the seventh year of his regal sway; when his successor, AUоD-RUADн, of the royal line of Ir, challenged him to the martial field, where he forfeited his life and crown, A. M. 3497.

DR. KEATING presents us with a very romantic episode, relative to king Luighaidh, which the classic reader will at once trace to that fictitious loom, that wove the amours of Endymion and Diana-POETIC INVENTION.

"This Prince," says the Doctor, "it seems, as he was hunting in one of his forests," was separated from his retinue, and, in his endeavour to rejoin his suite, he was met, in a gloomy labyrinth, by an old withered hag, who, after promising to conduct him to his friends, succeeded, by her lascivious blandishments, in seducing the monarch to her embraces, who, "nothing loath," no sooner threw one of his arms round her shrivelled neck, and began to caress her, than the sibyl was metamorphosed into a blooming maiden, of the most enchanting beauty."

This allegorical representation of the genius of Erin, was introduced, no doubt, by the adulatory court Laureate, of the Irish king, by such another fawning sycophant, as "the deep-mouthed SOUTHEY." When fiction creates a NUMA POMPILIUS, she can easily bless him with the celestial charms of an EGERIA. If Southey, the time-serving apostate--the unprincipled defamer of the illustrious Byron, had lived in the days of Caligula, he would have lauded his horse as an accomplished senator, and ascribed to him " every virtue under heaven."

CHAPTER XIII.

THE FAMILY COALITION OF THE PRINCES OF THE HOUSE OF IR, TO MAIN · TAIN THE POSSESSION OF THE IRISH MONARCHY. THE REIGN OF AODH-DI THORBA AND CIOMBAOITH, AND QUEEN MACHA.-Building of thE FAMOUS PALACE OF EMANIA, IN THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. THE ELEVATION OF REACHTA TO THE THRONE, AND HIS WARS WITH THE ALBANIANS.

A. M. 3497. AODH RUADH, or the red, being a wise, shrewd, and political Prince, who, profiting by the melancholy fate that attended so many of his royal predecessors, for ages, came to the determination of making a compact with all his relatives of the Irian dynasty, that would insure the stability of the regal authority, in the hands of the members of that family.-He therefore summoned the national estates to Tara, and in their presence, ratified a solemn treaty, with his principal relatives, which stipulated between the contracting parties, that himself, and each of his brothers, or each of their eldest sons, should reign in rotation to twenty-one years, and that they should cordially unite in defeating the pretensions of the houses of Heber and Heremon, to the monarchy. The national estates gave their sanction to the agreement, and this act of settlement was formally recorded in the great Book of the Laws.

Whether the other pretenders to the throne, were intimidated by this family alliance, or by the standing army, with which the king then garrisoned all the strong holds in the kingdom, we have no historical evidence, or data, to solve the question; but it appears that AoDH enjoyed a tranquil reign of nineteen years, which was terminated by the fatal catastrophe of his being drowned, while passing a cataract at Belleck, in the county of Donegal, which, to this day, in commemoration of the event, retains the appellation of "Eas-ruadh," or the red-fall.

In pursuance of the terms of family compact, his brother, DITHORBA, assumed the regal office, and after a prosperous reign of twenty years, undisturbed by civil or foreign wars, he died at Tara, of a malignant distemper, A. M. 3518. His nephew, CIOMBAOITH, the son of his brother, Fionntan, ascended the vacant throne, without dispute or molestation. Possessing talents of prime order, which

were highly cultivated by education, he commenced his reign under the most brilliant auspices. His well-known prudence and elevation of mind, presaged the happiest results from his administration. He signalized the first acts of his regal authority, by enacting wise laws, and framing beneficial institutions for the promotion of national happiness and prosperity. After laying his plans of government before the national assembly, he married his cousin, the beautiful MACHA-RUADH, or the red-haired daughter of king AоDH. Though this celebrated Princess had red tresses, yet our historians represent her as the loveliest woman of her age. This monarch governed the kingdom with such justice and impartiality, that he was emphatically denominated, the second OLLAMH FODHLA.

After a beneficial reign of twenty years, rendered memorable by the blessings of peace, enjoyed by his people, he died at Tara, A. M. 3559. As soon as the honours due to his obsequies were paid, the eldest son of Dithorba, on whom the right of succession to the crown devolved, in consequence of Aodh, the father of the Queen regent, leaving no male issue, claimed the throne as his just and indisputable inheritance. But Macha, animated by a spirit of courage, that has immortalized her name, boldly entered the house of the national convention, and before the representative majesty of the kingdom, eloquently asserted that, as the daughter of Aodh, and the widow of Ciombaoith, she was the legitimate successor to the throne; that she wished to adhere to the laws of the realm, and obtain the sanction of that august assembly, in her proceedings; but that, if justice was denied by them, in contravening her legal and unalienable rights, she must in that case, resort to the sword, to enforce her claims. Druids, Brehons, and Senators, were confounded by the daring audacity of her harrangue; but the constitutional law annulled her claims, and shut her out from the throne, for there was no instance or precedent, which could warrant the convention to suffer a woman to reign in Ireland. As soon as she was told that they must surrender the crown to the rightful heir, she laconically replied," He must then fight up to his knees in blood, before he can pluck the diadem of my fathers from my brow." After uttering this threat, she hastened to the camp, where a numerous and devoted army waited her orders.

The sons of Dithorba, finding that the convention of the estates could not put them in possession of power, instantly proceeded to embody a military force, to expel the magnanimous heroine from the throne. As soon as the Queen learned that they were advancing on Tara, in hostile array, she marshalled her troops in the great square of the palace and addressed officers and soldiers, in the most moving and impassioned terms of eloquence. It is easy to judge, what effect the appeal of a beautiful Queen, had on the susceptible affections and combustible enthusiasm, of an Irish army, composed, as it was then, of courage and chivalry. Every heart was inflamed, and every tongue was loud in the exclamation-" Let your Majesty lead us to the enemy's camp!" In a moment, this intrepid Amazon mounted her war horse, and at the head of her devoted soldiers, marched forward to meet the coming foe.

When she approached the eminence, in the county of Meath, where the insurgents were encamped, she immediately drew up her troops in order of battle, and, before she gave the signal of attack, she rode along the lines, and addressed the most animating speech to every corps of her army :-she reminded them of the valour of her ancestors, and the justice of her cause," and though, gentlemen," added she, "you will combat to-day under the command of a woman, yet I shall prove that I am worthy of leading Irish heroes, and that, in the woman-heart of your Queen, there is glowing the chivalric spirit of my Milesian fathers."

Every column, inflamed with burning ardour, rushed to the charge :-the onset was terrible and destructive; for the troops of Dithorba were brave and determined, so that they stood before the spears of the assailants, like a wall of brass: the Queen, with invincible courage, rushed to every point of danger, rallied and

*

reanimated every retreating column, then placing herself at the head of the heavy archers, and the household troops of Tara, she made an impetuous and irresistible assault on the strong position, defended by the sons of Diathorba in person, and the flower of their army, which she carried in a gallant style, and succeeded in capturing a great number of her opponents, and putting her rivals and their fugitive soldiers to a shameful flight;-leaving in the hands of the conquering heroine, their camp, equipage, and spoils. This most decisive victory, gained by Macha, struck her enemies with fear and dismay, while it augmented her adherents, who now reverenced her with a kind of idolatrous admiration. When she returned to Tara in triumph, several members of the national convention, who had opposed her pretensions to the throne, fled, and the ArchDruid concealed himself in the sanctuary of the temple. But Macha, too magnanimous for revenge, displayed as much clemency in the cabinet, as she did valour in the combat, by publishing a decree of general amnesty, which had the effect of making former enemies, her attached friends.

Diathorba, overwhelmed with affliction, and dejected by grief, occasioned by the late defeat, died at Dundalk, in Louth, where he and his five sons, with the shattered remnant of their forces had retreated. In his last moments, he earnestly conjured his sons to make another effort to obtain the crown, and rescue the nation from the disgrace of having its sceptre wielded by a woman. As soon as they had celebrated the funeral ceremonies of their father, the five princes, whose names were Baoth, Buadhach, Bras, Ullach, and Borbchas, proceeded to recruit their army.

When they had completed their levies, which now amounted to a formidable force, they marched to Granard,țin the county of Longford, where they encamp

* ARCHERS.-The ancient Irish soldiers acquired great fame for their expertness and skill, in archery. No youth, however noble, would be admitted into the Fiana Erion, or Irish militia, who could not, with precision, pierce a given object with an arrow, at the distance of 200 yards. These cross-bowmen did great and destructive execution in battle. Perhaps the science of archery, can boast as high an antiquity in Ireland, as in any other nation on earth. In several renowned battles, the Irish bowmen obtained the victory. When our FINGAL delivered Caledonia from the Roman yoke, bis accomplished archers were the terror of the Roman legions. In 1314, at the famous battle of Bannockburn, two regiments of Irish archers, which O'Neil sent to the assistance of his brother-in-law, Robert Bruce, contributed so effectually to the success of the Scottish arms, that CHAUCER, afterwards in alluding to the defeat of his countrymen, celebrated the bravery of the Irish, in the following couplet:

"To Albion Scots we ne'er would yield-
The Irish Bowmen won the field."

SPENCER, in a letter to Lord Southampton, dated August, 1597, extols the Irish archers for their discipline and power. He says "They certainly do great execution with their short bows and little quivers, and their short-bearded arrows are fearfully Scythian." HOLINSHED, in his chronicles, tells us that the famous outlaw,Robin Hood, fled to Ireland, in the reign of Richard I.; and that an Irishman, of the name of Lawler, excelled him in feats of archery. By an act of Parliament passed at TRIM, in the reign of Edward IV. according to Harris, it was ordained, that "every loyal Irishman, in the pale, might have an Irish bow of his own length, and one fistmele, at least, betwixt the necks, with twelve shafts, of the length of three quarters of the standard." DR. HANMER, in recording the trial of skill and prowess in archery, between Robin Hood and Patrick Lawler, in Dublin, A. D. 1195, states that “Robin shot an arrow eleven score and seven yards, the distance from Old Bridge to St. Michael's church; but Lawler, his competitor, sent his arrow three yards farther."

GRANARD is a flourishing and well-built town, environed by a very beautiful and romantic country, in the county of Longford, at the distance of 75 miles N. W. from Dublin.

Here there is a very noble Rath, or moat, from whose summit, a charming and diverVOL. I-51

ed, and instantly despatched heralds to the Queen, requiring her either to surrender the crown, or try the fate of another battle. She told the herald, she regarded the requisition to relinquish the crown, with pity and scorn; but that she was ready and willing to meet her competitors in battle, and abide by the event. The Queen, in consequence, once more took the field, and attacked the sons of Diathorba, in their camp, at Granard, and after an obstinate contest, gained a decisive victory over them.

The vanquished chieftains, with the broken remains of their forces, precipitately retreated to Ulster, whither the victorious Queen pursued them, and overtaking them, in the county of Armagh, brought them to an action, in which she annihilated their whole army, and made captives of themselves. This unexampled success, prostrated the hopes of all the Queen's enemies, and filled her 'friends with exultation.

When the captive Princes were brought before her, instead of upbraiding them for their conduct, or treating them with the insolence of a conqueror, she, with a superior greatness of soul, rather complimented them, on the bravery they had displayed, in their wars with her, and sympathized generously in their misfortunes. When it was announced to her, that a council of the Druids and Brehons, had passed sentence of death on these gallant, but unfortunate warriors, she indignantly revoked the sentence, observing, "that Princes of the Milesian dynasty, as well as her blood relations, should never die like criminals." The punishment she then imposed, was, that they should build a stately palace, almost equal in magnitude and grandeur of architecture, to that of Tara, for her, which should ever after be the court of the Princes of Ulster. She then took a gold bodkin from her handkerchief, and designed the plan of the famous palace of EMANIA,-a superb structure, which for ages subsequent to this era, A. M. 3563, was occupied by the kings of Ulster. This magnificent edifice, which, for extent and beauty of architecture, was only inferior to Tara, received the name of Emania, from the incident of Queen Macha having sketched out its form with her bodkin. The Irish designation of that fabric, was, according to Dr. Keating, Eamhuin Macha;-for Ea is pin, and Muin, neck; which, when compounded, signifies literally, the pin of the neck. Of the immense pile of Emania, which stood near Armagh; or of the princely castle of the Craob-Ruadh, or Red Branch, not a vestige of its architectural splendour remains, by which the antiquary could trace out its site; for like "heaven-built Ilium," time has scattered its mural fragments in the winds of oblivion, but fame has sculptured its colossal image from the indestructible adamant of HISTORY, and placed it in the temple of immortality. The kings of Ulster were generally styled, the "Monarchs of Emania." OSSIAN frequently alludes (not Macpherson's utopian Bard) to the "stately halls of Emania ;" and in an apostrophe, he says, "hail to thy pillared grandeur, lovely Emania! the seat of green Ullin's kings." When we bring down our history to the period, when the Collas destroyed the royal palace of Emania, we shall say more of it.

Macha, having triumphed over all her enemies, and immortalized her name, by the glory of her exploits, was suddenly seized by a fit of apoplexy, at Tara, which terminated her life and reign, A. M. 3566. The exploits of this illustrious heroine have been celebrated by the loftiest effusions of Irish eloquence and epic poetry. Prior to her death, she, by the concurrence of the national estates, appointed her

sified prospect of six counties can be commanded. The houses in Granard, are almost built of brick, and the spacious streets are well paved. The barracks are a great addition to the fine appearance of the town. Granard gives the title of Earl, to the Forbes' family, who are of Scotch descent, and were ennobled by Charles I. Castle Forbes, the elegant residence of the Earl of Granard, is at Newtown Forbes, between Longford and Granard. On every side of the latter town, there are landscape attrac tions for the Painter and the Poet.

cousin, REACHTA, the grand-son of king Lughaidh, of the dynasty of Heber, her

successor.

He distinguished himself eminently, in the Queen's wars, and gave proofs of possessing those qualities, that dignify the royal station. He was a very ambitious Prince, and no sooner had he taken the reigns of power, than he fitted out a large armament, with which he invaded Scotland, and reduced the country to complete subjection; and afterwards assumed the title of Monarch of Ireland and Albany." He returned to Tara, enriched with spoils and trophies. After a glorious reign of twenty years, he was killed in battle, by his successor, Ju

GHAINE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE IRISH SHIELD:

Sir-The tenth number of your excellent work, reflects, I can conscientiously aver, credit on your talents and research.-Proceed undeviatingly, with your HISTORY OF IRELAND, and fame and emolument, will, and must, ultimately reward your labours. I cordially, as an Irishman, commend your inflexible boldness and fearless courage, in denouncing all those unthinking and lukewarm Irishmen, who would wish to diminish the merit of the successful, and unexampled efforts of a genuine PATRIOT, with whom the zealous, but imprudent personages, who, unfortunately for our country, figured in the bloody events of 1798 and 1803, are no more to be compared, than the honest and disinterested patriotism of the virtuous CATO, with the vicious, iniquitous, and profligate career of CATALINE. The idea is too absurd to be entertained. The future historian will applaud O'CONNELL, as the fortunate liberator of his country, while he shall reprobate the reckless and intemperate enthusiasm of men, who cannot, like Marius, appeal to the victories they had gained for their country. No. If they boast of their triumphs, you can remind them of the conflagrations and tortures that attended them;-if they allege that they paved the way for O'Connell to emancipation, you may tell them, that it was with the slaughtered carcasses of the best and bravest of the Irish youth;-if they demand monuments, bid them cast a retrospective glance at the bloody scaffolds of the SHEARS, the ORRS, the PORTERS, RUSSELLS, EMMETS, and the countless victims, whom they consigned to immolation.

I was greatly pleased with your biography of Dr. Thomas Leland; but I will be so candid as to tell you, that on Plowden's authority, you ascribe prejudices to him, which I think, never influenced his mind, as a historian: he was a man too enlightened, to follow in the wake of bigotry. That his history has faults, I am willing to concede; and where he censures the Roman Catholics, I have no doubt but he was led to do so, by the representations of men whose candour he unthinkingly trusted. That he was a "libellous, venal historian, who vilified his country for a mitre," is a sweeping charge, which rests only on the solitary ipse dixit of PLOWDEN and PEPPER. Plowden's anecdote is, I think, unfounded in fact.-"Non vultus non color."

If you consider the following attempt to strike a line of comparison between HUME and ROBERTSON, is worthy of a place in your periodical, it is at your service. I am, sir, your friend, JUVERNA.

A PARALLEL BETWEEN HUME AND ROBERTSON, AS HISTORIANS.

The task I have assigned myself, is one of difficulty, one that would, to arrive at accuracy, require the gigantic intellect of Doctor Johnson, and the acute dis