A.D. 653; the account of which is furnished by St. Bede: (Eccl. Hist. lib. iii. c. 22.) "Whilst the doctrine of eternal life was thus, for a considerable time, making progress, it happened, that the King, at the instigation of the enemy of all good men, was murdered by his own kindred. They were two brothers who did this wicked deed; and, being asked what had moved them to it, had nothing else to answer, but that they had been incensed against the King, because he was too apt to spare his enemies. Such was the crime for which the King was killed; in which innocent death, however, his real offence was also punished, according to the prediction of the man of God; for one of these Earls that murdered him, was unlawfully married, which the bishop not being able to prevent, he excommunicated him, and commanded all that would give ear to him, not to enter within his house, nor to eat of his meat. The King making slight of the inhibition, and being invited by the Earl, went to an entertainment at his house, and when he was going thence, the Bishop met him. The King, beholding him, immediately dismounted from his horse, trembling, and fell down at his feet, begging pardon for his offence; for the Bishop, who was likewise on horseback, had also alighted. Being much incensed, he touched the King, lying in that humble posture, with the rod he held in his hand, and using his pontifical authority, spoke thus: 'I say to you, forasmuch as you would not refrain from the house of that wicked and condemned person, you shall die in that very house."

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Note 18.-Page. 47.

Abbat in commendam, of the Hill of Victory.

The Abbey of Knockmoy, called "De Colle Victoriæ." Cathal Crovderg, the Red-Handed, founded this monastery, for Cistercians, giving glory to God," for a great victory won here, A.D. 1189. Cathal died in June, 1224, and was here interred in the Cistercian habit. The frescoes on the walls of this abbey, are still in a state of servation. Mr. O'Donovan, in his splendid notes to the "Four Masters," (ad. An. 1224,) gives most interesting particulars of the Red-Handed monarch, who laid down the sickle for the sword, and left a deathless name in the military and ecclesiastical annals of his country.

pre

Note 19.-Page 51.

He punished priests given to gambling.

Card-playing appears to have been a favourite amusement with the Irish from a very early period. From the "Book of Howthe," we learn, that on the night preceding the battle of Knoctow, (A.D. 1504,) the confederated Irish and English forces beguiled the tardy hours, "watching, drinking, and playing at cards, who should have this prisoner, or that prisoner, and thus they passed the night over." Rinuccini, (p. 112.) speaks of the same custom as prevalent in his time; as though cards, beer, and dinner, were essentially necessary to an Irish merry-making. Happily, however, such sordid practice is going into desuetude, and people are beginning to learn that the interchange of thought is a more delectable way of passing an evening, than squabbling over "Clubs, Knaves, and Trumps."

Note 20.-Page 57.

Lord Falkland, then Viceroy of Ireland.

Lord Falkland was appointed A.D. 1662. He was a man of moderate views, and little inclined to deal tyrannically with the Irish Catholics. Primate Usher preached his well-known rabid sermon in presence of the Lord Deputy, on the 8th of September, and sought to hound him on against the "Papists." The Primate was, however, obliged to explain his explanation," at the instance of Lord Falkland. Mr. Hardiman (History of Galway,) records many proofs of the munificence of this nobleman, whose tolerant notions brought on him the execration of the English fanatics and bigots on his departure from this country.-Vide GRAINGER'S Biog.

Note 21.-Page 57.

Father Fallon.

Father Fallon, Vicar Apostolic of Achonry, is mentioned by Rinuccini, (p. 84,) as a person much loved by the people of his diocese, and worthy of being elevated to the Episcopacy.

Note 22.-Page 57.

In the eastern suburb.

The Hospital here mentioned, "was founded," says Hardiman, (History of Galway, p. 81,) " for the poor of the town, and each burgess

was obliged, in his turn, to send a maid-servant to collect alms every Sabbath-day, for its support. This charitable institution was completed in the year 1543, when the sweating-sickness broke out." It is likely enough, that this religious foundation was well nigh ruined in the reign of Elizabeth, or James; and it is certain that Kirwan's zeal sought to re-establish it.

Note 23.-Page 59,

Far and near might be heard, &c.

I believe, that it was customary to allow prisoners to beg from the windows of their jails in this country, a century back. Any one who travelled in Italy ten years ago, will remember how disgustingly the practice existed; the ground apartments of the Capitol at Rome, echoed the importunities of miserable wretches in our own recollection; but it is not likely, that Pio IX. will suffer his Consulta to be annoyed by the incessant wailings of culprits. To what ignoble uses was not the "Hill of Triumph" turned, when the remains of the Tabellarium became a den of thieves, who watched with anxious eye every motion of the begging rod, thrust through the gratings of their dungeon, and invited sympathy with a "Ricordatevi de' prigionieri; Carità per l'amor di Dio!" But these sad abuses have had their day, and the great Regenerator of Italy has cleansed the Capitol, and many other places, of thieves, high and

low.

Note 24.-Page 61.
Cruach Patrick,

The metrical life of our apostle, given by Messingham, and published by Colgan, makes distinct mention of his "going up into the mountain,' described in the text:

In the "Vita Tertia," (apud Colgan,) we are told, that on a certain occasion, St. Patrick went into the desert, i, e. to Croighan Eigle, (now Cruach Phadruic,) in Mayo, and there sat him down on a rock; when lo! a flock of black birds, (devils who assumed this shape,) flapped their wings over the Saint's head, and distracted his devotion. Then St. Patrick tolled his bell, (de qua, vide Reeve's Antiquities of Down, Dromore, &c.,) and the birds took wing far oyer the seas. When they departed, a

mighty multitude of angels descended on the mountain, in the appearance of beauteous birds, and sang sweet songs for the holy recluse. When St. Patrick's fast was over, he came down from Croighan Eigle, tolled his bell, and craved three boons of Heaven:

1st. "That none of the inhabitants of this region, who did penance in his last moments, might be excluded the kingdom of God."

2nd. "That the mountain might never become the inheritance of foreigners or barbarians."

3rd. "That four years preceding the Day of Judgment, this scene of his penitential labours might be merged in the deep sea."

Having sought the concession of these favors, he blessed the inhabitants, tolled his bell, and the sound thereof was heard in far off regions. Colgan speaks thus of the pilgrimages: "Visitur magna populi devotione, continuis totius regni peregrinationibus propter Sti Patricii honorem, et magna quæ ibi facta sunt, et indies fiunt, miraculorum signa."- Vide COLGAN, Acta SS. Hib.

Note 25.-Page 61.

St. Patrick's Purgatory.

of the

It would be needless to dwell at any length, on the written or traditional accounts of this famed resort of pilgrims. Henricus Salterensis, (apud Colgan,) a Spanish Poet, and an Irish Novelist, (Carleton,)— not to speak of the quaint work of one Richardson, who wrote folly of going on such Pilgrimage"-have rendered this locality familiar to the generality of readers. One fact, attesting the veneration in which "the Purgatory" was held in the 17th century, has not been given by any modern writer, so we subjoin it here. In the year 1647, Rinuccini engaged Owen Roe O'Neill, to drive the Parliamentarians out of Sligo; but owing to the dissensions then rife in the Supreme Council, the Northern General was not able to undertake the expedition; whereon, the Nuncio, writing to Cardinal Panzirolo, states, that if he had had 8,000 dollars, he would have made "Red Owen" irresistible, and that his army, having seized Enniskillen, would have marched to recover the holy place, called St. Patrick's Purgatory, now more than a hundred years in the possession of heretics."-RINUCCINI, p. 224.

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The learned De Burgo visited the "Purgatory," A.D. 1748, and describes the spiritual exercises then practised, much in the same way as we have them in the text. De Burgo states, that Benedict XIII., when Cardinal of Benevento, preached a sermon commendatory of the Irish Patmos. Vide Hib. Dom. p. 5.

Note 26.-Page 63.

The Protestant Archbishop of Tuam.

William Daniel, or O'Donel, born in Kilkenny, and one of the first Fellows of T.C.D., was consecrated Protestant Archbishop of Tuam, in St. Patrick's Church, August 1609. He was a learned and benevolent man, and translated the Book of Common Prayer out of English, and the New Testament out of Greek, into the Irish tongue; "he was also," says Ware, "very knowing in the Hebrew." He died at Tuam, July, 1628, and was buried in the Cathedral, under the same tomb with his predecessor, Donelan.-Vide Ware.

Note 27.-Page 69.
Bridge-Building.

The authority alluded to in the text, (Var. L. 4 de L. L. c. 15,) says "Sacerdotes universi a sacris dicti: Pontifices ut Scoevola Pontifex maximus dicebant à posse, et facere: Ego à Ponte arbitror, nam ab iis Sublicius est factus primum.' Whether this derivation be correct or not, certain it is, that we are indebted to the genius, zeal, and perseverance of churchmen, for many of the most splendid bridges in Europe. In fact, bridge-building was esteemed a work of charity in the middle ages, as passengers were no where more exposed to danger of life and property, than at the passage of rivers. Hence, sprung up the "Confraternité des Ponts," an order of Monks and lay-men, who have left us ample evidence of their ability and industry; witness, for example, the "Pont St. Esprit," across the Rhone, the first stone of which was laid A.D. 1265, by Jean de Tianges, prior of the monastery of St. Esprit. This fabric, nearly 3000 feet long, was finished in 1309. In fact, the abbats of the Cistercian order, must be reckoned amongst the grandest architects of the 13th century. If poor Kirwan did not rival the great builders of the middle ages, he deserves no trifling praise for his labours in bridge-making. Mr. Hardiman has directed attention to this subject, in the "West Connaught;" and we hope to see it followed up. The actual Pontiff, Pio Nono, meditates throwing three suspension bridges over the Tiber, and when he carries out his plan for lighting Rome with gas, he may add the title of "Lucifer," to his Pontifical dignity.