LETTERS TO A FRIEND.

MY DEAR FRIend,

XVIII.

THE account which I am about to give you of Callaghan, king of Munster is treated as a mere romance by some Historians, while related by far the greater number, as an authentic narrative. He is represented to have been a very successful warrior against the country's common foe, whom he defeated in many pitched battles, and completely reduced the power of the Danes in Munster. During the chances of war, the wife and sister of Sitricus fell into his hands, and met with such kind treatment from him as gained their esteem and confidence.

When they were liberated, they returned to Sitricus, who had been proclaimed king of Dublin by his victorious countrymen. From the communications of his wife and sister, this cruel Prince formed a treacherous device to get Callaghan into his power, and in order to this, he entered into a league with Donogh, the son of Flan Siona, who in the latter part of his reign had employed Danish mercenaries to lay waste the beautiful Isles of Lough Ree, and to plunder the rich monastry of Clonmacnoise of all its treasures in gold and silver, while with unmerited warfare he harassed his son-in-law Niell Glundubb, his appointed successor. This prince ascend

ed the throne in 916, upon the death of Flan, who had reigned thirty-seven years. Far from pursuing the steps of his father-in-law, the new monarch opposed the Danes, and revived the Taltine games, which in consequence of their incursions had been given up since the year 872. After having ravaged Leinster and Munster, the Danes stormed the city of Armagh, and slew 1000 of its inhabitants. Their farther depredations were stopped by the determinate bravery of Niell, who obtained a signal victory over them at Lough Foyle.

He was however, himself overpowered and slain with most of his generals by Sitricus; and thus ended this short reign of three years. Donogh succeeded him and followed his father Flan's example in forming a confederacy with the Danes. He counselled and aided Sitricus in his scheme of inveigling the unsuspicious Callaghan, to whom an embassage was sent with a treaty of peace to be ratified with an alliance in marriage between Berina, the sister of Sitricus and Callaghan; such terms could not but be agreeable to this prince, upon whom the charms of his beautiful captive had made a deep impression, and with inconsiderate eagerness, he conceded contrary to the advice of his faithful friend and monitor, Kenedy. With a chosen band of eighty men among whom was Dunchan, the son of Kenedy, Callaghan in full confidence of the sincerity of Sitricus proceeded towards Dublin, and had arrived within its precincts before the warning of a friend arrested his progress. The wife of Sitricus was an Irishwoman, she loved her country, and favoured him who made light the chains of her captivity when she was in his power. No sooner had she discovered the secret

purpose of her husband, than she despatched a messenger with the tidings to Callaghan: but he was already entrapped. When he would have retreated, he could not; the enemy surrounded him on every side. His brave followers cut their way through hosts of Danes, but more and more issued from the ambushments in which they had been concealed, until the blood and bodies of the slain covered the ground, none escaped but Callaghan and Dunchan who were led triumphantly to Sitricus. On the following unreasonable terms, this perfidious tyrant offered liberty to the royal captive. That Limerick, Cashel, Cork, Waterford, and all the strong garrisons of Munster be delivered up, and Eric* or a fine be paid for every Danish soldier slain by a Momonian. "Such," said Sitricus, "is my demand, and neither power nor policy shall deliver you out of my hands."

Callaghan heard in silence, and so far he seemed to comply as to offer no opposition or change of the requisition proposed, but with the dispatch, he sent his own private instructions; which were that no terms or treaty of peace should be made, or negotiated with him who was bound by no law of God or man. That Kenedy should immediately be proclaimed king of Munster, and expel every Dane from the Province. Furthermore, Callagban advised that a strong army should march to Ardmacha, where he was told, he and his fellow prisoner were to be sent. At the same time he directed that the Momonian fleet should steer its course to Dundalk; that if the first failed to rescue

* Eric, or blood-fine, laid on the kindred of a homicide, is one of the ancient Irish laws. It was paid by the different relatives of the man slayer, to the family of the slain.

them, the last should intercept their passage to Nor way, whither Sitricus had resolved on sending them.

These injunctions were strictly followed, a body of chosen troops under the command of Donogh Mac Keefe, marched through Connaught to Armagh; and a naval force of seventy ships commanded by Failbe Fionn, Prince of Desmond, sailed for Dundalk. The land army proceeded to Armagh, which they encompassed and took by storm, putting the garrison to death. They then pursued the main body of the Danes to Dundalk, where Sitricus had already arrived with his prisoners, and having put them on board a Danish vessel caused them to be bound to the masts. In such a position, the army sent to rescue them, could do nothing, But now the Momonian fleet entered the bay. They came and saw the shameful bonds which held their king, and were fired with indignation. They boarded the vessel, and with eager impetuosity, the admiral himself rushed forward to cut asunder the chains of the prisoners, who were quickly borne off to their own people. They both escaped unhurt, but their brave deliverer, unmindful of his own safety while he guarded them; fell under the blows of Sitricus, who having severed the head from the mangled body held it up streaming with blood, hoping thereby to intimidate all who would have opposed him, and enfeeble their efforts. Far different was the effect of this appalling spectacle. It enraged them to the most desperate acts of revenge, Fingall the second in command, dashed forward, threw himself upon Sitricus with a lion-like grasp, and plunged into the deep where together they sunk into a watery grave. Two other Irish chieftains, determined not to be outdone, flung themselves

upon the two brothers of Sitricus, Tor and Magnus, and in like manner were engulphed by overwhelming billows. Such unprecedented deeds could not fail to fill the minds of the enemy with dismay. They gave way on every side, and much slaughter ensued. The victorious Momonians carried back their king in triumph to his own dominions; the only draw-back to the public rejoicing, was the death of their four brave chieftains: such a loss they felt was irreparable,

There remains little more to be said of Callaghan ; wishing, if possible, utterly to root out the Danes, on resuming the government of his province, he appointed Kenedy the commander-in-chief of the whole army, and under him his sons Mahon, and Brian Boiromhe, then in his sixteenth year. Thus were these martial youths trained to arms. Details are given of numerous warlike engagements which they had with the Danes, wherein they obtained the victory. But the most signal of all was the battle of Singland, where Kenedy and his brave sons, with a numerous army, encountered the Danes, under the command of Amlare. At this time, 943, Limerick was the strong hold of the Danes. In those days battles were fought without fire-arms; a discharge of fling-stones, flights of arrows and lances were the weapons used by the kerns, or light infantry, while the heavy armed troops fought breast to breast with their swords, skeyns, and pole-axes.

The light armed Irish infantry were called kerns. They are represented by Giraldus as not a little formidable from their remarkable activity in returning constantly to the attack with a dexterous use of their

missile weapons. A constantly harassing force, light and agile, is the description given of them.