litia should not receive any damage or reproach for any misbehaviour committed by him.

The second qualification for admittance into these standing forces was, that no one should be received unless he had a poetical genius and could compose verses, and was well acquainted with the twelve books of poetry.

The tenth and last qualification was, to take an oath of allegiance to be true and faithful to the commanding officer of the army. These were the terms required for admission among these brave troops, which, so long as they were exactly insisted upon, the militia of Ireland were an invincible defence to their country, and a terror to rebels at home and enemies abroad.

to stand at the distance of nine ridges of land from him, and to throw all their javelins at him at once; if he had the skill with his target and his stake to defend himself, and come off

unhurt, he was admitted into the service, but if he had the misfortune to be wounded by one of these javelins, he was rejected as unqualified, and turned off with reproach.

A fourth qualification was, that he should run well, and in his flight defend himself from his enemy; and to make a trial of his activity he had his hair plaited, and was obliged to run through a wood, with all the militia pursuing

him, and was allowed but the breadth of a tree before the rest at his setting out; if he was overtaken in the chase, or received a wound before he had run through the wood, he was refused as too sluggish and unskilful to fight

with honour among those valiant troops.

It was required in the fifth place that whoever was a candidate for admission into the militia should have a strong arm, and hold his weapons steady; and if it was observed that his hands shook, he was rejected.

The sixth requisite was, that when he ran through a wood his hair should continue tied up during the chase; if it fell loose he could not be received.

The seventh qualification was, to be so swift and light of foot as not to break a rotten stick by standing upon it.

The eight condition was, that none should have the honour of being enrolled among the Irish militia that was not so active as to leap over a tree as high as his forehead; or could not, by the agility of his body, stoop easily

under a tree that was lower than his knees.

The ninth condition required was, that he could, without stopping or lessening his speed, draw a thorn out of his foot.

AFTER CLONTARF.1

This illustrious tribe met with new difficulties in their return, for Donough Mac

Giolla Patrick, king of Ossery, having raised the people of Leinster, resolved to hinder the a considerable army of his own subjects and march of the Dailgais, and oppose their journey through any part of his territories. For this the motions of this tribe, and to bring him purpose he sent out scouts and spies to attend intelligence of every day's march since they began their journey from the battle of Clontarf. The King of Ossery had conceived an invincible hatred against the Dailgais, because Bryen Boiroimhe had made his father pritherefore he thought that it was reasonable soner and killed many of his subjects, and

for him at this time to take revenge for the indignities his father had received, which he proposed to accomplish by harassing the

Dailgais, and cutting them off in their return. But before he began hostilities he sent a messenger, Donough, the general of that tribe, to Athy, where he was encamped, to demand hostages from him, as security that he would not commit any outrages in passing through his country, or if he refused, the King of Ossery would oppose his march and prevent his return. Donough received this insolent demand with scorn and indignation, and instead of complying, returned for an answer that he was amazed at the baseness of the King of Ossery for taking advantage of the distress of his army; but notwithstanding his men were fatigued by their long journey, he would deand give him ample satisfaction; and told the cide the dispute with him in a pitched battle, messenger withal, that it was the greatest Mac Giolla Patrick, whom he ever despised misfortune of his whole life to be insulted by

as below his notice; but now his circumstances

1 The great battle of Clontarf was fought on Friday, April 23d, 1014.

were so changed, as to put him under the contempt of a cowardly prince, who had the insolence to demand hostages, or to challenge him into the field, where he did not doubt to make him feel the force of his arms, and of his courageous followers, who were justly esteemed invincible. The messenger, instead of returning the answer, presumed to dissuade Donough from his design of fighting; and insisted that his men were in no capacity to engage with the forces of his master, whose army was fresh and in good heart, and seemed impatient to enter into the field. But Donough replied with his usual majesty that if the law of nations had not secured him from ill treatment, he would instantly cut his tongue out for his insolence, and ordered him out of his presence with this injunction, to tell his master that he would meet him and his subjects of Ossery in the field if he had but one man to stand by him. With this answer the messenger returned, and Donough drew up his men in order of battle. His sick and wounded he designed to commit to the charge of one third part of his army, and with the rest he resolved to engage the enemy, but the wounded soldiers, who were lying upon the ground, immediately started up, and by the violence of the motion bursting open their wounds, they desired their general not to leave them behind, but suffer them to have a part in the action; and stopping their wounds a second time with moss, they laid hold of their weapons, and took their places in the ranks, resolved to assist their companions, and come off with victory or bravely die in the attempt. But most of them were so much reduced by loss of blood that they could not stand upon their legs, and to remedy this misfortune, they desired the general that a number of stakes should be cut in the neighbouring wood and driven into the ground; every wounded soldier was to be tied fast to one of these piles, and then to be placed regularly between two sound men, which would have that effect, that their sound companions would be ashamed to fly and abandon them in that helpless condition to the fury of the enemy; and therefore it would sharpen their courage to reflect that nothing but victory could secure the lives of their distressed friends, who would be cut off to a man if they were not relieved by the bravery of their fellow-soldiers. This proposal was put in execution to the great surprise of the enemy, who judged that they had nothing to expect but death or victory.

The army of Leinster and Ossery, under the command of Mac Giolla Patrick, were astonished at the resolution of that martial tribe, who were under arms expecting the sign of battle. They positively refused to fight, and told the king in a mutinous manner that nothing but a defeat was to be expected from the bravery of the Dailgais, that the wounded were as eager to engage as the sound, and therefore they would not run wilfully into the jaws of lions, who would inevitably tear them to pieces. Mac Giolla Patrick was ashamed, after he had given the challenge, to retire without fighting; and, upbraiding his army with fear and cowardice, insisted that they had the advantage of numbers, that the enemy had but a handful of men, worn out with grievous wounds and long marches, and that the first charge must give them victory. But the courage of the Dailgais, and their unexpected resolution, had impressed such a terror upon the army of Leinster, that they absolutely refused to engage with such desperate enemies; and the king, fearing a general mutiny and defection, was obliged to give over his design, and content himself with falling upon the Dailgais, and by constant skirmishes and stratagems of war to cut them off in their retreat; and this method was so successfully executed, that he annoyed the Dailgais and destroyed more of their men than he could possibly have done in a pitched battle. The conduct and experience of Donough was remarkable in making good his retreat and securing his men against the sudden attack of the enemy; but, notwithstanding all his diligence and caution, he brought back into their own country no more of that valiant tribe than 850, for a great number perished in the battle of Clontarf, and 150 were cut off in their return by Mac Giolla Patrick, king of Ossery.

[Gerald Nugent was, says Hardiman in his Irish Minstrelsy, the "son of a settler," that is, he was one of those Irishmen of English descent of whom it was complained that they became more Irish than the Irish themselves. In the reign of King John the barony of Delvin in Meath was granted to Gilbert de Nugent, "the ancestor of our poet and also of the present noble family of Westmeath." By the time of Elizabeth the Nugents had taken to the Irish language like many other inhabitants of the Pale, and Gerald Nugent was a bard and harpist. He composed in Irish, and flinging aside his harp he joined with the Irish in their attempt to throw off the yoke of the conquerors. Of course the result was failure, and Nugent became an exile. In his grief at leaving the land of his birth he composed the ode or lamentation, a translation of which by the Rev. W. H. Drummond we extract from Hardiman's Minstrelsy. This is the only one of his poems that has been preserved. Where and when Gerald Nugent died we have been unable to discover.]

ODE WRITTEN ON LEAVING IRELAND.

What sorrow wrings my bleeding heart,
To flee from Innisfail!
Oh, anguish from her scenes to part,
Of mountain, wood, and vale!
Vales that the hum of bees resound,

And plains where generous steeds abound.

While wafted by the breeze's wing,
I see fair Fintan's shore recede,

More poignant griefs my bosom wring,
The farther eastward still I speed.
With Erin's love my bosom warms,
No soil but hers for me has charms.

A soil enrich'd with verdant bowers,

And groves with mellow fruits that teem; A soil of fair and fragrant flowers,

Of verdant turf and crystal stream: Rich plains of Ir, that bearded corn, And balmy herbs, and shrubs adorn.

A land that boasts a pious race,

A land of heroes brave and bold; Enriched with every female grace

Are Banba's maids with locks of gold. Of men, none with her sons compare; No maidens with her daughters fair.

If Heaven, propitious to my vow,

Grant the desire with which I burn,
Again the foamy deep to plow,

And to my native shores return;
"Speed on," I'll cry, "my galley fleet,
Nor e'er the crafty Saxon greet."
No perils of the stormy deep

I dread yet sorrow wounds my heart;
To leave thee, Leogaire's fort, I weep;
From thee, sweet Delvin, must I part!
Oh! hard the task-oh! lot severe,
To flee from all my soul holds dear.

Farewell, ye kind and generous bards, Bound to my soul by friendship strong; And ye Dundargvais' happy lands,

Ye festive halls-ye sons of song; Ye generous friends in Meath who dwell, Beloved, adored, farewell! farewell!