CHAPTER IX.

A CHAPTER ON IRISH HISTORY.

Celtic Records-Annals of the Four Masters-Before and after the Norman Invasion-Mr. Froude's Lectures.

MY

Y old master, John Williams, Archdeacon of Cardigan, Rector of the Edinburgh Academy, imbued me with early respect for Celtic lore. He believed that Britain in ancient times was peopled by a race far in advance of other northern nations, who brought from Phoenicia and the East rich stores of knowledge and art. After the Roman and Scandinavian invasions, the ancient civilization of the island declined, and the records of it only remain in Welsh Triads and Taliesin fragments. He used to affirm that the Cymry of Britain crossed over to Ireland, and civilized the savages there. The Irish tongue, he said, was only a dialect of the ancient Cymraeg, a most primitive and vigorous offshoot of the orginal language of the Noachida." All which is learnedly discussed in his book, "Gomer: an Analysis of the

was cast towards the ocean, in symbol of the sovereignty of the Mayor of the port over the magnificent river. Bombastical speeches were made, not without the usual references to Saxon oppressors, and the glories of the green isle, "first flower of the earth, and first gem of the sea." The whole scene was characteristic of Irish public life, in matters where rhetorical patriotism is alone within attainment But if entrusted with practical power of home goverr ment, Irish enterprise and Irish capital would fir in such works as the improvement of the Shanno useful and remunerative occupation, in the prosper resulting from which, all parties and creeds : classes would share.

Give the Lord Lieutenant a Council, represen County Boards, and consisting of men such as for the Executive of the Industrial Exhibition, and home affairs would be "ruled" in Dublin better they can be at Westminster.

Language and Knowledge of the Ancient Cymry," which I had the pleasure of reviewing in 1854 in the "Literary Gazette," of which I was then one of the editors. Peace to the memory of my enthusiastic teacher and good friend, Archdeacon Williams!

Probably from this early bias I always used to look with profound respect on those who professed to be versed in ancient Irish lore. From ordinary books it was not easy to gather any clear knowledge of old Irish history. Milesians and Firbolgs and Tuathana-Danains, and the rest of them, they all had a hazy existence, not historical, scarcely legendary. But in hearing learned men referring to venerable native manuscripts, especially "The Annals of the Four Masters," I supposed there must be rich sources of wisdom, the entrance of which was shut out by ignorance of the language. The notion was dispelled on seeing the actual "Annals of the Four Masters," the great authority on the subject, and reading the translation, which the learned labours of Dr. O'Donovan brought within the reach of English students. A portion of the work, down to the year 1171, had previously been edited by Dr. O'Connor, from an ancient MS. in the library at Stowe. There are two manuscripts, more perfect, in Dublin-one in the Library at Trinity College and the other in that of the Royal Irish Academy. From these Dr. O'Donovan edited

the remainder of the Annals, from 1171 to 1616. A third has lately been brought to Dublin from the Irish College at Rome.

The work turns out to be no Cymric treasure, but only a monkish chronicle, compiled by four Franciscan brethren in the early part of the seventeenth century! These patriotic scribes, in their retreat in the monastery of Donegal, spun their history out of tangled threads of song and legend, tradition and fiction, the last element being not inconsiderable. They tell us, for example, that "in the year of the world 4604, died Ugainé Mŏr (the great), monarch of Erinn, and of the whole of the west of Europe as far as the Mediterranean." Other legends, equally unsubstantial, appear; but they were as good as true for the patron of the chroniclers, Feral O'Gara, Lord of Moy O'Gara, in Sligo, and member of the Parliament held in Dublin in 1634.

The names of the four monks or "masters' were Michael O'Cleary, his brothers Cucagny or Courcy, and Conary O'Cleary, and Ferfean O'Mulconry, said to be sprung from a king of Connaught in the seventh century. It was a creditable work for Irish monks of the time (after Bacon and Shakespeare), and considering the materials out of which it was prepared. Irish antiquaries are proud, as well they may be, of " The Four Masters," and are going to erect a monolithic