238 CHRONOLOGICAL COMPENDIUM. as a grave-stone the remains of the rebels who fell there at that memorable period. And whether this stone be considered as a monument of remote antiquity, or as a record of the events of our own times, it must be regarded with interest; but if, in addition to this, such evidences have been adduced as may justify the supposition that it is the Lia-Fail of Irish history, it will be difficult to find a rude monument of antiquity with which so many national associations may be connected. The material of which this monument is composed is a granular lime-stone, very probably from some primary district; but whether it be Irish or foreign, has not been ascertained. It may be remarked, however, that no granular limestone occurs in the vicinity. The stone is at present but six feet above ground, but the real height is said to be twelve feet.' Petrie thus identifies the site of this plan, so dear to every Irish heart: '1. The Well Neamhnach. This is marked in the poem as lying east of the Mur Tea, which is within the principal rath of Tara, and more accurately in the prose tract, as northeast, and supplying the stream on which the first mill was erected in Ireland. This well was at once identified, as it is the source of a stream which has turned a mill on the site of the ancient one to the present day. '2. The next grand feature identified was Rath-na-Riogh, the most important enclosure on the Hill, which is clearly pointed out by its locality in relation to the Well Neamhnach. 3. These two points being ascertained, no doubt remained of the situation of RathLaoghaire, which was situated immediately south of Rath-na-Riogh. 'Having ascertained beyond question these three grand features, the smaller monuments within the enclosure of Rath-na-Riogh were at once identified. These are described in the prose only, and are as follows: 4. The ruins of the House of Cormac, in the south-east of the rath, facing RathLaoghaire, which is to the south. 5. The ruins of the Forradh, beside the House of Cormac, which is to the east. '6. Tea-Mur, the ruins of which were, according to the prose, as given in the Book of Glendalough, situated between the mur of the Forradh and the House of Cormac. 7. The Mound of the Hostages, which, according to the prose, lies to the north-east of the ruins of the Forradh. 8. The Mound of Glas Teamhrach, which, according to the prose, lies to the west of the Mound of the Hostages. '9. The Lia-Fail, which lies by the side of the Mound of the Hostages 10. The Rath of the Synods was the monument next clearly identified. This, according to both the verse and prose, was situated immediately to the north of the Lia-Fail and the Mound of the Hostages, and within it were the remains of Adamnan's Pavilion. '11. The Cross of Adamnan, which, according to the prose, was situated to the east of this rath, is found in the situation pointed out, but in a mutilated state. 12 and 13. South of these was the Mound of Adamnan; but this, as well as the House of Mariseo, to the north of the Well Neamhnach, have long been destroyed, and their site occupied by the church dedicated to St. Patrick, and erected since the time of the writers of these ancient monuments. 14. However clearly the preceding remains were identified, they were less distinctly pointed out than the next grand monument now to be noticed, namely, the Teach Midhchuarta, or banqueting house, which is described with a remarkable accuracy as an oblong structure, having its lower end to the north, and higher end to the south, with walls to the east and In these walls, according to the prose account, there were twelve or fourteen doors, west. CHRONOLOGICAL COMPENDIUM. 239 six or seven on each side; and it is a curious fact, that there is a difficulty in ascertaining, at the present moment, whether the number was twelve or fourteen. 15. The next important feature is the Sheskin, or Marsh of Tara, which is described as lying to the north-west of Teach Midhchuarta. This spot, though now dry, was a marsh within the memory of some of the present inhabitants, one of whom, by stopping the well and cutting a drain below it, has changed its ancient character. The ancient name of the well is, however, still preserved, namely, Tobar-Finn. This feature being ascertained, the few which remain were at once identified. 16. Rath Graine, which, according to the verse and prose, lies west of the Sheskin, on the height of the hill. '17. Fotath Ratha Graine, which, according to the same authorities, lies to the south of the preceding. '18. The Rath of Caelchu, which, according to the prose, was near the northern head of Long na m-ban. '19 and 20. And lastly, the two Claenferts, or declivities. Of these the northern was memorable in Irish history for the slaughter of the virgins of the Lagenians on Saman's day; and the southern, for a false sentence pronounced there by a king named Lughaidh Mac Con, for which he was afterwards dethroned. 'The remaining important features noticed in these ancient tracts, many of which they describe as being even then nearly effaced, are now totally destroyed. 'It will have been seen that the veracity of these ancient monuments has thus been proved, beyond the possibility of rational doubt, by many of the principal monuments which they describe, and which still remain. And from this light the names of these monuments, which had been lost to tradition for centuries, have been restored on the Ordnance Map, where they are likely to be preserved for ever.' How Ireland was first Christianized.-Pagan Rome used providentially to promote the Faith.-The Mission of St. Palladius.-Innocent I. claims authority to found Churches and condemn Heresy.-Disputes concerning St. Patrick's Birthplace.-Ireland receives the Faith generously.-Victoricus.-St. Patrick's Vision.--His Roman Mission clearly proved.-Subterfuges of those who deny it.-Ancient Lives of the Saint.-St. Patrick's Canons. His Devotion and Submission to the Holy See.-St. Patrick visits Tara.-Easter Sunday.-St. Patrick's Hymn.-Dubtach salutes him.-He overthrows the idols at Magh Slecht.-The Princesses Ethnea and Fethlimia.-Their Conversion.-Baptism of Aengus.-St. Patrick travels through Ireland.-His success in Munster. He blesses the whole country from Cnoc-Patrick.-The first Irish Martyr.-St. Patrick's Death.-Pagan Prophecies.-Conor Mac Nessa.-Death of King Laeghairé.-The Church did not and does not countenance Pagan Superstition.-Oilioll Molt.-Death of King Aengus.-Foundation of the Kingdom of Scotland.-St. Brigid.-Shrines of the Three Saints.-St. Patrick's Prayer for Ireland, and its Fulfilment. T has been conjectured that the great Apostle of Ireland, St. Patrick, was carried captive to the land of his adoption, in one of the plundering expeditions of the monarch Nial-an eminent instance of the overruling power of Providence, and of the mighty effects produced by causes the most insignificant and unconscious. As we are not writing an ecclesiastical history of Ireland, and as we have a work of that nature in contemplation, we shall only make brief mention of the events connected with the life and mission of the saint at present; but the Christianizing of any country must always form an important epoch, politically and socially, and, as such, demands the careful consideration of the historian. How and when the seed of faith was sown in ancient Erinn before the time of the great Apostle, cannot now be ascertained. We know the silent rapidity with which that faith spread, from its first promulgation by the shores of the Galilean lake, until it became the recognised religion of earth's mightiest empire. We know, also, that by a noticeable providence, Rome was chosen from the beginning as the source from whence the light should emanate. We know how pagan Rome, which had subdued and crushed material empires, and scattered nations and national customs as chaff before the wind, failed utterly to subdue or crush this religion, though promulgated by the feeblest of its plebeians. We know how the material prosperity of that mighty people was overruled for the furtherance of eternal designs; and as the invincible legions 242 THE MISSION OF PALLADIUS. continually added to the geographical extent of the empire, they also added to the number of those to whom the gospel of peace should be proclaimed. The first Christian mission to Ireland, for which we have definite and reliable data, was that of St. Palladius. St. Prosper, who held a high position in the Roman Church, published a chronicle in the year 433, in which we find the following register: 'Palladius was consecrated by Pope Celestine, and sent as the first Bishop to the Irish believing in Christ.'* This mission was unsuccessful. Palladius was repulsed by the inhabitants of Wicklow,† where he landed. He then sailed northward, and was at last driven by stress of weather towards the Orkneys, finding harbour, eventually, on the shores of Kincardineshire. Several ancient tracts give the details of his mission, its failure, and his subsequent career. The first of those authorities is the Life of St. Patrick in the Book of Armagh; and in this it is stated that he died in the land of the Britons.' The second Life of St. Patrick, in Colgan's collection, has changed Britons into 'Picts.' In the Annotations of Tierchan,' also preserved in the Book of Armagh, it is said that Palladius was also called Patricius,§ and that he suffered martyrdom among the Scots, 'as ancient saints relate.' Prosper also informs us, that Palladius was a deacon|| of the Roman Church, and that he received a commission from the Holy See to send Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, to root out heresy,¶ and convert the Britons to the Catholic faith. Thus we find the Church, even in the earliest ages, occupied in her twofold mission, of converting the heathen and preserving the faithful from error. St. Innocent I., writing to Decentius, in the year 402, refers thus to this important fact: 'Is it not known to all that the things which have been delivered to the Roman Church by Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, and preserved ever since, should be observed by all; and that nothing is to be introduced devoid of authority, or borrowed elsewhere? Especially, as it is manifest that no one has founded churches for all Italy, the Gauls, Spain, Africa, and the interjacent islands, except such as were appointed priests by the venerable Peter and his successors.' Palladius was accompanied by four companions: Sylvester and Solinus, who remained after him in Ireland; and Augustinus and Benedictus, who followed him** |
