No More Learning

e. John, died of indignation, disgust,
grief, and dire affliction for the cruel and heartless
incarceration inflicted by O’Neill on Calvach, her O’Donnell being sick and infirm, there was no father, in her presence. person filling the office of ruler of Tirconnell at
O’Beirne (of Roscommon), i. e. Teige, the son that time. O’Neill, i. e. John, assumed the su of Carbry, son of Malachy, a learned man, and preme government of the entire province of Ulster, well versed in Latin, in Irish, and also in the civil from Drogheda to the river Erne, so that it was and canon law, died, and his young son was ap not an inappropriate title to call him Coigheadach pointed in his place. (the ruler of a province) over Ulster at that time,
Anthony, the son of Ferganainm, son of Mul were it not for the contest carried on against him roona, son of John O'Carroll, was slain in the town by the English.
of O’Cuirc (a name anglicised O'Quirke), in Or Calvach O’Donnell was set at liberty from his mond; there was no sufficient cause for killing or imprisonment by O’Neill, after he had been ran taking him prisoner, and the people of Ely were
orphans after him, for churches were deprived of relief and protection after Anthony’s death.
force to march into Tyrone, in the harvest of this Naghtan, the son of Calvach, son of Manus year, at the instigation of Calvach O’Donnell, and
O’Donnell, was accidentally killed by the cast of
a dart which he himself had thrown, and which
was cast back to him again.
The lord justice of Ireland, namely, Thomas
Fitzwalter (Thomas Ratcliffe, viscount Fitzwalter
and earl of Sussex), marched into Tyrone to take
revenge for the capture of Calvach O’Donnell, and
also for his own quarrels with the country. He of Conor, son of Torlogh O’Brien, earl of Tho encamped with a great army at Armagh, and con mond; and Rickard, the son of Ulick of the structed deep entrenchments, and impregnable Heads, son of Rickard, son of Ulick of Knoc
ramparts about the great church of Armagh, which Tuagh, earl of Clanrickard. The lord justice and he intended to keep constantly guarded. O’Neill, those earls marched with their forces into Tir Eo i. e. John, having received intelligence of this, sent gain without opposition or fighting, until they a party of his faithful men and friends with Cal reached Lough Foyle (in Derry). On the lord vach O'Donnell to guard and keep him from the jnstice’s return the resolution he came to was, to lord justice, and they conveyed him from one is make peace with O’Neill, to grant him pardon, land to another, in the recesses and sequestered and take his guards with him from Armagh. After places of Tyrone, until the lord justice should leave that the lord justice proceeded with his forces into the country. After some time the lord justice sent Tir-Conaill Gulbain (Tirconnell), and gave the out from that camp at Armagh a number of his command of the fortresses, and of the castles of captains, with one thousand men, both horse and Tirconnell, to Calvach O’Donnell. He then pro foot, to take some prey and plunder in Oriel. ceeded across the river Erne into the territory of O'Neill having received private information and Carbury, to lay siege to the castle of Sligo; Cal intelligence of those great troops marching into vach having taken notice of this, came to the reso Oriel, proceeded privately and silently to where lution of sending privately his own standard to the they were, and came up to them after they had castle, and had it planted on the battlements of the collected their prey; a battle ensued, in which tower, where it floated visibly to the view of all. many were slain on both sides; and finally the The lord justice enquired aloud whose colours
O'Neill continued to prey and lay waste the ter ritory of Bregia and Meath at that time; and Tirconnell was subdued and environed by him, after having taken Calvach prisoner before that.
somed by the Tirconnallians.
The same lord justice collected another great
there came in his army the five earls who were then in Ireland, namely, Gerald, the son of Gerald,
son of Gerald, son of James, son of John, son of Thomas, earl of Kildare; Thomas, the son of
James, son of Pierce Roe, earl of Ormond; Ge rald, son of James, son of John, son of Thomas,
earl of Desmond; Conor, the son of Donogh, son
454 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1562.
were those he beheld, to which Calvach replied, and said it was his ensign, and that the town had belonged to himself and his ancestors from remote times, after which the lord justice delivered the keys of the town to Calvach.
O’Neill went to England about the 1st of No
vember, to visit the queen, and he received great
honours and respect from her, and he returned back in the May of the following year.
Owen, the son of Hugh Buighe, son of Hugh Duv O’Donnell, a nobleman distinguished for his learning, and knowledge of many arts, died.
Mac Giollariabhaigh, namely, Rickard, the son Dunn, son Conor, son Thomas, son Do
mal, died, and was said he was the best officer the earl Thomond had his time; and Conor,
the son Conor, son Rickard, succeeded his place.
Donal, the son Conor, son Torlogh, son
Teige O’Brien, who had been earl Thomond
before Conor, the son Donogh, and whom the Irish styled O’Brien, returned from his expulsion,
exile, and banishment from Ulster his own in
heritance; and was the same week that Teige, the son of Torlogh, son of Niall, son of Teige, the son Murrogh, son Torlogh, re
Torlogh O'Boyle, was killed at Termon Magrath by the son of Alexander Galda.
A. D. 1562.
O'Rourke', i. e. Bryan Ballach, the son of Owen,
son of Tiarnan, son of Teige, son of Tiarnan More
turned, after having made his escape from Dublin,
and after they had both come the country they joined against the earl Thomond, who encamped
large force oppose them. The first hostile move
ment made by these kinsmen against each other was
nocturnal attackmade the two sons Murrogh
O’Rourke, the chief of Siol Feargna, and of the O'Brien, the fortress the town Mac Regan,
tribe of Hugh Finn, a man to whom submission, which they slew some persons, and collected some
tribute, superiority, and support were yielded by booty, but were pursued the people the those from the Caladh, the territory Hy country. The place where the day dawned
Maine, plain province
Drobhaois the tower fortress, on the the torrent, the borders the renowned
these warlike forces respectively, was Cahir Mac Gorman, the centre Hy Fermaic, and the upper part Dalgais (county Clare). Those
Ulster, and from Granard Teffia
the strand Eothuile the carpenter, Tir Fia sons Murrogh O’Brien, namely, Teige and Do
chra the Moy, man who had the most select collection poems and laudatory poets any
nogh, shamefully endured their defeat far Cnoc-an-Sgambaill, above Rath Blathmaic, but they length turned their pursuers, and were
his tribe, died from the effects fall he received,
and his son Hugh Gallda was appointed his defeated the earl’s people, and great number
Successor.
The earl Thomond went with force gain jurisdiction over the territory O'Conor (of Clare), and into Glen Corbraighe; the son O'Loghlin, namely, Malachy, the son Anthony, son Ma lachy, son Roderick, son Ana, son Donogh
an-Chuil, the son Ana Bacach, was slain
Cloich Geanna, his side, by shot that occa sion. The same earl proceeded with force
of their chiefs and common soldiers were slain. Teige Oge, the son Teige, son Giolla Duv, son Torlogh O’Brien, was taken prisoner, and also Bryan Duv, son Donogh, son Conor-na Srona O’Brien, and did not depart without
gain power over Caenrighe (barony
county Limerick), the same time,
occasion Dugal, the son Giolla Duv, son nor Mac Sweeney, was slain on his side.
Kenry, which Co
A. D. 1562.
O'Rourke here mentioned, was prince Brefney, and his
jurisdiction appears have extended this time over Leitrim,
with parts Roscommon and Sligo, the place named Caladh, the text, signifies ferry port, and was situated the Shan
Drowis, which falls into the bay Donegal,
borders Leitrim and Sligo; Granard, Longford; and the strand Eothuile, Sligo.
Bundrowis, the Teffia, Granard,
near Ballysadare,
leaving the prey with Teige, the son O’Brien, his ransom.
Donogh, the son Cuchonacht, son
nacht, son Bryan, son Philip, son
Maguire, died; was man who bore the name
being the mostinoffensive his age among the Irish the north, and man whose death was not expected take place his bed.
non, Roscommon and Drobhaois, mentioned, the river
Murrogh
Cucho Thomas
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Moicheirge, the son of Redmond, son of Glaisne, was slain by the people of Farney.
A. D 1563.
O’Donnell, i. e. Manus, the son of Hugh Duv,
also taken by the earl.
Mac Bruaideadha (Mac Bruodin), chief profes
sor Hy Breacain (Ibracken, Clare), and Hy Fearmaic (also Clare), namely, Dermod, the son Conor, son Dermod, son John, died
REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
455
O'Gawley was taken and destroyed Murrogh O’Brien, the earl,
Magrath of Termon Dabeog died.
Mac Mahon, i. e. Hugh, the son of Bryan-na from Limerick, and the castle O'Carthy was
Hugh, the son of Niall Oge Mac Sweeny, of Tir Boghaine, died of the small-pox.
The castle
against the sons
who had brought thither some ordnance and forces
son of Hugh Roe, son of Niall Garv, son of Tor and his kinsman Maoilin succeeded him.
logh of the Wine, lord of Tirconnell, Inisowen,
Kinel Moain, Fermanagh, and North Connaught, A. D. 1564.
a man who did not suffer the lords who governed O'Rourke, i. e. Hugh Gallda, the son Bryan in his neighbourhood, or on the borders of his ter Ballach, son Owen, son Tiarnan, son ritory, to exercise any excesses or undue influence Teige, was treacherously and maliciously put
till the time of his sickness and infirmity; a man death by his own people, Leitrim Muintir who was fierce, violent, determined, and severe Eoluis. On that account the whole country against his enemies and opponents until he brought sides attacked Bryan, the son Bryan O’Rourke, them under obedience to his jurisdiction; a man was stated that was his instigation that of mildness, friendship, authority, kindness, be treacherous misdeed had been committed, although nevolence, and great hospitality to learned men, took part the transaction. Hugh Buighe, strangers, poets, and professors, the religious or the son Bryan, son Owen O’Rourke, their ders and clergy, as recorded by sages and histo other kinsman, the junior Hugh Gallda, but the
rians; a man learned and versed in many arts, and senior Bryan, assumed the title O’Rourke,
the authority O’Neill.
O’Donnell, i. e. Calvach, and O'Boyle, Tor
logh, repaired Dublin the lord justice con despite O’Neill and the Tyronians, and was fer with him, and O’Donnell received great hon interred the burial place his progenitors and our and respect from him. O’Donnell having set
ancestors Donegal, the monastery St. out for home came Fermanagh, where Francis, with great honour and solemnity, after stopped, and O'Boyle proceeded his own having gained the victory over the world and the residence; Con, the son Calvach, was there devil. meet him, and O'Boyle had not been long the
O'Sullivan Beirre, i. e. Donal, the son Der town when Con prevailed him go with him mod, son Donal, son Donal, son Dermod Donegal, the hope taking from Hugh,
of superior information and knowledge in the sciences, died the 9th February, his own
fortress Lifford, the castle built himselfin
Hugh Oge, son Hugh Roe, who had
and these two were the persons who betrayed the
son Thomas, son the earl (of Desmond), the
wife Mac Maurice Kerry, died, and was much having arrived the town, remained there for
Balbh, fell the hand bad chief, namely, the son Mac Giollachuda (Mac Gillycuddy), and though possession
famous had been his father Dermod, that Donal was worthy heir him, and his kinsman, Owen O'Sullivan, succeeded his place.
Margaret, the daughter James, son John,
lamented.
Thomas, the son Maurice Duv, son the son the earl, died.
Thomond remained continued wave and scene contention from one kalend
other this year.
some time; the sons Hugh Buighe received John, Con without hesitation, but they said they would not permit O'Boyle and his people enter; war, O'Boyle's people replied that they would not the allow their lord from them alone, and O'Boyle afterwards went the monastery the
that time. Hugh resided
the new tower, and sent Eignaghan and Con, the sons Hugh Buighe, son Hugh Duv, namely, his brother’s sons, into the old castle,
that time
town Con. After that, Con and O'Boyle
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456
ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1564.
-
friars to pay them a visit. Con O’Donnell and their pay a great number of the Mac Sweeneys
the sons of Hugh Buighe, commenced to demolish from beyond the Shannon, and also of the Clan
the tower in which Hugh, the son of Hugh Duv, Sheehys, who had the range of the country,
was ; they did not however perceive, until a very preys and booty, under their controul until the pe numerous party poured into the town, and sur riod their engagement had expired; but, howe
rounded it in every direction. The persons who commanded this movement were, O’Neill, namely,
John; and Hugh, the son of Manus O’Donnell,
with very great and numerous forces, they having
received intelligence that O’Donnell was on his way
from Dublin, and that the other kinsmen were in
contention with each other; Con the son of Calvach
was taken prisoner there, on the 14th of May;
and harassing parties of O'Neill's forces overran for the lordship Thomond, and for preserving Tir Boghaine (Banagh in Donegal), and slew the
son of Mac Sweeney, namely, Maolmuire Meir geach, the son of Maolmuire, son of Niall, in Glen
the peace during the winter Maurice Duv, the son
this year.
John, son the earl
Muskerry; Teige, son
O’Brien, namely, Donal, and Teige, and the sons fitable than any victory they gained by his death;
of Murrogh O'Brien, Teige, and Donogh, went to and the man who was slain there was the high make a prey along Abhain-o-gcearnaighh (the tempered steel the Geraldines dangerous con
(of Desmond), went make prey Eidhnidhe ; and also Hugh Meirgeach, the son of Dermod and Cormac, the sons
ver, there did not remain with the inhabitants
the country much value their cattle had
been conveyed out by those mercenaries, lieu of their hire.
Corcomroe (in Clare), with rents, Buanacht Bona (subsidies), and tributary lands the terri
tories Thomond, and also church livings, were conferred Donal O’Brien, recompense
John Modarda Mac Sweeney, with many others. Cormac Oge, son Cormac, son
The O’Briens being in contention with each Carthy, overtook and beheaded Maurice; but his other this year, the sons of Conor, son of Torlogh preservation, however, would have been more pro
river Ougarnee, at Sixmile-bridge, county of Clare), in Clan Cuilein (baronies of Tulla and Bunratty,
in Clare), at which time the earl happened to
have been at Rosroe; besides other towns, they
particularly burned and completely plundered that
town. The people of the country in every direc Desmond), the son Maurice, son Thomas, died,
tion, from Sliabh Oidheada-an-Righ (the Moun and was very much lamented Leath Mogha, tain of the Death of the King, in the southern account her charity and humanity.
part of Clare, near Scariff), to Luchad, and from happened certain expedition the earl Rinn-Eanigh to Scariff, pursued and overtook Desmond, i. e. Gerald, the son James, son
them; they attacked at an opportunity the earl's John, had made into the Desies Munster, that forces, and slew nearly one hundred of them on the lord Decies, namely, Maurice, the son Ge
that occasion, and they did not attempt afterwards rald, son John, son
to oppose them until night. The O’Briens pro rously for the earl
ceeded, without receiving a wound, or losing a drop the son James, son
of blood, through the upper part of Thomond, might ambush for the earl Desmond. across the Finn-Learga (the Fair Slopes) of the The earl (of Desmond) having come the coun Fergus, carrying with them their prey and cap try, never perceived until was surrounded
tures. They afterwards engaged and took into
A. D. 1565.
Ath Meadhain, the place where this conflict occurred, stated Cox and others have been Affane, the county Waterford, where the earl Desmond's party being attacked unawares the 1st February, were defeated, and two hundred and eighty his men were slain; Desmond himself received
sides place called Ath Meadhain"; the
pistol shot from Sir Edward Butler, by which was severely wounded the thigh, and having fallen from his horse ever after continued lame; he was taken prisoner and brought Clonmel, and soon had sufficiently recovered, was, according
Mac Geoghegan, sent prisoner London and confined the tower.
flict, the plunderer his enemies, and the slayer his opponents.
A. D. 1565.
Judith, the daughter James (Fitzgerald
Gerald, sent treache Ormond, namely Thomas,
Pierce Roe, order that
Teige Mac
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REIGN OF ELIZABET H. 457
large body of the ambushed troops attacked, soners along with him. The Butlers were full of wounded, and took him prisoner, and a great num joy and gladness on account of the great booty
ber of his people were either slain or taken pri and the number of prisoners they had taken on
VI. The Danish Wars. —In this article is given an account of vessels are stated by Mallett to have been originally small galleys,
the Danish invasions and wars in Ireland, and the principal battles
fought between their forces and the Irish, and likewise an account
of the Danish kings of Dublin, Waterford, and Limerick, collected
from the Annals of the Four Masters, Innisfallen, and Ulster, the
various histories of Ireland, Ware's Annals, Hanmer's Chronicle,
Mallett's Northern Antiquities, Wheaton's History of the North
men, Johnstone's Celto-Scandinavian and Celto-Normanic Anti Iarls, the same as the English earls, and their champions were quities, Turner's Anglo-Saxons, Thierry's Norman Conquest, renowned for strength and valour. Frotho, an ancient king of Speed's Annals, Chalmer's Caledonia, Olaus Magnus on the Nor Denmark, according to Saxo, ordained that no warrior should be thern Nations, and various histories of Denmark, Norway, and admitted to any command in the armies who was not prepared on Sweden, by Saxo Grammaticus, Olaus Wormius, Torfeus, Johannes all occasions to attack one enemy, to face two, to retire back only Meursius, Bartholine, Pontoppidan, Laing's Chronicle of the one step from three, and not to retreat till actually assailed by Kings of Norway, &c.
The Scandinarians. —The inhabitants of ancient Scandinavia,
or the countries which now form Sweden, Norway and Denmark,
according to the accounts of their own old historians, Olaus Mag
nus and others, came originally from Asia, about a thousand years
before the Christian era, but according to others, only five centu
ries before that period, while some make their arrival only about
one century before the birth of Christ. They came from the east, the bridge, and, according to Speed and others, killed with his under the conduct of a celebrated chief named Odin, whom they battle-axe more than forty of the English soldiers, and kept the afterwards worshipped as their chief deity and god of war. The bridge until he was himself slain by the cast of a dart. In more
Gothic or Teutonic tongues, of the same origin as the language of the Germans, Dutch, English, and other Teutonic nations.
The Scandinavians were a very valiant and warlike race, and in after times, under the names of Swedes, Danes, Norwegians,
rods; their chiefs sometimes used iron and brazen shields, and many of them were ornamented or embossed with silver; the shields were of an oval form, and many of them so large as to cover the entire body, and in battle, when hard pressed, they made a rampart of their shields, by locking them into each other in a circle, within which they were defended from the darts of their enemy; their shields also formed a shelter, or sort of tents, when encamping on the fields in wet weather. Their helmets were
Northmen, and Normans, became famous for their piratical incur
sions and invasions of various nations of Europe, from the seventh
to the twelfth century. They fitted out powerful fleets from their
pine forests, and under the conduct of their chiefs, called Vikingir,
or Sea Kings, this fierce and brave, but semi-barbarous race of mostly made of strong leather, but the chiefs wore iron and restless robbers frequently ravaged the coasts of France, Spain,
Italy, Britain, and Ireland, and as they continued Pagans till the
tenth and eleventh centuries, they destroyed with unrelenting fury
every thing connected with Christianity and civilization, and laid
waste cities, towns, colleges, monasteries and churches throughout
various countries. It appears, from Turner and others, that a twelfth century, are thus described in Hanmer's Chronicle: “They
great number of petty kings ruled over Scandinavia in those early times, ten or twelve in Norway, nineteen in Sweden, and several in Denmark; but this was the general mode of government in those times, there being numerous petty kings and kingdoms in various countries.
Fleets. —The Scandinavians fitted out powerful fleets, having great facilities for the purpose afforded by the magnificent oak and pine forests of Norway, &c. , and the chief power of those pirate kings consisted in their ships and maritime forces; and it is men tioned by the Danish historians, quoted by Mallett, that Harold, king of Denmark, and Hacon, a Norwegian Wikong in the tenth cen tury, had a fleet of seven hundred ships; and according to Turner's account of the battle of Brunanburgh, in Northumberland, in the tenth century, Aulaf, the Danish king of Dublin, and his allies, en tered the Humber with a fleet of 615 ships. The Danish and Nor wegian kings who invaded England and Ireland in the ninth and tenth centuries had frequently fleets of 200 and 300 ships; these
were all mighty men of war, and well appointed after the Danish manner, being harnessed with good brigandines, jacks, and shirts of mail, their shields, bucklers, and targets were round and coloured red, and bound about with iron, and as they seeined in arms, so were they no less in minds, iron-strong and mighty. ” In this battle at Dublin, John le Dene, a valiant Norwegian warrior from the Orkney islands, with a single blow of his battle-axe, cut off the thigh of an English horseman, so that the limb fell to the ground on one side, and the body on the other. The Northmen rushed to the battle with great shouts and clashing of arms, ex cited by the battle-songs of their Skalds, or bards, and uttering invocations to Odin and Thor, their gods of war and victory. In their expeditions they often brought with them their women and children, whom they secured in their encampments, but many of these warlike women fought like the Amazons of old among their Scythian ancestors. The forces of the Northmen were, of course. chiefly foot, and as they could not convey horses in their ships,
3N
sometimes twelve-oared barks, but in the tenth and eleventh cen turies, they had ships capable of containing 100 or 120 men each; and Harold Harfager, and Olaf, kings of Norway, are mentioned to have constructed huge long ships, called dragons and serpents, some of them carrying thirty-four banks of rowers.
Warriors and Weapons. —The Scandinavian chiefs were called
four. Many Danish and Norwegian champions celebrated for their great strength and gigantic stature are mentioned in the Saga of the Icelandic historians; and in the great battle of Stam ford Bridge, in England, in the eleventh century, between Harold Hardrada, king of Norway, and Harold king of England, when the forces of the Northmen were put to flight, a single Norwegian war rior stopped the pursuit for some hours, by defending the pass of
Scandinavians were of Scythian origin, and came from those coun
tries on the borders of Europe and Asia about the Euxine and Cas
pian seas, and are generally considered to have been some of the
people called Goths, so celebrated in their wars with the Romans.
The Cimbrians and Teutons of Northern Germany, four or five cen
turies before the Christian era, as shown in the article on the Teu
tonic nations in the Penny Cyclopedia, peopled the Chersonesus
Cimbrica, or great peninsula of Jutland in Denmark, with part of
Sweden, and some other countries along the shores of the Baltic,
and these Cimbri and Teutones were amongst the most valiant na
tions of antiquity, and celebrated in the century before the Chris gers, slings, bows, and arrows. Their shields and bucklers were tian era in their wars with the Romans. The Danes, Swedes and mostly made of wood, sometimes covered with skins of animals; Norwegians belong to the Teutonic race, and speak dialects of the sometimes made of wicker-work, or interwoven oziers and small
modern times Charles XII. , king of Sweden, equalled this warrior in bravery, and was not surpassed by any of the heroesof antiquity
in any country for Herculean strength and invincible valour. The chief weapon of the Northmen was the battle-axe, which was dou ble-edged and very heavy, and when wielded by a powerful arm,
was capable of cleaving through iron helmets and armour with a single blow; they also used battle-hammers, and clubs studded
with short spikes and knobs of iron; their swords were short, strong, and crooked like scymitars, but they sometimes used long straight swords; they also used long spears, javelins, darts, dag
brazen helmets; their coats of mail, breast-plates, thigh and leg armour, were sometimes of leather, but the chiefs mostly used
those made of iron, brass, and other metals. The Danes and Nor wegians who under Asculph Mac Thorkil, the last Danish king of Dublin, defended that city against the Anglo-Normans, in the
458 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1565.
that day, and the result of that capture was, that queen, and having remained for some time in Lon
the two earls went to England by command of the
they probably had none in battle except such as they might take
in the countries they invaded.
The Standards and Banners of the Danes and Norwegians
bore chiefly the figure of a Raven, which bird was sacred to Odin, their god of war, and representations of a raven may be seen given
in Speed's Annals, as the chief armorial ensign of the Danish kings; and, according to Speed, there was a figure of a raven also
on some of the coins of the Danish kings. According to Thorkelin, in his Fragments of Icelandic History, the raven was sacred to Odin as a bird remarkable for its fierceness and sagacity, and its figure was borne on the standards in battle, with open beak and expanded wings, and he says that the figure of a dragon was also one of their ensigns, and borne on their ships. The three daugh ters of the famous king of Denmark, Ragnar Lodbrog, according to the Saga, wrought the figure of the Reafan, or raven, accom panied by magical incantations, on the standard of their brothers, Hingvar and Hubba, who invaded England in the latter end of the ninth century, and this ensign was supposed to give omens of vic
tory or defeat—if it fluttered forward in the wind it presaged suc cess, but if it drooped it portended defeat. The celebrated Doctor William Drennan, of Belfast, in a beautiful poem on Glendalough,
has the following passage on the raven standard of the Danes:
“From the bleak Scandinavian shore, The Dane his raven-standard bore ;
It rose amidst the whitening foam, When the fierce robber hated home; And as he ploughed the watery way, The raven seemed to scent its prey, Outstretched the gloomy ominous wing
For feast of carnage war must bring. ”
Mythology —An account of the Scandinavian idolatry is given in the sacred book called the Edda, which is described in Mallett's Northern Antiquities, and it appears they worshipped a great
number of gods and goddesses; their chief deity was Odin, wor shipped as the god of war, like Mars amongst the Romans, and by
the Saxons and Anglo-Saxons under the name of Woden, or Wodan, hence the day of the week dedicated to him was called Wodens dag, in English Wednesday. Odin was the most powerful of the
gods, and dwelt in Valhalla, the Pagan Paradise of the Scandina vians, where the palace of Odin was situate, and had 540 gates, or grand doors ; in his halls he received and welcomed the spirits of the departed heroes slain in battle, and entertained them in conti nual feasting, and with copious libations of ale and mead, or hydro mel, while Odin himself was eternally regaled with goblets of wine, but none drank that beverage but the god himself. The Valkyrie were the attending goddesses of Valhalla, who, on their winged steeds, attended battle fields, and conveyed the spirits of the war riors who fell bravely fighting to the banquets prepared for them in the hall of Odin, and served them with ale and mead in cups formed of the sculls of their enemies. To Odin were sacred the wolf and raven, and he was represented as always attended with two of each, which he fed with his own hands. Thor, the son of Odin, was next to him the most powerful of the gods, and worship ped likewise by the Saxons, and the day dedicated to him was called Thorsdag, hence Thursday; he was named Asa Thor, or the lord Thor, and was the god of thunder, the winds and storms, nearly the same as Jupiter amongst the Greeks and Romans; Thor is supposed to have been the same as Taran or Etaran, an idol god of the Gauls, Britons and other Celtic nations. Like Odin, Thor had a magnificent palace, in which were 540 halls, and he was represented in a chariot drawn by two he-goats; he was
don, they returned back in peace and friendship.
their chief female deity, and worshipped as the goddess of Love, Beauty, Pleasure, Fruitfulness, and Plenty; she resembled the Wehusof the Romans, and also represented the Earth, aud was worshipped by the Saxons under the name of Hertha; the day dedicated to her was named Friga-dag, hence Friday. The Scan
dinavians had many minor deities, as Tyr, a warrior god, next to Thor in greatness, a subaltern deity to Odin, the god of War, and as a dispenser of victories was worshipped by warriors. Balder, son of Odin, was the god of Wisdom and Beauty, and represented the Sun, like Apollo among the Greeks and Romans. Brage was the god of Eloquence and Poetry, and Frey was god of the Weather, and Seasons, and ruled over the productions of the earth. Niord was the god of the Ocean, the Neptune of the Northern nations, and was naturally much worshipped,by those pirates and sea kings. Heimdall, or the god with the golden teeth, was the sentinel or janitor of the gods, and was seated in the celestial fortress which guarded the entrance to their palace, to prevent the giants from forcing their way across the bridge; he slept less than a bird, and his sight was so strong that he could see by night as well as by day, more than a hundred leagues around him, and his ear was so acute that he could hear the grass growing, and the wool on the sheep's back; he had a trumpet to sound alarms, the blasts of which were heard through all the worlds; he drank hydromel in the secure and tranquil palaces of the gods. Hilda. —As Odin was the god of War, or Mars of the Scandinavians, Hilda was worshipped as their goddess of War and Battles, the same as Bel
lona and Pallas amongst the Greeks and Romans.
Palaces and Temples of the gods. —There were great temples de
dicated to Odin, Thor, and Frigga,in various places, particularly one
armed with a club or battle-hammer, and had on his hands gaunt
lets or gloves of iron, and the belt of prowess round his middle,
and, thus prepared, he warred against the Giants and Genii, who
were the enemies of the gods. Thor was the favourite god of the
Norwegians, hence the names of many of their chieftains, as Thor
gis or Turgesius, Thorkil, Thorstein, Thorfin, Thoralf, Thorseus,
&c. Frigga or Freya, wife of Odin, and mother of Thor, was the Pagan nations antiquity.
at Upsal in Sweden, the roof of which was said to be 900 ells in
circumference, and partly covered with plates and chains of gold;
and there was a magnificent temple dedicated to Thor near Dron thim, by Hacon, king of Norway; but these great temples were
rased to the ground, and the grand idols destroyed, after the introduction of Christianity. The magnificent palace represented
as the habitation of the gods, or heaven, was called Asgard, and situated in Asia; it was a palace of immense size and magnificence, the foundations being mountains, the walls of stone, and the roof, as far as the eye could reach, covered with brilliant plates of gold, and golden shields. In this palace dwelt Alfader, or the univer sal father who made the world, the heavens and earth, and also man, and gave him a spirit that lives after the body dies; in Gimle, or Vingolf, the palace of friendship, dwelt the good after death.
The Northmen also worshipped various other gods and goddesses too numerous to be here mentioned, amongst others Nor, who was father of the giants, and his daughter Night and Dag, or Day, the daughter of Night. Loke, the son of a giant, was the god of de
ceit and evil, and called the calumniator of the gods, and the dis grace of gods and men, the same as Satan; one of his children was the wolf Penris, a monster who was chained to a rock, but at some time was to encounter the gods, and destroy the world; the second was the great serpent of Midgard, which encircled the world, and the third was Hela, or Death, whom the gods precipitated into Nifleheim, or the hell of the Scandinavians, where she possesses vast apartments, strongly built, and fenced with large grates of iron, and she was attended by many monsters, as grief, famine, hunger, delay, sickness, pain, cursing and howling; and in this abyss, situated below in the ninth world, was the abode of the wicked, and from it issued pestilential rivers, tempests, and whirl winds. The Scandinavians had their priests and priestesses, and offered up sacrifices to their gods, and, like their Scythian ances tors, they sacrificed hecatombs of horses, and also oxen, hogs, dogs, cocks, and other animals, and every ninth year, at the temple of Upsal, in the sacred grove of Odin adjoining human victims, chiefly captives taken war, were sacrificed great numbers, 99 men being offered up each the great sacrifices, but this prac tice offering human victims their gods prevailed amongst all
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writers was Stryga, and it appears that cats were particularly connected with witchcraft amongst the northern nations, that sa gacious animal being considered capable of seeing into futurity, and hence the skins of cats were worn by witches, and cats and witches were always represented as companions. Witches were also considered frequently to change themselves into hares, and thus run with great rapidity on their mischievous errands; and there prevailed a belief amongst the common people in Ireland, that they were invulnerable by leaden bullets, and could be shot only by a sixpence, or other piece of silver, or a silver ball. The wizards, or male conjurors, were also held in high esteem, particu larly in Scotland. The doctrines of witchcraft, sorcery, and ne cromancy, were probably derived from Druidism, the witches being nearly the same as the Druidesses of more ancient days, and hence Ban-draoi, or a Druidical woman, was also applied to a witch. The other terms applied by the Irish were Piscog, com monly pronounced Pistreoge, signifying witchcraft, and Easar
luigheacht, which also meant witchcraft, or witchery; hence Bean Easarluighe, or Cailleach Easarluighe, signified a woman, or hag of sorcery 3,magic, sorcery, and necromancy, were also termed
Deamhnaireacht, which meant demonism. In the Erse, or Scot tish Gaelic, witchcraft was termed Buidseacht, and Buidseachas,
Sighe, Sigheog, and Siabhra, were applied the Irish Fairies, hence came the names Siabhrog, Fairy habitation, Sluagh-Sighe, the Fairy host, and Bean-Sighe, Fairy woman the Fairies were also called the Irish Deamhain-Aedhir, signifying Demons the Air, and frequently Daoine-Maithe, meaning the Good People, being denominated for fear giving them offence, and dreading their power.
The Skalds Bards the Scandinavians were highly celebra ted; they were very numerous, and many their compositions still remain, such war songs, &c. , containing bold, vivid, and admirable descriptions warriors and battles; they were highly honoured, and stated that the renowned hero, Harold Harfager, king Norway, the tenth century, placed the Bards the banquet above all the officers his court. The Skalds always accompanied the kings and chiefs their expeditions, compose and recite their war songs, and animate the champions battle for the poems they composed honour kings and heroes they received rich rewards splendid dresses, gold and silver ornaments, weapons, &c. Turner's Anglo-Saxons account given famous Skald the Danes England, named Gunlauger, who composed poem king Ethelred, for which received present
gold ring weighing seven ounces; and the same bard having
REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
-
459
Mahon, the son of Torlogh Mantagh, son of rously slain by his own companions and kinsmen in Donogh, son of Donal, son of Torlogh Meith his own residence at Aircin, on Aran (Aran island (O’Brien, see note at A. D. 1560), was treache off the coast of Galway). When the nobles of
Witchcraft. —The Scandinavians worshipped goddesses called Normas or Normies, and the Fates, or fatal sisters, and the doctrine of witchcraft extensively prevailed amongst them, hence Milton
alludes to this subject in his Paradise Lost, when describing Sin and her attendant demons:
“Nor uglier follow the night-hag when called, In secret riding through the air she comes, Lured by the smell of infant blood to dance
With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon
Eclipses at their charms. ”
In the Anthologia Hibernica for June, 1794, is given a very curious account of witchcraft in Denmark, in the Pagan times, taken from the Icelandic Saga. A hag named Heida, who was famous for her skill in magic, divination, and witchcraft, went at tended in state by thirty men servants, and was waited on by fifteen
young women; in the Rauga Saga is given an account of another celebrated witch named Thorbiorga, who, together with her nine sisters, were all professional witches, and famous for their prognos tications and knowledge of futurity; they frequented public assemblies and entertainments, when invited, for purposes of divi nation. Thorkil, a Danish earl, in order to know when a famine and plague which prevailed would cease, sent for Thorbiorga to
tell the time; on her arrival she was dressed in a gown of green
cloth, closely buttoned from top to bottom, about her neck was a
string of glass beads, and her head was covered with the skin of a
black lamb, lined with that of a white cat; her shoes were calf
skin, with the hair on, tied with thongs and fastened with brass
buttons; on her hands were gloves made of the skin of a white
cat, with the fur inward ; about her waist she wore a Hunlandic
girdle, at which hung a bag containing her magical instruments,
and she supported herself on a staff ornamented with many knobs
of brass; on her entrance the whole company rose and saluted her,
and earl Thorkil advancing, took her by the hand, and conducted
her to the seat prepared for her, on which was a cushion of hen's
feathers; after some ceremony, and refreshments set before her,
Thorkil, humbly approaching the prophetess, requested to know
the future event; she replied, that next day she would fully
satisfy him, and on the morrow, having put her instruments of di
vination in order, she cominanded Godreda, one of her maidens, to
sing the magical song called Wardlokur, or the words of fortune,
which she sung with so clear and sweet a voice as delighted the
company, and particularly the prophetess, who declared that she
then knew many things respecting the famine and sickness of
which she was ignorant before, and that these calamities would be
of short duration. The term applied to witches by Danish been constructed the Damans the early ages. The terms
and also Druideacht, the latter word signifying Druidism; a witch was termed Beann-Buidseach, and a wizard Draoidh, that
Druid, and sometimes Fiosaiche, which meant fortune teller. The doctrines witchcraft, wizards, warlocks, and weird
sisters were very prevalent former times Scotland, which copious and very curious accounts are given Sir Walter Scott's Letters Witchcraft and Demonology, and still more admirable and vivid descriptions witches and their incantations are given
Shakspeare's Macbeth. Ireland, particularly Ulster, the belief witchcraft extensively prevailed former times, and, already stated these Annals, Act against witchcraft was passed the Irish Parliament held Dublin D. 1585, the reign Elizabeth. The Evil Eye, called the Irish Beim-sul, signifying stroke the eye, belief connected with witchcraft, was former times very prevalent Ireland, well Scot
land and England, and was believed that certain wizards, witches, and evil-minded persons, had the power injuring, even causing the death cattle, horses, and even human beings, especially children, their malignant looks. This belief also ex tensively prevails amongst the Turks and Arabs, and various countries Europe; Italy called Mal Occhio. was also
“Nescio quis tenerosocculus mihi fascinat agnos. ”
superstition amongst the Greeks and Romans; the Greeks was termed Baskania, and by the Romans Fascinatio, and thus Virgil alludes passage where the shepherd laments that his tender lambs were bewitched
The doctrines witchcraft were very prevalent among the Romans, and Canidia, famous witch, celebrated Horace; the term Saga, signifying wise woman, sorceress, was applied
witch the Latin language; and the English the name de rived from the Saxon Wice, which also signifies wise.
Fairyism has been much connected with the Danes Ireland, the tradi tions the people, who consider the Danes have erected the circular earthen ramparts raths, called forts, and that the fairies were left there by the Danes guard their treasures until their return Ireland, which expected take place some future time. The opinion that the Danes erected all the raths erroneous, for though they Inay have built many them, yet most these ramparts were constructed the ancient Irish, centuries before
the Danes came Ireland. the traditions
Tuath De Danan and Fairyism were connected,
has been given 379 these notes; and
from the similarity the names, the Danes and Damansmay have been confounded with each other, and some the raths may have
the people, the
which account probable that,
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460 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1565.
Galway received intelligence of that act, they went from their houses, and they betook themselves
to take revenge for the crime on the people who their boats and set out sea, and where they
committed the treachery, whom they forced to
gone Ireland, sang his compositions for one the kings there,
who offered him present two ships, but his treasurer told him that the rewards always given poets were gold rings, swords,
clothes, &c. , which were then presented him next went the Orkney Islands, where got from one the Iarls present silver axe. Several the kings and chieftains Denmark and Norway were themselves Skalds, and composed war songs, &c. ; the Skalds were mostly natives Iceland, and, from the
landed was Cuan Ruis, the territory
the twelfth century, not less than two hundred them, their art, are recorded. These Bards were, other the early ages, the annalists these countries, and
We made the torrents blood flow,
For the yellow-footed birds and beasts prey; There the hard steel sounded the helmets, The entire ocean was one wound,
And the Raven waded the blood of the slain.
“We hewed with swords—in my twentieth year, Then we raised our spears high,
And gained renown every land:
At the port Dwina, the east (at the Baltic), Eight earls have we conquered
Then did we supply the Eagle
With plentiful feast that slaughter;
The warriors fell, and the warm stream Of wounds flowed into the ocean waves.
“We hacked with swords—against Heiden's queen (in Sweden), And sent hosts Helsingians the hall Odin;
To Iva's mouth we steered our ships—
The entire waters were one wound,
And the earth was red with the warm stream Then did the weapon deeply bite,
The sword rung on the coats mail, And quickly clove the shields asunder.
“We fought with swords—none fled that day
Till amidst his ships Herraudus fell (in Sweden); No braver Iarl than he battle
Did e'er with his galleys plough the sea; his long ships, where'er sailed,
At every time the valiant chief
With cheerful heart to the conflict came.
“We smote with swords—then did the hosts drop their shields, When the spear flew the breasts heroes, Norway); And the battle-axe hacked near Scarfia's rocks (in
Bloody was the buckler battle,
Before Rafno the king was slain;
From the heads warriors, streams, Flowed the warm blood down their armour.
“We hewed with swords—on Ullar's plain (Upsal), Loud roared the spears ere King Eistein fell;
We traversed the fields, gleaming gold,
To fight the land the prostrate foe;
The lance pierced the painted shields,
And from the brain, through the wounded neck, The stream flowed in the shock of helmets.
“We hacked with swords—at Indero's Isle (Drontheim), The crows could then make ample feast,
And Fala's wolves had full banquet; Difficult was defend the heroes:
At the rising sun saw the darts pierce, And the bow shoot forth the iron arrows.
“We fought with swords—at Born Holm (in Denmark) Stained were our shields with gore;
There we firmly grasped our spears,
Bucklers were broken by clouds darts, The arrows flew from the bows elm
the carnage Volnir fell,
There was no braver king than he Then the wild beast enjoyed his prey.
“We smote with swords—in Flanders' land (Belgium), Fierce was the fight ere king Freyr fell
Then was Hilda highly rejoiced,
The hard blue weapons, reeking with blood,
seventh
eminent
nations
their prose historical compositions were called Saga, which signi fies Stories. The most celebrated the Icelandic Sagas are those
Snorro Sturleson, whose great work
the Chronicle
Laing, and published 1844; and also partly translated into Latin, Johnstone's Celto-Scandinavian Antiquities.
The Mythology the Scandinavians was creed admirably adapted for warriors, inculcated courage and contempt ofdeath
the highest virtues, and the heroes who fell battle were for ever honoured and entertained with magnificent banquets the Hall
eminent writer the thirteenth century, the Norwegian kings, styled Heimskringla,
the Kings, has been translated into English
early youth Towards the east, the Bay Eyra (Elsinore),
“We smote with swords—when
Odin. Their doctrines led riors rushed into the thick mitted suicide, haste
such contempt death that many war
battle, anxious fall, and several com enter their Elysium, and join the glories Valhalla. The composition called the Death-song Lodbrog gives strong but faithful picture the fierce and warlike spirit
the Northmen. the sea kings
from the kings
Ragnar Lodbrog was one the most famous was son Sivard, king Denmark, and descend Norway; Ragnar became king Denmark,
and having fitted out large fleets, made many expeditions,
Vikingir Sea king, along the coast the Baltic and German Ocean, and, during victorious career thirty years, frequently invaded France, England, Scotland, and Ireland, about the middle
the ninth century; and during one have spent entire year Dublin.
his expeditions stated About 865, Ragnar Northumberland, where
invaded England, and landed his forces
fought great battle with Ella, king the Northumbrian
Saxons, which, after performing prodigies valour, Lodbrog
was length vanquished superior numbers, and being taken
prisoner, he was treated with great barbarity, thrown into dun
geon, and closed there with number vipers, by which
was bitten death. Together with his fame sea king, Rag nar was also Skald, and composed many war songs. Johnstone,
author the Celto-Scandinavian Antiquities, has given from the Icelandic Saga, Danish and Latin, with free English version, composition styled Lodbrokar Quida, signifying the Epicedium,
Death-Song Lodbrog, which was supposed have been reci ted him while under the torments death the dungeon. This composition considered have been the war song this Corsair king, enumerating his various victories, which the two
three last verses were added after his death, said, by his wife Aslauga, who was great poetess. The following literal translation the death song Lodbrog, from the Danish and the Latin version Olaus Wormius, which given Blair's Disser tations, prefixed Ossian's Poems, and this translation also partly taken from Johnstone, each stanza the Danish commen
ces thus: Hiuggom vermed hiaurvi, which, the Latin version variously rendered, Pugnavimus ensibus, concidimus ensibus and secuimus ensibus, and signifies according Mallet, We fought with swords, We cut with swords, We hewed with swords, &c. ;
hence, these variations have been given
the present translation.
“We fought with swords—when first
We came and slew the mighty monster; Then obtained my Thora, and was called The warrior who had transfixed the Dragon With my sword surpassing brightness;
And Lodbrokar was thenceforward named.
Gothland (Sweden)
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
Western Corcabaiscinn (probably Kilrush, in O'Neill, John, the son
461
Con, son Con,
Clare). Donal, the son of Conor O’Brien, hav son Henry, gave the sons
ing been informed of this, proceeded with Scotland, i. e. Alexander, the son John possible despatch them, and succeeded taking Cathanach, namely, James, Angus, and Sorley, the greater portion them prisoners, whom great overthrow, which Angus was slain, and brought with him, bound close chains, Moy James wounded and taken prisoner, and died Glae, the south Corcomroe, order that their year after the mortification his wounds;
sorrow and sufferings might the greater view his death was very much lamented, and was the place where they had perpetrated the crime; man distinguished for hospitality, feats arms,
hanged some them, and burned others, their evil deeds deserved.
Cut their way through the golden mail;
The direful sword, days old,
Gave the wolves plenteous prey;
Long did the virgin mourn that morning's slaughter.
“We hewed with swords—and saw fall
Of our adversaries many hundreds
Amidst their ships, promontory England;
For six days continued the contest
At length we vanquished our insolent foes,
At the rising sun they were subdued battle, And beneath our weapons Valdiofer fell.
liberality, conviviality, generosity, and bestowing gifts, and there was not his equal amongst the
“We smote with swords—the sons Endil
“We hacked with swords—at Bertha-ford (Perth) rain blood from our weapons ran,
“We hewed with swords—oft have seen
The fair-haired lover the maiden fall,
And the widows’ wooer early morn;
Ere king Aurun fell Ila's Bay (Hebrides),
Shields were smashed and chieftains slain, Pleasing was the sight, when the attending maid Hands the goblets round warm wine.
“We hacked with swords—in early morn, the South, Leinster's Isle,
With three kings the strife arms;
Few with joy escaped that conflict,
And many were booty beasts prey; The hawk and wolf tore the mangled slain, Erin's blood was shed streams,
And copious flowed into the deep.
“We fought with swords—and shields were riven By strokes weapons raised high;
Then were the spears resounding heard
On Hilda's mail golden colour;
Future ages shall admire the plain,
On Anglesey's Isle, where we met our adversary. We strode warriors battle array
Our wounding spears, dyed blood,
Were hurled swift the dragon's flight,
Near the promontory along the river.
“We smote with swords—amongst men
What youth fairer than advancing Far amidst the tempest javelins,
And falls o'erwhelmed adverse wounds; And these escape not human woe
Who never seek the field war;
But 'tis hard excite the coward's heart
To the strife swords and deeds valour.
“We hewed with swords—that esteem An equal contest, man man,
Lifeless bodies became prey hawks; The bow twanged, and the keen darts Quickly pierced through the coats mail; Our swords, sharp the viper's poison,
Were smeared with gore from gashing wounds.
“We fought with swords—at Hadninga's harbour (Orkney Isles) High towered our crests fierce encounter;
Then might the warriors seen,
Who with baneful weapons shattered the shields,
And clove the helmets the clash arms; Delightful my heart was the sight,
As sat state near my blooming bride.
“We smote with swords—in Northumbria's land storm blows descended our shields,
Till the lifeless bodies fell the earth, And none that morning needed
To rouse the rueful sport Hilda; Helmets were cleft by keen swords, Delightful me had welcomed
youthful widow the highest seat.
“We hewed with swords—in the Sudreyan Isles (Hebrides),
Cut for wolves plenteousprey.
For seven days, Scaia's fight (Isle Red were our ships with reeking gore,
As 'twere damsels carried wine; Amidst the din clashing arms
Full oft were Skogul's bucklers rent, By Skiold's warriors that battle
Sky);
Mac Donnell
Herthiof himself was forced fly,
And Rogvalder fell amidst the shower
The kites were grieved for the death
The breaker helmets the strife
Who from his bow-string shot the unerring darts.
“We hacked with swords—piled heaps lay the slain,
Glad was the falcon's kindred the shout And the wolf and eagle enjoyed their prey. In the stern shock of swords and shields
Fell valiant Marstein, Erin's king,
And the hungry crows had feast prepared That day Vedra-flord (Waterford).
battle,
“We fought with swords—and hosts Have seen fall early dawn, Slaughtered amidst the din arms;
heroes
my son; Egil slew Agnar, the undaunted youth;
“We hacked with swords—but unerring fate Experience shows await
And none their destiny can evade.
ne'er believed that Ella
Would have ended my days, when led
The sharp sword pierced the heart
On Hamdi's buckler the spears resounded, While our banners glittered the sun.
arms; their friend,
swords,
When chief meets chief, nor yields Such was the warrior's pride days Ever brave the battle's whirlwind Should be the admirer the fair.
combat— old;
in
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“We hacked with swords—in one-and-fifty battles Have we raised our spears in distant lands;
From my earliest youth I learned the task,
To tinge my sword with hostile blood,
o o
“We smote with swords—ah! soon would come Aslauga's sons with burning brands,
And wage fierce battle against my foes,
Did they but know their father's doom,
His vitals gnawed by venomous vipers; I for my offspring sought a mother,
Whose blood would give them valiant hearts.
“We hewed with swords—soon shall my crown Devolve to my succeeding heirs;
The adder's poison menaceslife,
The viper now penetrates my heart;
But still to my spirit the thought yields joy, That Odin's spear shall soon pierce Ella;
My sons shall come with swelling rage,
And full avenge their father's fate;
Those noble minded youths most sure
Will peace reject with utmost scorn.
! o t
462 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1565.
Clan Donnell of Ireland or of Scotland at that chief historiographer to O’Donnell, a man time, and his own people would not hesitate to in poetry and chronicles, the sustaining p give his weight in gold could he be thereby house of hospitality for learned men, st ransomed; many others were also slain in that and the noble sons of literature in the neigh
-
battle of Glen Taisi (probably Glentask, in the parish of Dunluce, county of Antrim), who are not recorded.
Murrogh, the son of Donal, son of Roderick O'Flaherty, was drowned.
O'Clery, i. e. Teige Cam, the son of Tuathal,
My conquering ships into his harbours,
When I strewed his land with heaps of slain, And for wild beasts made plenteous prey, Along the bays of the Scottish shores.
“We fought with swords—still I delight When I think of the banquets prepared
By the father of Balder to regale the brave; There we shall copiously drink of ale,
countries, died on the 20th day of Octob
fine advanced age, after having gained the
over the world and the devil, and he was
in the Franciscan monastery of Doneg very great honour and solemnity.
to the Danish historians, made conquests amongst th
Norwegians, Saxons, Russians, English, Irish, and
he had by his three wives thirteen sons, many of who
kings. It appears from Thorkelin's Fragments of Iceland
that the sons and descendants of the renowned Ragnar w
warriors; his son Biorn became king of Sweden; an named Sigurd, was king of Denmark, and a third, called
became king of Norway; the famous Harold Harfager, the Fair-haired, the first king of all Norway in the nin was also a descendant of Lodbrog. Sigurd, king of De of Ragnar, married Blea, daughter of Ella, king of No land, by whom he had a son named Knut or Canute. G Knut, exceeded all men in strength and stature; he bec Denmark, and married Thyra, daughter of Edward the of England; she was called Denmark's delight, and he two sons mamedKnut and Harold ; Knut excelled beauty of features and form, and he was called Denma Knut and Harold often invaded England, and also came and attacked Dublin, where, as hereafter shown, Knut w the death of Gorm his son, Harold, succeeded as king o and was the first of his nation who was converted to th faith in the tenth century. Sueno, or Sweyn, grandson and Canute, son of Sweyn, kings of Denmark and No became kings of England. Many of the descendants Lodbrog, as hereafter shown, also became Danish kings umbria, and kings of the Danes of Dublin.
The Danes in England. —During the ninth and tent the Danes and Norwegians, with great fleets and powe frequently invaded England, ravaged the greater p country, and plundered and burned towns, cities, a
churches. They continued their devastations for near turies, in the reigns of Egbert, Ethelwolf, Ethelbald, Alfred, Edward, Athelstan, Edmond, Edred, Edgar Edmund Ironside, and other Anglo-Saxon kings, with fought innumerable fierce and bloody battles; and the to effect settlements and conquer many parts, particula umbria and other northern territories of England, wh and Norwegian kings ruled for a long period; and the their power over the greater part of the north of Engla kingdoms of the Heptarchy, called Northumbria, Deira and Mercia. Their chief leaders, in the conquest of No were Hingvar, or Ivar, Hubba, and Halfdan, sons of Ragnar Lodbrog, who invaded and conquered that co took it from the Saxon kings, to avenge the death of by Ella, king of Northumbria, as related in the above p nald, Sitric, and Niel, or Nigel, who were grandsons Lodbrog, and several princes their descendants, as God and Sitric, became in succession kings of the Northumb and many of these Danish kings of Northumbria we kings of the Danes of Dublin, as hereafter explained. and Norwegians called Northmen levied immense cont the Anglo-Saxon kings, and compelled them to pay a g tax or tribute denominated Dame-geld, consisting of a sum of gold and silver, amounting to more than thirty pounds a year, an enormous sum in those times, and e twenty times the amount at the present day. In the the tenth century, in the time of Ethelred II. , comm
Out of cups which are formed of the sculls of foes, As we joyously enter the palace of Fiolner,
No grief is felt there by departed heroes,
No faultering words of fear shall I utter,
As I enter the joyful Halls of Odin.
And no king my equal have I ever met; The goddesses will give me welcome—
I resign my life without a sigh.
“Now cease our song—the goddesses come
And invite me home to the Hall of Odin ; Happy there, on a high-raised throne, Seated with gods, I shall quaff my ale. The hours of my life have passed away, And in joyous laughter shall I die. ”
The first verse of this composition requires some explanation;
the dragon, serpent, or monster, mentioned as having been slain in
Gothland by Ragnar, was a fierce champion who had killed many people in Sweden, but was slain in single combat by Ragnar, who
was covered with a kind of armour made of the skins of animals, hence he was surnamed Lodbrog, which signifies, according to the Latin translation, hirsuta bracca, or hairy trowsers; and on killing this fierce chief, Ragnar obtained as his bride Thora, the daughter of Heraudus, king of Sweden, and he became himself king of Denmark. Ragnar in his various expeditions, according
==
o
Donegal), and Tem his horsemen, without
Hugh Duv (O’Donnell), died Maguire, John, the son Cuchonacht, son Bryan, son
the 22nd July. Cuchonacht, son
REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 463
A. D. 1566.
lord sense and personal figure, warrior bra very and valour, severe and fierce against his ene *DONNELL, i. e. Cal mies, mild and amicable his friends, without ex vach, the son of Manus, tolling boasting the greatest goodness per son of Hugh Duv, son formed, person who was not supposed would of Hugh Roe, son of die after that manner, but rather that would re Niall Garv, son of Tor venge the wrongs his race; his brother Hugh,
oV\
beginning winter, on Mary, the daughter Manus, son Hugh the 26th November, Duv, son Hugh Roe O'Donnell, the wife Ma on the open road be gennis, died the 8th October.
tween Bally Aghaidh Rose, the daughter Maguire, i. e. Cucho chaoin (probably Bally nacht, the Coarb, the wife Hugh Buighe, son aghan,barony Raphoe
Wine, the son Manus O'Donnell, was inaugurated his from his horse in the Successor.
logh
of the
plerath,
stumble orjolt, without starting fright, after his Thomas Maguire, died the 29th September,
the midst
return from England that year; that Calvach was
Philip, son the lord justice's army, after had been expel
the Unready, who reigned from 979 1013, the Danes and Norwegians made frequent incursions, and extended their power over the greater part England, and levied immense tributes, which accounts are given Turner and Speed, who state that,
down the middle the thirteenth century, and the fifteenth century, over the Orkney Islands.
The Normans. —The following sketch the history the Normans has been collected from the Saga Snorro, Laing's 980, they received £10,000; 993, £16,000; the Heimskringla, and Johnstone's Celto-Scandinavian Antiquities, year 1000, they got £24,000; 1006, £36,000; and the Speed's Annals, Turner's Anglo-Saxons, Thierry's Norman Con
year 1010, they levied less than £48,000. 1011, ac
cording Speed, the Danes under Thorkil attacked Canterbury,
took Alphegus, the archbishop, prisoner, and slew 900 monks
with vast number citizens; and states, that all more piratical depredations, was expelled from Norway king Harold than 43,000 persons were slain this massacre. The archbishop Harfager. Rollo retired with his ships Denmark, and after refusing give them ransom £3,000, they stoned him wards the Orkneys and Hebrides, and was joined many death Greenwich. 1013, Sueno, Sweyn, king Danish and Norwegian warriors; they attacked England, but, Denmark, invaded England with immense forces, defeated the unable make any settlement there, after several attempts, being
Saxons, and king Ethelred being forced fly into Normandy, Sweyn became king all the Northern half the kingdom, but dying England, A. D. 1014, was succeeded his son Knut
Canute; after various contests with the valiant Saxon king, Edmond Ironside, they agreed divide the kingdom between them, Canute reigning the north, and Edmond the south; but
opposed king Alfred, they set sail for France, overran great part that country, and finally Rollo, the head thirty thousand Danish and Norwegian warriors, compelled Charles the Simple, king France, cede them the principality Neustria, which from these Nordmen, Northmen, Normands, Normans, got the name Normandy. This event took place the beginning the tenth century, 911 and Rollo received
the death Edmond Ironside, 1017, Canute, then the 22nd
year his age, became king all England, and also Denmark his principality, and obtained marriage Gisella, daughter
and Norway; afterwards appointed his son Sweyn king
Denmark, and another son, Horda Knut, king Norway; Canute
became one the most celebrated kings Europe that age,
and was styled Canute the Great on his death, 1035, he was
king Charles France, condition that and his followers should adopt the Christian faith, with which terms the Norwegian chief complied, and and his people became Christians. This valiant chief was man great strength and stature, and such
size that horse could carry him, hence, always went foot, was called Rolf Gaunger, that Rolf the Walker. Rolf Rollo and his descendants, dukes of Normandy, ruled over Danish king England; was succeeded by the Saxon kings that province from the tenth the thirteenth century; and the
succeeded king England by his son Harold Harefoot, who
died 1039, and was succeeded by his brother Horda Knut, Hardicanute, king Norway, who died 1041, and was the last
‘Edward the Confessor and Harold. the year 1066, Harold Hardrada, king Norway, invaded England with large fleet and powerful forces, for the recovery the kingdom, but, great battle Stamford Bridge, was defeated and slain by the Saxons under king Harold but the same year the Normans France, who were originally Danes and Norwegians, defeated and slew the Saxon king Harold, and became masters England under William the Conqueror.
eleventh century, William, duke Normandy, conquered England. Many the most eminent noble families France were Norman descent; and the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the Normans France, under counts William Bras-de-fer Iron arm, Robert and Roger Guiscard, and other warlike leaders, conquered great part Southern Italy the ancient Apulia, now part the kingdom Naples, and also Sicily; and they and their descendants became dukes Apulia and Calabria, princes
Capua and kings Sicily, and ruled over those countries with great glory for more than century. the eleventh century, Count Bohemond, son Robert Guiscard, the Norman conqueror
Apulia, with his cousin Tanered, two the most famous warriors the Crusades, after various victories the East
In Scotland, the Norwegians, the ninth and tenth centuries, made many settlements, and conquered the Orkney Islands and the
Hebrides, and likewise the Isle part the northern counties kings and Iarls ruled over the Isle
Mann, together with the greater Scotland; and the Norwegian Mann, and the Hebrides
quest, and various other sources. the latter end the ninth century, Rolf Rollo, Norwegian Iarl, according Snorro, sprung from the ancient kings Norway, having committed many
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obtain, on account of the number of learned men
founded the kingdom of Antioch, over which his descendants ruled as princes for a long period. During the Crusades, the
Norman nobility of France and England furnished a vast number of valiant warriors who gained great victories over the Saracens in Syria; amongst others, Richard Coeur de Lion, or the Lion-hearted King of England, was one of the most renowned warriors who led their forces to the Holy Land, and by his valour won the great battle of Ascalon, and other victories in Palestine. The Norman nobles of England and France likewise produced many of the most valiant champions amongst the Knights Templars, the knights of St. John of Jerusalem, of Malta, and of Rhodes, famous in those ages in the East, for their defence of the Holy Land and other parts of Christendom, against the Turks and Saracens.
The Anglo-Normans. —About the middle of the eleventh cen tury the Norman dukes of France claimed the crown of England, and in A. D. 1066, William, duke of Normandy, a descendant of Rollo, collected a powerful fleet consisting, according to Turner and others, of more than a thousand sail, for the invasion of England; he landed with an immensearmy at Pevensey in Sussex, on the 28th of September, and on Saturday, the 14th of October, fought the great battle near Hastings, in which the Anglo-Saxons, under Harold their king, were totally vanquished. In this battle six thousand of the Normans, and about sixty thousand of the Saxons, were slain; or, according to Speed, nearly sixty-eight thousand of the English fell. Harold himself, the last Saxon king of England, while valiantly fighting under his own standard, was killed by the shot of an arrow in the eye, which pierced his brain. The victory of Hastings, won by the valour of the duke of Normandy, thus transferred in one battle, and in a single day, the Anglo-Saxon sceptre to the Normans of France, and their duke became king of England under the title of William the Conqueror. The descen dants of William reigned for many centuries as kings of England ; and even to modern times, collateral branches, imbued with some of the Norman blood, have reigned as kings and queens of England ; and the descendants of the old Norman nobility form many of the most powerful families of the aristocracy of Great Britain and . Ireland to the present day.
Norman architecture. —The Normans and Anglo-Normans were equally eminent in the arts as in war, and introduced the style denominated Norman architecture, of which there are still many magnificent and beautiful specimens, such as ruins and remains of castles, cathedrals, churches, abbeys, &c. , in France, England, Ireland, and Scotland.
conquered England, became masters of a great part of the country
O’Rourke, i. e. Hugh Buighe, the son of Bryan
villes, barons of Dowth, in Meath; the de Nangles, barons o Navan; the de Prestons, viscounts of Gormanstown; the d Flemings, barons of Slane; the Tyrrells, barons of Castleknock
the Dillons, earls of Roscommon and barons of Kilkenny West, i Westmeath; the de Berminghams, barons of Athenry, in Galway and earls of Louth ; the Taaffes, earls of Carlingford and baron
of Ballymote, in Sligo; the Talbots, barons of Malahide and earl of Shrewsbury, Waterford, and Wexford; the St. Laurences, earl of Howth; the Sarsfields, viscounts of Kilmallock, in Limerick and earls of Lucan, in Dublin; the Plunkets, earls of Fingal barons of Louth and barons of Dunsaney, are of Danish descen There were many other families of note besides those above men tioned of Anglo-Norman descent in various parts of Ireland, as th Devereuxes, Darcy's, D'Altons, Tuites, Petits, Delamers, Dexeters Barretts, Cusacks, Cruises, Cantwells, Cogans, Nagles, Prender gasts, Stantons, deVerdons, de Gernons, Fitzsimons, Fitz-Henrys, de Bathes, Bellews, the le Bruns or Browns, de Peppards, de l Hoyde, de Phepocs, de Husseys, Keatings, Fitzstephens, de Mon morencys, de Rochforts, Purcells, &c.
As hereafter shewn, Danish and Norwegian kings ruled ove Dublin and some other parts of Ireland for more than three hun dred years, from the ninth to the twelfth century; and the Anglo Normans, the descendants of the Normans of France of Danish an Norwegian origin, afterwards becamepossessedof the greater par of Ireland ; therefore it appears from the foregoing accounts tha in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, the warlike Danes and Norwegians, and their descendants, the valiant No mans of France conquered England and the greater part of Ire land and Scotland, a great part of France, part of Italy, with Sicily, and also Antioch in Asia.
The Damesin Ireland. —The terms Lochlann, Lochlinn, Loch luinn, and Crioch Lochluinn, were applied by the Irish writer to Scandinavia or the countries comprising Denmark, Sweden and Norway; the word Lochlann according to O'Brien, in hi Irish Dictionary, is derived from the Irish Loch, a lake, and th Germano-Celtic lann, which means land ; hence the word Lochlann signifies a Land of Lakes, a term applicable to those countrie about the Baltic, which abound in great lakes and inlets of th sea. A Dane or Norwegian was called by the Irish Lochlanach signifying a Lake-lander, or person from the land of lakes; in th plural Lochlanaigh, or Lake-landers. According to others th name Lochlonnach, in the plural Lochlonnaigh, was applied to th
Danes and Norwegians, and derived from Loch, a Lake, and lonn strong, hence signifying powerful, or strong at sea, as they alway
came with great fleets. A distinction was made by the Irish between the Danes and Norwegians, from the colour of their hai and complexion; the Danes, according to Duald Mac Firbis an others, being denominated Dubh-Lochlonnaigh, signifying Black Lake-landers, being chiefly dark-haired ; and the Norwegian
464 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1566.
-
led from his country by O’Neill; he was an intel and strangers entertained by him, and the amplitude ligent, skilful, and bountiful lord, and he would be of his gifts and presents; Cuchonacht, his brother no dishonour to the greatest government he could was appointed his successor.
In Ireland the descendants of the Normans of France who
in the latter end of the twelfth and beginning of the thirteenth
century, under Richard de Clare, earl of Pembroke, commonly
called Strongbow, and his followers, denominated Strongbow
nians, and they still form many of the most powerful families of
the Anglo-Irish nobility. The principal families of the Anglo Fionn-Lochlonnaigh, or White Lake-landers, being mostly of Normans in Ireland were the de Clares, earls of Pembroke, and
their successors the Marshalls, earls of Pembroke and lords of
Leinster; the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, earls of Kildare, and
dukes of Leinster, the de Burgos or Burkes, lords of Connaught,
earls of Ulster, earls of Clanrickard, earls of Mayo, &c. ; the
Butlers, earls of Ormond, &c. &c. ; the de Laceys, lords of
Meath and earls of Ulster, and the de Mortimers, their suc
cessors; the de Courcys, earls of Ulster and barons of Kinsale;
the de Carews, earls of Cork and barons of Idrone, in Carlow;
the Fitzmaurices, earls of Kerry; the Graces of Kilkenny, ba
rons of Courtstown; the le Poers of Waterford, earls of Tyrone
and barons of Decies; the de Barrys of Cork, earls of Barry
more; the de Roches of Cork, viscounts of Fermoy ; the de Veseys,
lords of Kildare; the Fitz-Eustaces, barons of Portlester and were likewise called by the Irish Geinte, signifying Gentiles o
Baltinglas; the de Nugents, barons of Delvin and earls of West Pagans, and the distinction was madeas usual Dubh-Gheinte, o meath; the de Barnwalls, barons of Trimlestown; the de Neter Dark Gentiles, meaning the Danes, and Fionn-Gheinte, or Fai
fair complexion, with fair or reddish hair. Gall, according t O’Brien, originally signifying a Gaul, was a term applied by th Irish to various foreign nations, as the Gauls, English, Danes, &c. while they call themselves Gael; and the name Gaill, signifying strangers or foreigners, was very generally applied to the Dane and Norwegians by Irish writers; and they also madethe distinc tion between them, designating the Danes by the term Dubh Ghaill, or Dark-haired Foreigners, and the Norwegians as Fionn Ghaill, or Fair-haired Foreigners; and hence, according to some was derived the name of the territory near Dublin called Finga from the Fionn-Ghaill, or Fingallians, who were Norwegians; but the word is sometimes given by the Irish writers Fine-Gall which signifies the Foreign People. The Danes and Norwegian
Ballach, was slain at Ballintogher, by the Connal
hans, because they considered that the son of the daughter of Manus O’Donnell, namely, Bryan
na-Murtha, the son of Bryan, son of Owen, was entitled to the lordship of Brefney.
REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 465
Mac Carthy Riavach, i. e. Fingin, the son of haired Gentiles, signifying Norwegians. They were also often and fought several combats with the Irish warriors Segathus and
mentioned by the name of Danar, signifying a Danish man, in the plural Danair, or Dainfhir, and latinised Dani. By various writers the Danes and Norwegians were designated Northmen, and Norsemen, and sometimes Normans, but incorrectly, as the
Suidanus; difficult ascertain who king Uglet Huglet
was, the Irish name having been changed the Danish writers; but might have been Eogain, Ugaine, Ugaire, ancient names
Irish kings. stated Hanmer's Chronicle, from Saxo, that some the troops the celebrated Fenian warriors Ireland, the third century, were partly composed Danish champions;
latter term was only applicable to the Normans of France, and
hence the word Northmen, as well as Normans, has been latinized
Normanni. The name Ostmen, or Eastmen, was also generally and appears that many Danish and Norwegian warriors, the
applied to the Danes and Norwegians, and latiuised Ostmanni by various writers.
Erpeditions and Foreign Alliances of the Irish Kings. —It
appears from the old historians, that the Irish had intercourse with
the Danes and Norwegians in very remote times, and accounts are
given of alliances between the Irish kings and those of Lochlann.
According to the ancient annalists, and the Psalter of Cashel,
quoted by Keating, O'Flaherty, and O'Halloran, Lughaidh Riabh
dearg, monarch of Ireland in the first century, was married to
Dervorgal, daughter of the king of Lochlann, or Denmark ; and
Tuathal Teachtmar, monarch of Ireland in the second century, also attacked Sicily, and having proceeded Gaul, was married was married to Bania, daughter of the king of Denmark and Fin Caesair, daughter the king the Gauls, Labradh Loing land; and Feilimidh Reachtmar, or Felim theLegislator, monarch seach, Lavra the Ships, called by O'Flaherty Lauradius Na of Ireland, son of king Tuathal, was married to Ughna or Una, valis, grandson king Hugony, having been exiled from Ireland, daughter of the king of Denmark, by whom he had a son, Conn
Cead Cathach, or Con of the Hundred Battles, a celebrated monarch
of Ireland in the second century. Cormac Cas, king of Munster
in the third century, was married to Oriund, daughter of the king
of Denmark, by whom he had a son named Mogha Corb, who
became king of Munster, and was a famous warrior; he invaded
Denmark with a powerful force to support his maternal uncles in a
contest for the crown of that country, and after gaining some
great victories, he succeeded in placing his uncles, Osna and Airid,
on the throne of Denmark; these were probably Frotho and Har Gauls, who, about that time, invaded Greece and Asia Minor old, who were kings of Denmark about that time. Saxo Gram with powerful forces. During the Punic wars the Irish are sup
maticus, and other Danish historians of the twelfth century, state
that some of the Danish kings invaded Ireland at a very remote
period, and these accounts are likewise given by various writers
quoted at pp. 55 to 60 in Hanmer's Chronicle, and also mentioned
by Johannes Meursius, in his History of Denmark, in which works
it is stated, that in the reign of Augustus Caesar, a short time
before the Christian era, Fridelf, or Fridelinus, king of Denmark, and Britons their wars with the Romans. At Crim came to Ireland with his forces, and took Dublin ; but the Danes
were soon after attacked and defeated by the king of Leinster, and forced to fly from Ireland. Frotho III. king of Denmark, son of Fridelin, next invaded Ireland, according to Saxo, fought battles
with two Irish kings, whom he calls Cepo, and Chervill, and com pelled them to give him tribute; Conaire Crimthan, and Cairbre
Ceann-Cait, were the monarchs of Ireland in the first century, about this period, and one of them may have been the king mentioned by Saxo under the name of Cepo, and several of the petty kings were named Cearbhail, or Carroll. Some of the Irish annalists mention that Concovar Mac Nesa, the celebrated king of Ulster in the beginning of the first century, defeated the Danes who came to Ulster under the command of Daval, son of the king of Lochlann, in a battle at Enagh Macha, a district sup posed to have been situated in the territory of Armagh or Tyrone. Various kings of Denmark, as Fridelf I. and II. , and Frotho II. , and III. , are stated the Danish historians have invaded Britain and Ireland the first century, and likewise Frotho IV. ,
the History Denmark by Meursius, which the following passage, speaking the conquests king Frotho various coun tries: “Eodem modo Hiberniam recepit, quaejam denuo desci verat Ugleto rege caeso, Dufflino urbe capta, pro tributo dene gato, maximum thesaurum inde reportavit. ”—“In like manner
won Ireland, which second time ravaged and having slain
king Huglet, and taken the city Dublin for refusing tribute,
took from thence immense treasure. ” Saxo states that Frotho the foreign expeditions the Irish princes about this period, may sent with his forces two famous champions named Haco and Star mentioned that Eogan More, Mogha Nuadhat, famous cater, who were men immense strength and gigantic stature, king Munster the second century, who went Spain and
third and fourth centuries, fought the great battles Gaura
and Knoc Ingin, Meath, which have been described pp. 267, 436, these notes.
From the accounts the ancient annalists and historians, appears that the Irish kings the early ages made many military expeditions into foreign countries. Ugaine Mor, Hugony the Great, called O'Flaherty Hugonius Magnus, who was monarch
Ireland about three centuries before the Christian era, and co temporary with Alexander the Great, stated have sailed with fleet into the Mediterranean, landed his forces Africa, and
attained high military command the armies Gaul, and brought Ireland body Gaulish troops, consisting 2,200 men, with whom he recovered the kingdom and became monarch
located this Gaulish colony Leinster, about the place after. wards called Wexford, stated pp. 217, 219, these notes. Aengus, grandson Lavra, became monarch Ireland about 280 years before the Christian era; and according the Book Reigns, quoted O'Halloran, said have led his forces into Greece, and was considered that was alliance with the
posed have sent auxiliary troops their Celtic brethren, the Gauls, who, alliance with the Carthaginians under Hannibal,
fought against the Roman armies Spain and Italy.