[320] Address.—­Gilbert’s Viceroys, p. 82, where the address may be seen in extenso.

[321] Year.—­Four Masters, vol. iii. p. 227.

[322] Carnfree.—­This place has been identified by Dr. O’Donovan.  It is near the village of Tulsk, co.  Roscommon.  It was the usual place of inauguration for the O’Connors.  See note d, Annals, vol. iii. p. 221.

[323] Athlone.—­This was one of the most important of the English towns, and ranked next to Dublin at that period.  We give an illustration of the Castle of Athlone at the beginning of Chapter XX.  The building is now used for a barrack, which in truth is no great deviation from its original purpose.  It stands on the direct road from Dublin to Galway, and protects the passage of the Shannon.  There is a curious representation on a monument here of an unfortunate English monk, who apostatized and came to Ireland.  He was sent to Athlone to superintend the erection of the bridge by Sir Henry Sidney; but, according to the legend, he was constantly pursued by a demon in the shape of a rat, which never left him for a single moment.  On one occasion he attempted to preach, but the eyes of the animal glared on him with such fury that he could not continue.  He then took a pistol and attempted to shoot it, but in an instant it had sprung on the weapon, giving him, at the same time, a bite which caused his death.  It is to be presumed that this circumstance must have been well known, and generally believed at the time, or it would not have been made a subject for the sculptor.

[324] Woman.—­There are several versions of this story.  The Four Masters say he was killed “treacherously by the English.”  The Annals of Clonmacnois say that “he came to an atonement with Geoffrey March, and was restored to his kingdom,” and that he was afterwards treacherously killed by an Englishman, “for which cause the Deputy the next day hanged the Englishman that killed him, for that foul fact.”  The cause of the Englishman’s crime was “meer jealousie,” because O’Connor had kissed his wife.

[325] Cavalry.—­Horse soldiery were introduced early into Britain, through the Romans, who were famous for their cavalry.

[326] Castle.—­The Annals of Boyle contain a wonderful account of the pirrels or engines constructed by the English for taking this fortress.

[327] Felim.—­The Four Masters say, when writing of the act of treachery mentioned above:  “They all yearned to act treacherously towards Felim, although he was the gossip of the Lord Justice.”—­Annals, vol. iii. p. 285.  He was sponsor or godfather to one of his children.

CHAPTER XX.

The Age was not all Evil—­Good Men in the World and in the Cloister—­Religious Houses and their Founders—­The Augustinians and Cistercians—­Franciscans and Dominicans—­Their close Friendship—­ Dominican Houses—­St. Saviour’s, Dublin—­The Black Abbey, Kilkenny—­ Franciscan Houses—­Youghal—­Kilkenny—­Multifarnham—­Timoleague—­ Donegal—­Carmelite Convents and Friars—­Rising of the Connaught Men—­ A Plunderer of the English—­Battle of Downpatrick—­The MacCarthys defeat the Geraldines at Kenmare—­War between De Burgo and FitzGerald.