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XXXIX. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE:
XXXIX. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE:
Part II. In this manner the pilgrims made their way right through France, and on through north Italy, till they arrived at Rome. This was the main object of their pilgrimage , and here they sojourned for a considerable time. Having obtained the Pope's blessing, they set out once more, directing their steps now towards Tuscany, till at length they reached the beautiful mountain of Fiesole, near Florence, where stood many churches and other memorials of Christian saints and martyrs. They entered t
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XL. HOW IRELAND WAS INVADED BY DANES AND ANGLO-NORMANS.
XL. HOW IRELAND WAS INVADED BY DANES AND ANGLO-NORMANS.
From the time of the settlement of the Milesians, as described at page 3 , Ireland was ruled by native kings, without any disturbance from outside, till the arrival of the invaders we are now about to speak of. During all these centuries, though there were troubles enough from the quarrels of the kings and chiefs, learning and art, as we have seen, were successfully cultivated . But a change came—a woful change—once the Danes began to arrive. These were pirates , all pagans, from Denmark and oth
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XLI. THE WATCH-FIRE OF BARNALEE.
XLI. THE WATCH-FIRE OF BARNALEE.
During the many wars in Ireland, small parties of men had often to traverse the country for long distances to bring messages from one general to another, and for other purposes. They marched by day and put up at night in the woods, choosing some sheltered corner and making a big fire of brambles to keep them warm and to cook their food. After supper they usually sat by the fire, amusing themselves with pleasant conversation or by telling stories: and when at last it was time to go to sleep, they
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XLII. CAHAL O'CONOR OF THE RED HAND: KING OF CONNAUGHT.
XLII. CAHAL O'CONOR OF THE RED HAND: KING OF CONNAUGHT.
Roderick O'Connor, the last native king of Ireland retired from the throne towards the end of the twelfth century, to end his days in the monastery of Cong. [62] After his time, as we have said, there was no longer a king over the whole country. But for hundreds of years afterwards, kings continued to reign over the five provinces. Roderick had been king of Connaught before he became king of all Ireland; and after his retirement there were several claimants for the Connaught throne, who contende
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XLIII. "CAHAL-MORE OF THE WINE-RED HAND."
XLIII. "CAHAL-MORE OF THE WINE-RED HAND."
The ancient Irish people—like those of several other countries—believed that when a just and good king reigned, the country was blessed with fine weather and abundant crops, the trees bended with fruit, the rivers teemed with fish, and the whole kingdom prospered. This was the state of Connaught while Cahal of the Red Hand reigned in peace. And it is recorded that when he died, fearful portent s appeared, and there was gloom and terror everywhere. James Clarence Mangan, a Dublin poet, who died i
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XLIV. SIR JOHN DE COURCY.
XLIV. SIR JOHN DE COURCY.
Among the many Anglo-Norman lords and knights who came to settle in Ireland in the time of Henry II., one of the most renowned was John de Courcy. The Welsh writer, Gerald Barry, already mentioned (p. 113), who lived at that time and knew him personally, thus describes him:— "He was of huge size, tall and powerfully built, with bony and muscular limbs, wonderfully active and daring, full of courage, and a bold and venturous soldier from his youth. He was so eager for fighting that, though comman
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XLV. HOW SIR JOHN DE COURCY WAS CAPTURED AND THROWN INTO PRISON.
XLV. HOW SIR JOHN DE COURCY WAS CAPTURED AND THROWN INTO PRISON.
By the death of Henry II. in 1189, Sir John de Courcy lost his best friend: and things began to go ill with him when King John came to the throne in 1199. For another Anglo-Norman lord, Hugh de Lacy, grew jealous of his great deeds, and hated him with his whole heart, so that he took every means to poison the king's mind against him. In a very old volume, written by some Anglo-Irish writer, there are several entertaining stories of all that befel De Courcy after his return to Ulster from Dublin
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XLVI. SIR JOHN DE COURCY ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE.
XLVI. SIR JOHN DE COURCY ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE.
And now Sir John de Courcy, being in the Tower in evil plight , cried often to God why He suffered him to be thus so miserably used, who did build so many good abbeys, and did so many good deeds to God: and thus often lamenting with himself, he asked God his latter end to finish. It fortuned after this that much variance and debate did grow between King John of England and King Philip of France, [67] about a certain castle which the king of France won from King John. And when King Philip had oft
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XLVII. SIR JOHN DE COURCY AND THE FRENCH CHAMPION.
XLVII. SIR JOHN DE COURCY AND THE FRENCH CHAMPION.
The lists were enclosed and all things were prepared against the day of battle. The two kings were there, outside the lists, with most of their nobility, and thousands of great people to look on, all sitting on seats placed high up for good view. Within the lists were two tents for the champions, where they might rest till the time appointed. And men were chosen to see that all things were carried on fairly and in good order. When the time drew nigh, the French champion came forth on the field,
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XLVIII. THE GREAT EARL OF KILDARE AND THE EARL OF ORMOND.
XLVIII. THE GREAT EARL OF KILDARE AND THE EARL OF ORMOND.
The great lords who settled in Ireland in the time of Henry II. became so powerful that they ruled in the land like so many kings. It was so hard to reach Ireland in those times, or even to get from one part of Ireland to another, that their master, the king of England, had generally very little control over them: and he often found it hard enough even to find out what was going on among them. So those mighty barons did very much as they liked. They imposed taxes, raised armies, and made war on
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XLIX. ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC.
XLIX. ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC.
From the most remote times the Irish took great pleasure in music: and they studied and cultivated it so successfully that they became celebrated every where for their musical skill. Irish teachers of this art were thought so highly of that from about the seventh to the eleventh century, or later, they were employed in colleges and schools in Great Britain and on the Continent, like Irish professors of other branches of learning (see p. 47 ). Many of the early missionaries took great delight in
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