picted in his haughty eye, and heavy brow, against the oppressors of his native land. Ilis sister, the beauteous Rosamond, was in one of the galleries erected for the accommodation of spectators, and seemed the loveliest of all the females that graced the thronged assembly. Among the Saracen chieftains, who sought to win his way to glory, on that day, was Othman, between whose race, and that of de Hugo, there subsisted an irreconcileable and more than mortal hatred, which had been transmitted down to each family, from the first invasion of the followers of the crescent, and these were glad to engage each other in the combat, for the purpose of endeavouring to satiate that vengeance, which burned within their unforgiving souls.

Othman, at the head of a few brave followers of Mahomet, was to tilt against Guiso, and an equal number of Christians. With similar bravery and courage on both sides, the foemen engaged, and fought; the combat was a long one, and in course of time de Hugo and Othman, alone were in the circus, contending for the prize and the honour of their respective religions. Both were unwounded and untired, as they were undaunted. The Infidel was mounted on an Arab steed of superior agility; the Christian's coal-black horse was unmatched for strength and weight. The two combatants at this time, had thrown away their lances, and daringly advanced towards each other, with sword and scymitar; bravely they defended themselves, whilst many an anxious eye was strained to catch a glimpse of this dubious conflict. It was unexpectedly terminated, by the proud steed of his prouder Christian master receiving a wound in the shoulder, from the crooked weapon of the Saracen, which disabled it; and the horse, and its unblemished rider, rolled headlong in the dust-and Othman thus became the conqueror without subduing.

The Hidalgo, stung with resentment, and maddened with rage, retired to his tent, vowing that at the next rencontre with the Saracen, he would either die himself, or wipe away the stain cast on his honour, with the blood of the Infidel.

At sight of her brother's overthrow, the beautiful Rosamond uttered a shriek of terror, her head grew dizzy, and falling over the balustrade, that was erected in front of the gallery, ere she was dashed to pieces on the flinty ground, he who was the cause of the disaster, namely Othman himself, flew to her assistance, and received her in his support. Overwhelmed with confusion, beholding herself the universal object of the gazing multitude's admiration, and feeling that she owed her life to the conqueror of her brother, and to the foe of her God and of her religion, she could not long sustain herself, but sunk fainting at the feet of the Saracen, who, quickly bearing her from the course, placed her in a spot without the circus; while doing so, the unbeliever was struck with the loveliness of the features of the fainting Christian, which he had never seen surpassed in the most beautiful of the Eastern women; his soul was spell-bound with amazement, while he leant over her in silence. Rosamond, partially recovering, seeing herself supported by

one of the race of Mahomet, looked around in a state of bewilderment, while she shrunk from the turbaned warrior, and buried her face in her hands; he bade her not be alarmed, that she was safe; without daring to look up at Othman, she enquired what had separated her from her friends and attendants. All this occurred in so short a space of time, that she was still alone with the Saracen; but presently, her women, who were endeavouring to make their way through the thronged array, reached her, and Othman, still gazing on her with intense rapture, exclaimed, while he resigned her to their care, And part we thus so soon, may we not hope to meet again,' she turned on him an offended glance, and adjusting her veil close around her face, she replied, Hush, foeman of my creed, I am a Christian.' Then allowed herself to be led away by her attendants.

The beautiful Rosamond was little aware how deep an impression the Saracen had made on her mind, during the short interview which she had with him; after she had retired from his presence, his figure still floated before the eye of her imagination. Her remembrance continually reverted to his noble and lofty bearing, while engaged in the tilt, and to the presence of mind, with which he saved her life, together with the gentleness and tenderness, with which he bore her from the area. While her thoughts were thus occupied, she wholly forgot the disgrace which had befallen her house, in the overthrow of her brother. When she retired to the solitude of her chamber, her meditations still regarded Othman; for one instant, she could not divest her recollection of the proud barbarian, subdued to feminine softness in his attentions to her; and after she had sought her pillow, the last words which she uttered, were, 'Would that he were a Christian.'

Othman in like manner had only to see the daughter of de Hugo's House, to admire and adore her. The insuperable barrier which their opposite creeds drew between them, he considered not, but only meditated on the means by which she might become his own. The vision of her beauty haunted him so powerfully, that as he could no longer behold her, he wished at least to be in the spot near where he knew she dwelt; and accordingly he departed at dead of the night, unto the Christian fortification, (at this period there was a sort of amity or truce between the followers of the Cross and of the Crescent, for better to carry on the sports of the circus, for which reason there were but few guards loitering about the castles of the rival chiefs,) and placed himself beneath a lattice, that admitted both light and air into the apartment occupied by Rosamond.

(To be continued.)

HISTORY IN IRELAND,

ILLUSTRATED FROM ANCIENT AND RARE BOOKS. (SECOND ARTICLE.)

The Committee of the Celtic Union, amongst other projects, have been desirous to transfer to the pages of the CELT interesting and im

portant extracts from books whose rarity and costliness must tend to exclude them from the popular eye. In accordance with this view the two following extracts from scarce books are given one of them being made from De Burgo's Hibernia Dominicana, which usually sells for three guineas, and the other from Harris's "Ware" which brings not unfrequently seven guineas.

The literary history of the Hibernia Dominicana presents to the general reader, as well as to the Bibliographer, some curious facts which it were well to rescue from the oblivion which seems to be the allotted fate of most of the productions of a purely national character published in Ireland. It bears on the title-page the imprint of Cologne, yet it is well known to have been printed in Kilkenny, under the direct supervision of its illustrious and learned author. The date too is eminently suggestive-the penal laws had not yet ceased to goad, to persecute, and to demoralize. The terrorism of those evil days had wrought its effect even on the intrepid spirit of De Burgo. He only gives the initials of his legitimate title of Bishop of Ossory. entire chapter, the seventh, had to be expunged from the bulk of the impression, not because it was historically false, but so circumstantially true as to excite the ire and persecution of the government of the day.

An

These copies, so emasculated, have received in Ireland the name of the castrated edition. The book in its integrity has become very rare indeed, but the "Supplement," which he published a few years later," has almost disappeared from public sales-it is worthy of all the honours of the three R's, i.e., liber rarissimus. An additional proof of the terrorism of the time is seen in the note prefixed to this seventh chapter-he keeps up the fiction of the foreign imprint, and thinks it prudent to add another, that this entire chapter which he heads with the title of "digressio necessaria" was the interpolation of a foreign Catholic divine who undertook to superintend the press at Cologne. The matter and the ipsissima verba of the chapter are mainly copied from Porter's "Compendium," of which a second and enlarged edition was published at Venice in 1756. A sketch of Dr. Porter's life seemed therefore unavoidable.

Brief Biographical Notice of Dr. Francis Porter, O.S.F., (from Harris's "Ware,") the Author of the "Compendium Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Regni Hibernice."-( Writers of Ireland, Book I. p. 262). Dublin: 1746, Vol. III.

Francis Porter, a Franciscan Friar, was born in the County of Meath, and was Professor of Divinity, and Jubilate Lecturer in the Irish College of St. Isidore at Rome, and for a time, President of the said College. He lived a long while in Rome, and died there on the 7th of April, 1702. He wrote some pieces against the Protestants, viz. : Securis Evangelica ad Heresis Radices posita, ad Congregationem Propaganda Fidei. [The Axe of the Gospel laid to the Roots of Heresy addressed to the Congregation of the Propaganda.] Romæ, 1764, 8vo. In this book he reduces all the controversies between the

Protestants and Roman Catholics to the single question of the perpetual infallibility of the visible Church of Christ. Palinodia Religionis pretensa Reformata. pseudo-reformed Religion.] Romæ, 1679, 8vo.

[The Recantation of the

Compendium Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Regni Hiberniæ. [A compendium of the Ecclesiastical Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland.] Romæ, 1690, 4to.

In this Treatise there is an Epistle of Francis Eschinard, a Jesuit, to the author, concerning the errors in the maps of Ireland. Then Dr. Porter begins with a description of the country, and gives a catalogue of its kings, and its wars with the Danes, &c. He afterwards proceeds to the ecclesiastical part, and what he writes of the first planting of Christianity there by St. Patrick, he borrows from Archbishop Usher. He then goes on to give an account of the Irish saints from Fitz-Simon, and of the schools, bishoprics, cathedrals, monasteries, &c., from Ware and others. He tells what a reverence the Irish always had for the Roman see; what mischiefs have been done them by the Protestant princes, from Henry VIII. to King William, and concludes with a bitter invective against Martin Luther, as the author of all.

Systema Decretorum Dogmaticorum, ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ per Summos Pontifices, Concilia Generalia, et Particularia hucusque editorum, juxta Septendecim Sæculorum Ordinem distributum: In quo insuper recensentur præcipui cujuslibet Sæculi Errores, Adversi Impugnatores Orthodoxi: Item Recursus et Appellationes hactenus ad Sedem Apostolicam habitæ, cum Notis Historicis et Copiosis Indicibus.

[A Collection of the Dogmatic Decrees promulgated by the Popes, General Councils, &c., from the foundation of the Church to the present time (anno 1693), arranged in chronological order through seventeen Centuries in which are likewise recorded the leading Heresies, &c., of each successive Century, and the principal Antagonists of the Orthodox Faith: also the Appeals made to the Apostolic See, continued to our day illustrated with historical notes and copious indexes.] Avignione, 1693, folio.

In the title of this treatise he styles himself, "Theologian and Historiographer to his Most Serene Majesty of Great Britain," (meaning King James the Second), and he was theologian also to many Cardinals.

Opusculum contra vulgares quasdam Prophetias de Electionibus Summorum Pontificum, S. Malachi, Archiepiscopo Armacano, Hibernia Primati, Legato Apostolico, hactenus falso attributas; Gallicè primum editum, nunc novis Supplementis auctum, et in Latinum Idioma translatum: Adjunctis Celebrium Auctorum reflectionibus et judiciis de Abbatis Joachimi Vaticiniis, ejusque Spiritu Prophetico.

[A Tract against certain vulgar Prophecies concerning the Elections of the Popes, hitherto falsely attributed to St. Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland, and Legate Apostolical; first written and

published in French, and now enlarged with new supplements, and translated into Latin. To which are added the reflections and judgments of certain celebrated authors, on the Vaticinations of the Abbot Joachim, and the prophetic spirit by which he was inspired.] Romæ, 1698, 8vo.

[We are compelled by press of matter to omit, for the present, the two concluding Sections of this Summary, viz.: Secs. 16 and 17. The continuation shall appear in an early number,]

Summary of the Contents of the Seventh Chapter of the Hibernia Dominicana.

Section 1.-Upon the death of Charles II. (1685), his brother James, a member of the Orthodox church, succeeds to the crown by the title of James II., under whom the Catholic religion begins to recover from the effects of persecution. The new King sends an Ambassador to Rome. An Apostolic Nuncio is accredited to the King (1685).

Section 2.-The Duke of Tyrconnel, being appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, re-establishes the public exercise of the Catholic religion, to the inexpressible consolation of the professors of the Orthodox faith.

Section 3.-The Protestants are incensed at the liberty of conscience granted by the King, but the birth of the Prince of Wales (1688) annoys them still more. Some casual remarks on the numerous progeny of King James II; on his offering to the Shrine of our Lady of Loretto; and on the old and new style; are thrown into the shape of

notes.

Section 4.-The Prince of Orange invades England. He publishes his Declaration at Sherborn in the County of Dorset, on the 28th November, 1688. The Catholics are harshly treated. King James endeavours to avert these calamities, but in vain. Note on the Territory of Orange, and its Prince.

Section 5.-King James, finding his own personal safety, and that of the Royal Family endangered, proceeds to France.

William, Prince of Orange, and his Consort (Mary) are proclaimed King and Queen, on the 13th of February, 1689.

Section 6.-Louis XIV. (surnamed "the Great") provides, in the most affectionate manner, an asylum for King James and the Royal Family. His generosity calls forth the marked encomiums of Pope Innocent XI, in a letter addressed by him to Louis, of 1st February, 1689.

Section 7.-The same Pontiff sends a consolatory letter to King James himself, dated on the same day.

Section 8.-His Most Christian Majesty returns an appropriate reply to both letters of his Holiness, on the 17th of February, 1689. Section 9.-King James sails from France to Ireland in the course of this year (1689) with supplies of men, arms, treasure, and ample munitions of war, all furnished by Louis XIV.

Section 10.-His arrival is hailed with the acclamations of the chief nobility, the clergy, and people of Ireland. He summons a