From this Country he sailed to an Island on the Coast of the

An Essay On The

Ancient and Modern State

Of Ireland

With the Various Important Advantages

Thereunto Derived,

under the auspicious Reign of His most sacred Majesty

King GEORGE the Second.

Including a particular Account

of the great and glorious

St. Patrick

By

Henry Brooke

Dublin: Printed

London: Re-Printed

for R. Griffiths.

MDCCLX.

CONTENTS

Dedication.

Essay.

The Farmer’s Case Of The Roman-Catholics Of _Ireland_.

Footnotes

DEDICATION.

TO

MATTHEW MC. NAMARA,

Of _LIMERICK_, Esq;

COUNSELLOR at LAW.

Justly sensible, Sir, how sincerely You have the Character and Esteem of

our Native Country at Heart, I take Leave to offer to Your Perusal, and

commend to Your favourable Acceptance, the following Sheets.

What gave them Rise, was my happening, some Time since, to have fallen

into Company with two or three sprightly young Gentlemen, then just

returned from their Continental Rambles,—who—altho’ little burthened with

the Religion, Laws, Learning, Policy, Customs, Habits, Manners, or

Languages of any, or the several Countries they had scampered thro’,

affected, nevertheless, an high Contempt for this,—their Native.

I listened with silent Indignation, and determined to contribute my Mite

towards giving such unattentive, uninformed Youths, a more adequate Idea

of this Kingdom, under its ancient and under its present happy

Establishment.

The common Accidents of Time must lead them by better Authority to clearer

Knowledge: In the mean while, I profess my Obligations to them, as they

have given me this Opportunity of declaring my Regard to my Country in

general, and the particular Attachments that ever bind me, in the

strictest Sense of Fidelity and Esteem, to a Friend so worthy as You have

been to,

Sir,

Your very obliged, and

Most obedient Servant.

ESSAY.

In a Nation, where almost every Gentleman is better acquainted, and more

conversant, with the Nature and Circumstances of other Countries than

those of his own, the Publication of such Hints as may somewhat contribute

to remove so odd an Inattention, and induce those far better qualified to

render a Subject so interesting some Justice, will not, I hope, be deemed

an Impertinence; in one especially who, by this Essay, however feeble,

hath nothing beside the Honour and Advantage of _Ireland_ in View, a

Kingdom whereof he is, without Vanity, proud of being a Native.

As the Story of Savages and Barbarians can contain nothing instructive, or

entertaining, the _Antemilesian_ Inhabitants of this Land having been

mostly such, and all surviving Accounts of them almost totally overcast

with Fable, we are therefore, in treating of the antient _Scotia_, or

modern _Ireland_, to refer principally to three distinguished æras,

whereof the _first_ is, its being peopled by an _Iberian_ or _Spanish_

Colony: The _second_, truly glorious, the Arrival of St. _Patrick_, in his

most salutary Mission: The _third_ and last, its Cession to _Henry_ the

Second, King of _England_, (the first of the Royal Race of _Plantagenet_)

partly from a pretended Title of _Adrian_ the Fourth, Pope of _Rome_;

partly from the restless and insatiable Desires of _Henry_; _more_ from

the manifold Infirmities of the then reigning _Irish_ Chiefs—but above

all, from the peculiarly adverse Fate of _Roderick_, the last of our

Kings.

The assiduous, exact, and candid Author of the _Dissertations_,(1) lately

published, on the Origin, Government, Letters, Sciences, Religion, Manners

and Customs of the antient Inhabitants of this Country, hath put all those

Matters in so clear and happy, and, at the same Time, in so strong a

Light, by the Powers of various foreign Testimonies, of undeniable

Authenticity, coincident with our own, that scarce any Thing new can be

offered on the same Subject.

It may, however, in general be observed, that _Milesius_, a _Spanish_

Prince, so far back as the Reign of _Solomon_ (instigated by Necessity, or

induced by Ambition) with a considerable Number of Associates and

Followers, landed from the Western Parts of _Spain_, on the Southern

Coasts of this Island, where it is probable they met little, or but faint

Opposition, from wild and undisciplined Inhabitants.

Those People, from their early Knowledge of the _Phœnician_ Arts and

Letters, imported such Rudiments of Government and Learning, as those

primitive Times admitted; a Truth visible from the Similarity or rather

Identity of the _Phœnician_ and _Scotic_ Alphabet.

This antient Colony quietly settled here, remote from the Storms and

Revolutions of the greater World, and secured by Situation from its

hostile Incursions, there is no Doubt but the Cultivation of Religion,

Philosophy, Politicks, Poetry, and Musick, became the chief Objects of

popular Study and Application: The Spirit of Ambition in succeeding Ages,

with its unhappy concomitant Train of Sedition, Faction, and Violence, the

foreign Invasions, and often the intestine Oppressions and Calamities, to

which our neighbouring Nations were subject, calling forth the protective

or conciliating Aids of those ancient Heroes, made them great Masters also

in the Art military.

The Pentarchy originally formed by those _Iberian_ or _Celtic Spaniards_,

with a popular Right of Election, was certainly a Kind of Government

extremely consistent with the Essence and Genius of true Liberty, and a

System derived from the Patriarchs themselves. For when the various

Necessities of Society required a Subordination, together with some stated

Maxims to go by, to avoid the confused and promiscuous Intercourse in a

State of Nature; then did the People elect the most Virtuous and Wise, to

lead and conduct them in Times of War and Trouble; to govern, inform, and

protect them, in milder and more auspicious Seasons. Then was the Motto of

the Crown, or of the chief Ensign of Pre-eminence, _Digniori detur_, and

so continued till the Degeneracy of Time, and the baneful Growth of

Avarice and Pride, with the feverish Lust of Power, perverted it

to—_Rapiat Fortior_!

Such, thro’ a long Succession of Ages, was the Condition, and such at

length the Fate of this Kingdom, destroyed after a longer Continuance than

any other can boast, by the Abuse of its own Powers; a sure Argument that

all created Beings, all sublunary Institutions, however wisely composed,

in the very Essence of their Creation, and in the very Rudiments of their

Formation, comprehend, at the same Time, the Seeds of Dissolution: Yet it

is not more remarkable than true, that in the most boisterous Periods of

this Kingdom’s antient Establishment, the Arts and Sciences, with the

fundamental Principles of Constitution, were preserved and cherished with

inviolable Assiduity. The Priests, Philosophers, Advocates, Annalists,

Poets and Musicians, were obliged to preserve Religion, political Wisdom,

Law, History, _&c._ hereditarily in their respective Tribes, and to

educate in these different Branches the Chiefs and Nobles of the Land, for

which they were graciously maintained in secure and splendid Tranquillity:

Those Sages attended the National Conventions, where all publick Acts were

religiously recorded, and all Abuses of Power and Government retrenched or

reformed; nor were they permitted, except in Case of extraordinary

Necessity, or uncommon Merit, to deviate from their proper and primitive

Spheres of Action: Since, where an harmonious Subordination of Rank and

Order hath not been duly preserved, even in free Estates, Liberty itself

(wisely attempered, the greatest of all social Blessings) hath often, from

Abuse and Neglect, sickened into Licentiousness, the immediate lewd Mother

of Anarchy! In the visible Creation, the direct Result of infinite Wisdom,

the lesser Planets do not interfere with, much less shock or oppose the

Motions and Revolutions of the greater; they constantly keep the Distances

first prescribed them, and all move regularly to their respective Ends.

The most verdant and fragrant Meadows may, from the too frequent Irruption

of muddy Waters, degenerate into noxious Marshes, if some Care was not

taken to divert those impure Gushings into their proper Channels. Hence it

may be inferred, that laying open the most honorary, as well as important

and useful Professions of Society, to the Intrusion, or rather pyratical

Invasions, of the Scum and Dregs of the People, cannot, however varnished

over with the fictitious Colourings of pretended Liberty, consist with

true Political Wisdom.

Those ancient _Sophi_ and _Literati_ enjoyed their Places with the greater

Security, that they were uninvadable by the inferior Classes of Mankind;

with the greater Content and Chearfulness, that much Esteem and Emolument

were connected with them: The Priest and Advocate informed and directed

the Conscience and Conduct; the Historian and Annalist recorded the

Institutions; the Poet and Musician celebrated and sung the Exploits of

their Kings and Leaders: No Wonder then this Kingdom should have been

revered at Home, and admired Abroad; when Religion formed, Erudition

nurtured, Philosophy strengthened, History preserved, Rhetorick adorned,

Musick softened, and Poesy refined, the National Wisdom and

Accomplishments; to all which was added, a thorough Knowledge of Tactics,

and great Skill and Agility in all the athletick Arts, and bodily

Exercises.

In the Versions of some original Codes exported by our Countryman, the

learned and pious St. _Fiechry_, still extant in the _Navarre_ Library at

_Paris_, the Constitutional Wisdom of _Ireland_ appears in a clear and

happy Light: Persons, Things, Actions, and Expressions, were cautiously

attended to, by the Laws; _Persons_, in their Minority, Youth, and

Manhood, according to their different Ranks in the State, so as by Care,

Education, and Discipline, to render them, some subservient, others

useful, some beneficial, and others ornamental thereunto. _Things_, so

carefully, as to prevent, by prohibatory Laws, Wastes of whatsoever Kind,

and to ascertain to each Individual, as well as Society, their proper and

distinct Rights. _Actions_, by directing those in general, and particular,

to the Honour of the Deity and Welfare of the Community: _Expression_, by

the penal Interdiction of prophane Cursing and Swearing, Obscenity,

Scurrility, Calumny, and Detraction, yet with a full Indulgence of proper

Satire against such as merited popular Reprehension, or Contempt; the

Satirist’s Pen in those Days being as much dreaded, or rather more so,

than the Magistrate’s Rod, and consequently as diligently avoided by a

Demeanour absolutely irreproachable.

It appeareth that, under the antient Government of _Ireland_, the

Education of the landed Gentry, when Luxury, with its wasteful Catalogue

of Vices, had not rendered Property so mutable and wavering as in modern

Ages, was provided for; whether by the immediate Care of Parents, or

essential Attention of Guardians, by the Laws of the Land; in order that

Gentlemen should, to the Antiquity of Birth and Possession, add the

important Dignity of Learning, and social Refinement of Arts: Since a Man

at the Head of an original Estate, who should want the necessary

Cultivation of Letters, was considered only as a Peasant in Disguise, and

not more respected than a Hewer of Wood, or Drawer of Water.

In these Writings of St. _Fiechry_, the legislative Wisdom of

_Olam-Fodla_; the philosophically-religious Capacity of _Cormac-O Quin_,

who, from the pure Light of Nature, in a great Measure defeated the absurd

_Polytheism_ of the _Druids_; the consummate Integrity and Impartiality of

_Federach_ the Just, and _Moran_ his Chief Justice; the Magnanimity of

_Con-Ked-Cathagh_; the Conquests of _Kineth Mac Alpin_; the long,

glorious, and peaceful Reign of _Conary_ the Great, _coæval_ with the

Birth of our Blessed Lord and Saviour _Jesus Christ_, (undoubtedly the

happiest, brightest, and most blissful Period the World ever saw;) are all

displayed in a copious masterly Style, yet with strict chronological

Exactness.

This learned St. _Fiechry_ was Founder of the University in _Paris_, in

the Beginning of the 8th Century. The better to enable him to carry on

that noble Work, he obtained of _Charles_ the Great a Tax on all

Wheel-Carriages, within the Barriers of that City: Whence, a Hackney-Coach

is at this Day technically term’d _Fiacre_.

_Charles_ the Great, in order to repair the cruel and truly lamentable

literary Dilapidations of the ferocious North-men, invited Numbers of the

learned and pious _Irish_ to the Continent, where he established and

entertained them with Dignity, Tenderness, and Respect. In a curious

Manuscript of _Nicholaus Gurtlerus_, (now in the _French_ King’s

_Parisian_ Library) Author of the _Origines Mundi_, where he alludes to

these Times, you find the following favourable, but true Account of

_Ireland_.—_Temporibus illis, barbaris Normannorum Cohortibus undequaque

irrumpentibus, Religio, Fides, Philosophia, Virtus, Hospitalitas,

Fortitudo, Castitas, necnon et Amœniores omnium generum Artes, Hibernia

solummodò natali, veluti Solo, viguerunt_; little Wonder that _Ireland_

should have been esteemed the _Ierne_, or sacred Isle of the _Greeks_, the

_Insula Sanctorum_, or Island of Saints of the _Romans_.—Would to Heaven

our Countrymen had, upon all considerable Occasions, recollected those

deserved Encomiums, thereby to approve them worthy their applauded Origin,

and native Soil!

We now proceed to consider _Ireland_ in her happiest and brightest View,

after the Admission and Propagation of Christianity. It is certain there

were many Christians in _Ireland_, before the Arrival of _Palladius_ in

431, or of St. _Patrick_ the Year following: St. _Kieran_, St. _Ailbe_,

St. _Declan_, and St. _Ibar_, whom _Ussher_ calls the Precursors, or

Forerunners of St. _Patrick_, are pregnant Proofs of this; they were of

the Birth of _Ireland_, from whence they travelled to _Rome_, in Search of

Education and Learning, where they lived some Years, were ordained, and

returned Home about the Year 402.

It seems that those early Preachers confined their Labours to particular

Places, in which they had considerable Success, but fell very short of

converting the Body of the Nation: However, they sowed the Seed which St.

_Patrick_ came after to water: And it is certain that St. _Patrick_ was so

well satisfied with the Progress they made, in their particular Districts

in _Munster_, that this was the last Province in _Ireland_ he thought

proper to visit. That there were many Christians in _Ireland_, at this

Period, seems to be confirmed by _Prosper_, who, in giving an Account of

the Mission of _Palladius_, says, that he was ordained by Pope _Celestin_,

and sent the first Bishop to the _Scots_ believing in Christ. This Passage

can mean nothing else, but that _Palladius_, born in Britain, was sent to

the Scots [i.e. the _Irish_] who had already formed Churches under

_Kieran_, _Ailbe_, _Declan_ and _Ibar_; and so the Bishop of St. _Asaph_

expounds it. This then was the next Attempt that was made for the

Conversion of the _Irish_: _Palladius_ engaged in a more ample and

extensive Design than his Predecessors, yet he failed in the Execution of

it, stay’d but a short Time in _Ireland_, and did little worth remembring;

he converted, however, a few, and is said to have founded three Churches;

but he had neither Courage to withstand the Fierceness of the heathen

_Irish_, nor Abilities, for Want of the Language, proper for the Work.

_Nathi_, the Son of _Garcon_, an _Irish_ Prince, opposed his preaching;

upon which _Palladius_ left the Kingdom, and died in the Land of the

_Picts_, on the 15th of _December_, 431. This glorious Work was reserved

for St. _Patrick_, to whose holy Life, divine Mission, and extraordinary

Success, I refer the Reader. This great Apostle of the _Irish_ founded and

built the Cathedral Church of _Ardmagh_, about the Year 444, or 45, which,

from that early Period to this, hath continued the Metropolitan Church of

all _Ireland_. So that 1194 Years passed away from the Founding of the

City of _Rome_, to that of _Ardmagh_.

The various and most signal Blessings derived to this Nation, from the

salutary Mission of this illustrious Saint, require, in Gratitude, our

giving the Reader yet a further Account of the Author of such Happiness

and Glory to _Ireland_.

He was born in the extreme Bounds of _Britain_, (in that Part thereof

which is now comprehended within the Limits of the modern _Scotland_) at a

Village called _Banaven_, in the Territory of _Tabernia_, (as he himself

saith in his Confession) in _Vico Banaven Taberniæ_, &c. He tells us that

he was born of a good Family. _Ingennuus fui secundum Carnem._ His Father

was _Calphurnius_, a Deacon, who was the Son of _Potitus_, a Priest; from

whence may be clearly inferred that the Clergy were not restrained from

Matrimony in that Age. He was just advanced into his sixteenth Year, when

he was taken Captive, the Manner of which is thus related by St. _Evin_

and others: His Father, Mother, Brother, and five Sisters, undertook a

Voyage to _Aremorick Gaul_, (now called _Bass Bretagne_) to visit the

Relations of his Mother _Couchessa_. It happened about this Time, that the

seven Sons of _Factmude_, a _British_ Prince, were banished, and took to

the Sea; that, making an Inroad into _Aremorick Gaul_, they took _Patrick_

and his Sister, _Lupita_, (some say _Tigrida_ also) Prisoners. They

brought their Captives to the North of _Ireland_, and sold _Patrick_ to

_Milcho Mac Huanan_, a Prince of _Dalaradia_: Others tell the Story in a

different Manner, and with a stronger Degree of Probability. That the

_Romans_ having deserted _Britain_, to preserve their own Country from the

barbarous Incursions of the _Northern Hive_, the _Irish_ made frequent

Conquests, in _North Britain_ especially, whence returning victorious, in

one of those Expeditions among others brought _Patrick_ Captive. But in

this they all agree, and he himself confirms it, that he continued

Prisoner in _Ireland_ six Years; he was sold to _Milcho_ and his three

Brothers, which gave Occasion of his changing his Name into _Cathraigh_,

or rather _Ceathir-Tigh_, because he served four Masters; _Ceathir_

signifying four, and _Tigh_ a House or Family. _Milcho_ observing the Care

and Diligence of his new Servant, bought out the Shares of his Brothers,

and made him his own Property. He sent him to feed his Hogs on

_Sliev-Mis_. And St. _Patrick_ himself tells us his Behaviour in this

Office.

“My constant Business was to feed the Hogs. I was frequent in Prayer; the

Love and Fear of God more and more inflamed my Heart; my Faith was

enlarged, and my Spirit augmented, so that I said an hundred Prayers by

Day, and almost as many by Night. I arose before Day to my Prayers, in the

Snow, in the Frost, and in the Rain, and yet I received no Damage; nor was

I affected with Slothfulness; for then the Spirit of God was warm within

me.” It was here he perfected himself in the _Irish_ Language, the

wonderful Providence of God visibly appearing in this Instance of his

Captivity, that he should have the Opportunity in his tender Years of

becoming well acquainted with the Language, Manners, and Dispositions of

that People, to whom he was intended as a future Apostle. He continued six

whole Years in Servitude, and in the seventh was released. There seems to

have been a Law in _Ireland_ for this Purpose, agreeable to the

Institution of _Moses_, that a Servant should be released the seventh

Year.

Having parted from his Master, after a great Variety of Distresses, he at

length arrived to his Parents, who received him with extraordinary Joy;

with these he remained two Years, and probably would much longer, had he

not by a Vision been quickened to a more active and glorious Life. In this

he thought he saw a Man coming to him from _Ireland_, whose Name was

_Victoricus_, with a great Number of Letters; that he gave him one of them

to read, in the Beginning of which were contained these Words,

_Vox-Hiberionacum_, the Voice of the _Irish_: While he was reading this

Letter, he thought the same Moment, that he heard the Voice of the

Inhabitants who lived near the Wood of _Foclut_, in the Barony of

_Tyr-Awley_, and County of _Mayo_, hard by the Western Sea, crying to him

with an audible and distinct Voice, “We intreat thee, holy Youth, to come

and walk among us.” He was greatly amazed at this Vision, and awoke; it

animated him, however, to his future Studies and heavenly Progress; so far

even, that he tells us himself, he thanked God, that after many Years he

had dealt with the _Irish_, according to their crying out.

These early Scenes of this great Saint’s Life, should, among many others,

serve as lessons of Charity, Consideration, and Humility, to the Rich, the

Great, the Proud, and the Wanton; who may recollect that, altho’ he was

well born, he was nevertheless, in the most vigorous Season of Life, a

Slave and a Swine-Herd: Happy, though wretched Servitude! In which, his

leisure Hours, mostly employed in Christian Confidence and Prayer, made

him so signally the Favourite of Heaven, that from those cloudy Dawnings,

he in Process of Time became a learned Doctor, a sanctified Missioner, a

venerable Prelate, an eminent Primate, a national Apostle, and the bright

Instructor of Kings! Such were the fruitful Rewards of uninterrupted

unshaken Devotion, Piety, and Zeal! From this Time he formed the steady

Resolution of converting the _Irish_; and, the better to accomplish the

heavenly Task, he undertook a laborious Journey to foreign Countries, to

enrich his Mind with Learning and Experience.

He continued abroad thirty-five Years, pursuing his Studies under the

Direction principally of his Mother’s Uncle, St. _Martin_, Bishop of

_Tours_, who had ordained him Deacon; and after his Death, partly with St.

_German_, Bishop of _Auxerre_, (who ordained him a Priest, and called his

Name _Magonius_, which was the third Name he was known by,) partly among a

Colony of _Hermits_ and _Monks_, in some Islands of the _Tuscan_ Sea; and

he employed a good Part of the Time in the City of _Rome_, among the

Canons Regular of the _Lateran_ Church: At length, having his Soul

thoroughly tempered with religious Virtue, enlightened with the true

Evangelical Faith, and his Understanding enlarged by the most profitable

and edifying Studies, he arrived in _Ireland_ about the 60th Year of his

Age; and in the Year of our Lord 432, landed in the County of _Wicklow_,

where he began his Ministry, by the Conversion of _Sinel_, a great Man in

that Country, the Grandson of _Finchad_, who ought to be remembered, as he

was the first Fruits of St. _Patrick_’s Mission in _Ireland_; he was the

8th in lineal Descent from _Cormac_, King of _Leinster_, and came

afterwards to be enumerated among the Saints of _Ireland_.

From this Country he sailed to an Island on the Coast of the County of

_Dublin_, called after him _Inis Phadring_, and by the _English_, _Holm

Patrick_ at this Day, where he and his faithful Companions rested after

their Fatigues. From _Inis Phadring_, he sailed Northward to that Part of

_Ulster_ called _Ulidia_, and put in at _Inbherslaying_ Bay. When he and

his Fellow Labourers landed, _Dichu_, the Son of _Trichem_, Lord of the

County, being informed that they were Pirates, came out with armed Men in

order to kill them: But being struck with the venerable Appearance of St.

_Patrick_, he gave him Audience, and listened attentively to the Word of

Life preached by him; he changed his wicked Purpose, believed, and was

baptized, and brought over all his Family to the Faith: It is further

observed of him, that he was the first Person in _Ulster_, who embraced

Christianity. He dedicated the Land whereon his Conversion was wrought to

the Service of God, where a Church was erected, changed after to an

eminent Monastery. He travelled hence by Land to _Clunebois_ in

_Dalaradia_, to endeavour the Conversion of his old Master _Milcho_, whose

Service he had left thirty-eight Years before; but this obstinate Prince,

hearing of the great Success of St. _Patrick_’s preaching, and ashamed to

be persuaded in his old Age, to forsake the Religion of his Ancestors, (by

one especially who had been his Servant, in a most inferior Station,) made

a funeral Pile of his House and Goods, and by the Instigation of the Enemy

of Mankind, burned himself therein: Thus ended _Milcho McHuanan_.

Hence St. _Patrick_ returned to _Inis_, the Habitation of _Dichu_, and in

his Journey converted great Numbers to the true Faith of _Christ_. In some

time, he took his Leave of _Dichu_, and bent his course Southward by Sea,

keeping the Coast on his Right-hand, and arrived at Port _Colbdi_, where

he landed, and committed the Care of his Vessel to his Nephew _Luman_,

desiring him to wait for him there forty Days, while he and his Disciples

were travelling in the inner Parts of the Country to preach the Gospel.

His Intention in this Journey was, to celebrate the Festival of _Easter_

in the Plains of _Bregia_, and to be in the Neighbourhood of the Great

Triennial Convention at _Tarah_, which at this Season was held by King

_Leogair_, and all his Tributary Princes, Nobles, _Druids_, _Annalists_,

_and Fileas_. St. _Patrick_ wisely foreseeing that whatever Impressions he

should make on this august Assembly must have an Influence on the whole

Kingdom, and therefore, being supported with invincible Christian

Fortitude, resolved not to be absent from a Place where his Presence was

so conducive to the Ends of his Holy Ministry.

Never did the Spirit of popular Freedom exert itself more powerfully or

harmoniously, than in those truly parliamentary Triennial Conventions of

_Ireland_, where the supreme Monarch, the Provincial Kings, the feudatory

Lords, the Nobles, landed Men, _Druids_, &c. by the unbiased Suffrages of

the People, convened for the Peace, good Government and Security of each

particular Province, as well as those of the whole Kingdom. Many Centuries

had this wise Constitution subsisted here, before our Neighbours, even of

_South Britain_, knew any thing relative to Houses, or Raiment; it being

notorious that so late as the Arrival of _Julius Cæsar_ among them, they

painted their Bodies, to render them terrible, and lived in the open

Fields. It is really somewhat surprzing that People so near in Situation,

should differ so essentially in Disposition, as the Inhabitants of those

Islands have in all Ages; Hospitality having been the distinguishing

Attribute of the _Irish_, and it’s opposite Defect, that of the _Britons_;

the Account given of them by _Horace_ 1700 and odd Years ago, _Visam

Britannes Hospitibus feros_, being as literally applicable to them at this

Day, where the Force of Education doth not operate to mitigate their

natural Ferocity.

But to return: St. _Patrick_ in his Way to _Tarah_, took up his Lodgings

at the House of the hospitable _Sesgnen_ in _Meath_, who kindly received

and welcomed him. St. _Patrick_ preach’d Christ and his Gospel to him; he

believed, and was baptized with his whole Family.

From the House of _Sesgnen_, he moved Westward, and arrived on _Easter

Eve_ at _Fierta-fir-feic_, on the Northern Banks of the River _Boyne_,

where he rested, resolving there to prepare for the next Day’s Solemnity.

It was penal for any Person at the Time of the Celebration of this solemn

Convention at _Tarah_, to kindle a Fire in the Province, before the King’s

Bonfire first appeared. I am of Opinion this was a religious Ceremony, as

the chief Deity of the ancient Inhabitants, in exterior Worship

especially, was _Bel_, or _Belus_; whence _Apollo_ or _Ap-haul_, the Son

of the Sun, whom they emblematically worshipped, by those fiery Offerings;

whence the first Day of _May_, peculiarly dedicated to this _Bel_, is even

now in _Irish_, called _Lha-Bel-Thinih_, and probably from the same Source

may be derived the Custom of lighting up Bonfires, and Sops, on the Eve of

the 24th Day of _June_. St. _Patrick_ however, either not knowing or not

minding this Ceremony, lighted up a Fire before his Booth, which altho’

eight Miles distant from _Tarah_, was very visible. It was seen with

Astonishment from Court, and the _Druids_ informed the King, that if he

did not immediately extinguish the Fire, he who kindled it, and his

Successors, should for ever hold the Principality of _Ireland_; which hath

hitherto turned out a true Prediction of those Heathen Priests, in a

Primatial and Spiritual Principality.

The King dispatched Messengers to bring _Patrick_ before him, and gave his

positive Orders, that nobody should presume to rise out of his Seat, or

pay him the least Honour: But _Ere_, the Son of _Dego_, ventured to

disobey this Command; he arose, and offered the Holy Father his Seat. St.

_Patrick_ preached to him and converted him. He became a Person of eminent

Sanctity, and after some Time was consecrated by St. _Patrick_, Bishop of

_Slain_.

The Day following, when St. _Patrick_ and two of his Disciples appeared

unexpectedly at Court, and preached to the King and his Nobles, _Dubtach_,

the King’s Poet Laureat, payed Honour and Respect to the Saint, and was

converted by his Preaching. _Fiech_, a young Poet, who was under the

Tuition of _Dubtach_, was also converted, and afterwards made Bishop of

_Sletty_, and is said to have been the Author of a celebrated Poem,

composed in Praise of St. _Patrick_. _Anselm_, Arch-Bishop of

_Canterbury_, relates the Conversion of _Tingar_, the Son of _Clito_, (one

of the Nobles in this Assembly,) in the same Manner. The Queen also, and

many others of the Court, became Christians; and altho’ the King held out

for a long Time with great Obstinacy, yet at last he submitted to be

baptized. St. _Patrick_ is said here to have wrought many Miracles: There

could not truly, even according to the Purposes of human Wisdom, have

happened a more solemn or weighty Occasion, for God Almighty’s supporting

this Holy Preacher by Miracles, than when the collective Body of the whole

Nation was assembled together; from whose Report and Conviction, the

Influences of his blessed Works and Doctrine must of Course spread through

the whole Kingdom.

His Conduct and Proceedings here, with a particular Detail of the Miracles

wrought by him, may be had at large in the History of his Life, published

by _John Colgan_.

From _Tarah_, the Saint proceeded next to _Talten_, not far from thence,

at the Season of the Royal Diversions: Here he preached to _Cairbre_, and

_Conall_, the two Brothers of King _Leogin_; the former received him with

great Indignity, and perversely shut his Ears against his Doctrine; but

_Conall_ believed, and was baptized, and gave St. _Patrick_ a Place to

build a Church on.

This _Conall_ was Great-Grand-Father to _Columb-Kill_. He spent the

Remainder of this Year in _Meath_ and _Louth_, and the Districts

adjoining, preaching, and converting great Numbers of People. The

_Taltenian_ Sports above-mentioned, have been much celebrated by the

_Irish_ Historians, and Antiquaries. They were a kind of warlike

Exercises, somewhat resembling the _Olympick_ Games, consisting of Racing,

Tilts, Tournaments, Wrestling, Leaping, Vaulting, and all other manly and

martial Exercises, which gave Rise to the many hyperbolical Tales,

formerly related of those _Taltenian_ Sports. They were exhibited every

Year at _Talten_, a Mountain in _Meath_, for fifteen Days before, and

fifteen Days after the First of _August_. Their first Institution is

ascribed to _Lughaid-lam-fadha_, the twelfth King of _Ireland_, who began

his Reign _A. M._ 2764 (a sufficient Proof of _Ireland_’s Antiquity as a

Kingdom). They were ordained by _Lughaid_, in Gratitude to the Memory of

_Tailte_, the Daughter of _Magh-More_, (a Prince of some Part of _Spain_)

who having been married to _Eochaid_, King of _Ireland_, took the same

_Lughaid_ under her Protection, and had the Care of his Education in his

Minority. From this Princess both the Sports, and the Place where they

were celebrated, took their Names: From _Lughaid_, the First of _August_

was called _Lugnasa_, or the Memory of _Lughaid_, _Nasa_ signifying

Memory, in the _Irish_ Language.

In the Year of the World 2700, _Gideon_ then reigning fourth Judge of the

_Hebrews_, appear’d many Heroes, as _Hercules_, _Orpheus_, _Castor_,

_Pollux_, the _Argonauts_, _Jason_, _Laomedon_, _Thesæus_, _Dedalus_, &c.

The _Amazones_, Heroines of _Scythic_ Extraction, having lost their

Husbands in Battle, took up Arms themselves, with a manly Spirit of

Resentment, and (inspired with Love of their deceased Husbands, and Grief

for so great and irretrievable a Loss!) subdued _Asia_, and built

_Ephesus_. _Hercules_ and _Thesæus_ waged War against those Heroines, and

defeated them, more to the Glory of the Vanquished than their own, those

Matrons having defended themselves with surprizing Resolution. They cut

off the Guards set over them, and escaped the Severity and Pride of their

Conquerors. _Hercules_, in Honour of such extraordinary heroick Females,

instituted the _Olympick_ Games; as likewise did _Thesæus_, the

_Isthmian_, in the Year of the World, about 2700, the _Taltenian_ Sports,

the very same with the _Olympick_, brought sixty-four Years after from

_Spain_ into _Ireland_, by _Tailte_, and her Followers. Now this _Tailte_,

Queen of _Ireland_, was the Grand-daughter of an _Amazone_ Princess, those

immortal Females having, with their Progeny, Friends and Followers, to

avoid the ruinous Hostilities of _Hercules_ and _Thesæus_, sought Shelter

in _Spain_, whither they imported the Learning of _Trismegistus_, the

Grandson of _Mercury_, and Glory of _Ægypt_, together with all the

literary Arts derived into _Greece_, from _Phœnicia_, by _Cadmus_, the

Brother of _Europa_, about the Year of the World 2530, _Othoniel_ then

reigning the first Judge of the _Hebrews_. The Posterity of this ancient

and illustrious Colony, about the Year of the World 3000, (_Solomon_ then

reigning with great Splendour, third King of the _Hebrews_) settled in

this Kingdom, as before observed: So that, by an impartial Estimate of

Dates, Periods, and Facts, our Origin is well ascertained, our early

Possession of Letters, wise Policy, and the politer Arts, proved, and the

Remark of an _Italian_ Monk in the 7th Century, from the University of

_Mongret_, in an Epistle to his Correspondent at _Rome_, justified, _Nil

mirum Populum hunc Celtico Scythicum è præclarâ Amazonidum stirpê

oriundum, verâ Religionê et __ incorruptâ Fide illuminatum, sapientia

Doctrina optimisque Morbidus ornatum, viros fortes et Fæminas castas

plerumque procreare_. A Rescript of this Original Epistle still extant, in

the _Vatican_ Library, some Years ago in the Hands of Father Don _Levy_,

may therefore, I believe, be found in the College of _Lombard_ at _Paris_.

In this shining Period were Cathedrals and Churches erected, Universities

founded and established, Colleges, Seminaries and Schools propagated in

many Parts of this Kingdom, which, at the same Time, became a peaceful and

hospitable Retreat to religious and learned Men, disturbed on the

Continent of _Europe_, by the frequent Invasions, and cruel Hostilities of

the North-men, whose Piracies and Barbarity, even _Ireland_ could not

always escape! For, from the Time of _Artigrius_, Archbishop of _Ardmagh_

in 822, for near 200 Years the cruel _Danes_ miserably ravaged this

Kingdom, destroying, by Fire and Sword, every Establishment, as well of

Piety as Learning, (to both which, and to all religious Maxims of

civilized Society, they had been avowed implacable Enemies) till they were

themselves, in 1014, totally defeated at _Clontarf_, by the invincible

Arms of the Great Monarch, _Bryan Borou_, from whom descended a Race

conspicuous for exemplary Prelates, heroick Leaders, and steady Patriots.

The learned Author of the _Dissertations_ before-mentioned, charges this

Hero with a Violation of the Constitution of his Country: Yet the

Violation seems of far earlier Date, when the supreme Monarchy was, by the

_Hugonian_ Law, inalienably united to one Family, whose Sovereignty,

however founded originally, whether by Birth, or Election, was essential

to the public Welfare: For we must allow that the Preservation of the

People is the principal Law to which all others are subordinate. _Salus

Populi suprema Lex_; and equally, that not only the Necessities, but the

Safety also of the People, at that Time of Danger and Distraction, eagerly

called forth the Conduct and Valour, the protective and restorative

Abilities of that great and virtuous Man, of whom a faithful Historian, in

his Detail of the Battle of _Clontarf_, says; _Integrâ prius adept a

Victoriâ rebus humanis eodem Diê excessit vir Bellô ac Pacê summus,

Justitiæ, Religionis, Literarum, Cultor eximius, et cum Carolo Magno

utique comparandus_.

In the 239th Page of the _Dissertations_, the excellent Author expresseth

himself as follows:

“I now proceed to give some Account of the second Royal House of _Scots_,

the oldest of the _Milesian_ Race, and the Posterity of _Eber_.” This Race

then being avowed the oldest, in Respect of Primogeniture, must, of

Course, have been prior in Point of Dignity and Sway, or at least, equally

entitled to the Election of the People to such Ranks; were not those by

violent Measures annexed to the _Heremonian_ Line: Yet, however this might

have been, certain it is, that no Houses that we read of, ancient or

modern, have produced a greater Number of truly heroick Princes, or of

longer Continuance, than those of the North and South _Hy-Nial_; from whom

also issued many noble Families of real Worth, and equal Renown. With

_Bryan_, the happy Genius of _Ireland_, in a great Measure, expired: For

the cruel _Danes_ had, for near 200 Years before, so wofully overturned

the Universities of _Ardmagh_, _Dondaleith-Glass_, _Mongret_, and

_Lismore_, with all other Seminaries of Piety and Learning, (the only

genuine Sources of national Greatness, Concord, good Discipline, and

Happiness) had obliged, in the 8th Century, so many learned Men to seek

that Shelter and Security on the Continent, which the barbarous

Hostilities, and impious Manners of those Northerns, denied them at Home;

had made such frequent lamentable Breaches in the antient, wise

Constitution of the Kingdom; had, by the fatal Example of their profligate

dissolute Lives, so vitiated the national Morality; and finally, had left

behind them so many noxious Seeds of Faction and Anarchy, as, in less than

two Centuries, gave up a Kingdom, of above 2000 Years Establishment, the

unaccountable Prey of a few adventurous _Normans_!

_Patrick_ governed the See of _Dublin_ about ten Years, and, in a Voyage

to _England_, perished by Shipwreck, in the _British_ Sea, on the 16th of

_October_, 1084; having been sent to _Lanfranc_, Archbishop of

_Canterbury_, by King _Tirdelvac_.

_Donat_, or _Dongus O’Haingly_, having spent some Time in the Study of

useful Learning in _Ireland_, went over into _England_, and became a

Benedictine Monk at _Canterbury_. He was afterwards, (by the Consent of

King _Tirdelvac_, and the Clergy of _Dublin_) consecrated, _A. D._ 1085,

in the Cathedral of _Canterbury_, by the before-mentioned _Lanfranc_, to

whom he made the following Profession of Obedience:

“I, _Donat_, Bishop of the See of _Dublin_ in _Ireland_, do promise

Canonical Obedience to you, _O’ Lanfranc_, Archbishop of the holy Church

of _Canterbury_, and to your Successors.”

It is evident that the Title of the Kings of _England_ to this Kingdom, by

Papal Donation, or Appointment, was very insufficient, if not absolutely

trifling: Nor could a Right of Conquest be urged in any Period of the

Reign of _Henry_ the Second, or his Descendants. But the Great and Royal

Families of _Ireland_, long the Prey of Faction, deliberately preferred a

limitted and stipulated Submission to foreign Authority, to the various

Evils arising from intestine Feuds and Animosities; and this, had the wise

Conditions thereof been constantly attended to, with mutual Observance,

had been a sound Title, well and judiciously founded.

True it is, that after the Surrender of the Crown by King _John_ to the

See of _Rome_, the Pope exerted some temporal Authority in this Kingdom,

instanced in his having created _Mc. Con More Mc. Namaras_(2) Duke of

_Klan Cullane_, a Man of great Valour and Piety, supported by ample

Possessions in the Baronies of _Tulla_ and _Bunratty_, in the County of

_Clare_; which extensive Districts entirely belonged to that ancient,

hospitable, martial, and religious Race, of which _Mc. Con More_ was

Chief: The _Mc. Namaras_, more or less, have in all Ages made, and still

continue to make, a distinguished Figure, as well in the Field, as in the

learned Professions; and were formerly so warlike a People, that of

themselves they formed an heroic Cavalry, justly stiled the _Phalanx_ of

that Part of _Ireland_ wherein they resided.

How our Neighbours came to call us _waild Ayrish_, I am a Loss to

conjecture; it being evident we have been a thousand Years, at least, in

Possession of Letters, Laws, and Civility, before the Arrival of _Julius

Cæsar_ in _Britain_.

I am equally at a Loss to know why a Man should become a standing Jest for

his Ignorance in an alien Tongue, almost the constant Fate of our

Countrymen in _Britain_, where, whoever is not smartly expert in the

_English_ Language, is immediately denominated a _Teague_, a _Paddy_, or I

know not what, in the Stile of Derision: At the same Time that the most

awkward-tongued _Irishman_ in _London_ speaks _English_ with far more

Propriety, and a better Accent, than the smartest _British Petit Maitre_

in _Paris_ doth _French_.

Some dramatick Scriblers, (probably of our own degenerate Growth) the

better to qualify them for eleemosinary Dinners, gave Rise to this

impertinent Treatment of a Nation, which, from the concurrent Testimonies

of all the Dispassionate and Learned, can, in Reality, be as little the

Object of Scurrility, as any other.

Why should even poor _Teague_ prove so constant a Butt, to Farce-wrights,

and Hackney Laughers; when, upon Examination, he is, by a thousand

Degrees, preferable to the _British_ Hobbinol, or _French_ Gregoire? For

_Teague_ is a very Pattern of Hospitality; so much so, that if a Gentleman

should happen to miss his Road, and be nessitated to seek the Shelter of

_Teague_’s Cabbin, or Hut, was poor _Teague_ trusting to two Sheep for his

worldly Subsistance, he would kill one, and sell the other, at the next

Village or Inn, for the better Entertainment of his Guest, and think

himself happy in such an Occasion of approving his Generosity and Respect:

He would the next Morning abandon his Spade, and chearfully trot ten Miles

to shew such bewilder’d Gentleman the right Road. He is naturally civil,

generous, and hospitable, (for scarce a Night passeth that poor Travellers

are not entertained in his Cottage,) extremely respectful to his

Superiors, and to his Lord and Master faithful to Death. The military

Annals of _Europe_ proclaim his Capacity and Taste for Fighting; then if

you should take this identical _Teague_’s infant Son, and give him a

regular liberal Education, it is one hundred to one, but he turns out a

Gentleman of Merit, Learning, Worth, and Politeness; whereas it would

certainly require more than _Herculean_ Labour to chissel a _French

Paisan_, a primitive _Westmoreland_, or _Devonshire_ Boor, not only into

the Form of an elegant, but even into that of a sociable Creature.

The Insignificancy of those Jesters and Spatterers, will more clearly

appear, if we look back to the wise, free, and truly parliamentary

Constitution of this Kingdom; if we recollect the vast Length of its

Duration, as a free and independant State; the military Prowess of its

Inhabitants in all Ages; their victorious Conflicts with the _Romans_, and

with the _French_ under _Henry_ the Vth, and the Black _Prince_; their

having founded a Monarchy in _North Britain_, whence, by a Right of

Descent, in Addition to every other, his present Majesty, (whom God long

preserve,) by the special Providence and infinite Mercy of Heaven, ruleth

over us: If we consider the Number of our Universities, Colleges, and

Academies, religious Monasteries and pious Seminaries, resorted to from

all civilized Parts of _Europe_, our Metropolitical and Diocesan

Cathedrals; on such impartial Review, surely, the foregoing Tribe of

Sneerers and Flouters must dwindle into deserved Contempt.

I shall close this feeble Attempt on the antient State of _Ireland_, with

the Description thereof by _Donat_, Bishop of _Fesulæ_, near _Florence_,

in the 7th or 8th Century; referring, at the same Time, to the most

authentick _British_ Antiquaries, _Campden_, _Giraldus Cambrensis_,

_Buchanan_, _Ware_, &c. for Confirmation of what hath been previously

observed on the same Subject.

_Finibus Occiduis describitur optima Tellus,_

_Nomine et Antiquis __SCOTIA__ scripta Libris——_

_Insula dives Opum, Gemmarum, Vestis et Auri,_

_Commoda Corporibus, Aere sole Solo;_

_Melle fluit pulchris et lacteis __SCOTIA__ Campis_

_Vestibus atque Armis, frugibus, arte viris._

_Ursorum Rabies, nulla est ibi; sæva Leonum_

_Semina, nec unquam __SCOTICA__ Terra tulit_

_Nulla Venena nocent, nec Serpens serpit in Herbâ,_

_Nec conquesta canit Garula Rana Lacu;_

_In qua __SCOTORUM__ Gentes habitare merentur_

_Inclita Gens Hominum Milite, Pace, Fide._

Thus Englished by the Ingenius and Reverend Mr. _Dunkin_:

“Far Westward, lies an Isle of antient Fame,

By Nature bless’d, and SCOTIA is her Name;

Enroll’d in Books: Exhaustless is her Store

Of veiny Silver, and of Golden Ore:

Her fruitful Soil for ever teams with Wealth,

With Gems her Waters, and her Air with Health:

Her verdant Fields with Milk and Honey flow;

Her woolly Fleeces vie with Virgin Snow:

Her waving Furrows float with bearded Corn,

And Arms and Arts her envy’d Sons adorn.

No savage Bear, with lawless Fury, roves;

No rav’nous Lion, thro’ her peaceful Groves;

No Poison there infects; no scaly Snake

Creeps thro’ the Grass, nor Frog annoys the Lake:

An Island worthy of its pious Race,

In War triumphant, and unmatch’d in Peace.”

This _Donat_, Bishop of _Fesula_, was an _Irishman_, of the antient and

hospitable Family, afterwards _O Hogan_; a Family which held ample and

fair Possessions in the Province of _Munster_, and which, in former Times,

adorned the See of _Killaloe_, with four very learned and exemplary

Prelates; namely, with _Matthew O Hogan_, who succeeded to this

Bishoprick, in the Reign of _Henry_ the IIId, and in the Year of our Lord

1267; and who, having much enlarged his Diocese, and done many signal Acts

of popular Charity, died in the Year, 1281, and was buried in _Limerick_,

in a Convent of _Dominican_ Friars. To this Bishop succeeded _Maurice O

Hogan_, who governed this See with peculiar Zeal and Charity, upwards of

sixteen Years, and died in 1298, or the Year following, and was buried in

his own Church. _Thomas O Hogan_, Canon of _Killaloe_, was consecrated in

1343, and died on the 30th of _October_, 1354; five Days after which, he

was buried among his worthy Ancestors at _Nenagh_; as may be seen in the

Annals of that Place.

_Richard O Hogan_ succeeded to the See of _Killaloe_, in 1525, and was in

1539 translated to _Clon Mac Nois_: He was a Prelate of great Learning and

Capacity, in all spiritual and ecclesiastical Matters.

This antient Family is, at this Time, represented by _Edmund O Hogan_,

Esq; High Sheriff of the County of _Clare_, a Gentleman, who, by the whole

Tenor of his Life, hath proved Generosity of Heart, Charity, and

Hospitality, to be Qualities inherent.