it into Latin. At all events, there is a passage in Dr. Charles O'Conor's Memoir of his venerable relative, Charles O'Conor, of Belanagare, from which we learn, that we are also indebted for other literary works to the seclusion which it was deemed prudent among the leading Roman Catholics to observe, during this alarming period of Prince Charles Edward's expedition to Scotland. The passage alluded to is here subjoined, as further tending to illustrate the probability of the previous supposition: "During that memorable enterprize," observes the Doctor, in reference to the Chevalier's progress in the neighbouring island, "Mr. O'Conor and his friends thought it adviseable to see each other but seldom. Frequent meetings might give rise to frequent calumny; and suspicion was so much awake, that every thing, but perfect solitude, might be construed into combination: he therefore mixed with no society, though frequently applied to, by letters and personal solicitations. . . . . 'Over us,' says he, in a letter to Dr. Dignam, there is a storm gathering, which is likely to involve us all indiscriminately, in one common calamity; God help us, when it bursts; for my part, I am endeavouring to prepare myself for the worst, and cautioning my friends to do the same. I have not seen the face of a clergyman these three weeks, and I know not what is become of our Bishop.'. . . . It was apprehended at this time," adds Dr. O'Conor, "that the flames of civil war would spread themselves throughout England and Ireland, as well as Scotland; when our interests and prejudices are deeply concerned, and our passions involved in a contest, it is not easy to be a frigid spectator. Besides, this solitude was not spent in idle pursuits; it was the parent of Mr. O'Conor's best works. It was an otium cum dignitate, that gave birth to some of his best productions". Under such circumstances, in the absence of direct information on the subject, the Editor would consider

' Harris's Life of William III., preface. — Dr. Charles O'Conor's Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the late Charles

O'Conor, of Belanagare, Esq., M. R. I. A., pp. 198-200: Dublin, J. Mehain, 49, Essex-street, 1796.

consider it most likely, that the Latin version of Colonel O'Kelly's work originated.

As the Macaria Excidium, in its present enlarged or Latin and English shape, may be considered to include a sort of outline of the history of Ireland, from the earliest times to the end of the War of the Revolution, the Editor hopes that circumstance, together with the frequent necessity for double evidence, or extracts from the writers of both sides relative to the many controverted topics occurring in the text, will tend to excuse the length to which his department of the work has run. This length he the more regrets, since it has swelled the volume to a size, which makes it requisite that the narrative by Monsieur Dumont, an officer in Marshal Schonberg's Regiment of Horse, during the campaigns of 1689 and 1690 in Ireland, should be deferred to a future occasion, for publication. But, since the Huguenot Officer's narrative does not embrace the concluding campaign of 1691, it was thought better to print Colonel O'Kelly's work, extending to the end of the war as it does, and proportionably annotated as it has been, than that such a work should be less fully illustrated, merely to make room for the Williamite narrative, in the same volume.

With regard to other matters, the Editor would wish to correct here an error into which he was led at Note 142, p. 362, by stating, from an English publication, the day and year of the Duchess of Tyrconnell's death in Dublin, as March 12th, 1731; the real period of that Lady's decease being mentioned, on better authority, as March 6th, 1730°. In Note 64, p. 254, also, the Editor's observation as to the three Bulls of Pope Alexander III., pp. 255-262, and pp. 501-504, not having been employed by Irish historians to illustrate the important event with which those documents are so prominently connected, was written when such was literally the case, although they have been

since

Mason's History and Antiquities of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Notes, p. 1: Dublin, 1820.

since noticed, and printed in Ireland. The Editor would likewise refer to the Errata for a correction of some mistakes in the printing of those Bulls, as from the version of the Fœdera; which mistakes were owing, amongst other circumstances, to illness on his part, at the time for going to press. And, with respect to errors in the references from Note to Note, he would, for obvious reasons, particularly point the reader's attention to the emendation of the few which have occurred, or the following:

At page 175, for "See Notes 15, 16, 29, 32," read "See Notes 15, 16, 32." At page 195, for "See Notes 90 and 113," read "See Note 91." At page 278, for "Compare Note 64, p. 259, and Note 279, passim," read "Compare Note 64, p. 259, and Note 281, passim." At page 318, for "See Note 57, pp. 233-234, and Note 220, passim," read See Note 57, pp. 233-234, and Note 120, passim."

66

The Editor feels much pleasure in acknowledging the kindness, with which, for this edition of Colonel O'Kelly's work, as well as on other occasions, during the last ten years, he has been allowed access to the valuable MSS. of Trinity College, by the Rev. James Henthorn Todd. To Messrs. John O'Donovan and Eugene Curry, he is also thankful for such information concerning the Celtic department of our national literature, as he considered it necessary to consult them upon.

J. C. O'C.

MEMOIR

HARLES O'KELLY, the elder son of John O'Kelly, eighth lord of the manor of Screen, County Galway, by Isma, daughter of Sir William Hill, of Ballybeg, County Carlow, was born at the Castle of Screen, in 1621. His origin was one of the most ancient and honourable in his native province; he being the thirty-ninth in descent from Maine Mor, or the Great, first conqueror, in the fifth century, of the Firbolgs and Attacots, in the extensive territory hence styled "Hy-Many," and subsequently "O'Kelly's Country;" the Princes or Chieftains of which, from that period, ranked among the most considerable in Ireland. Young Charles, as a Roman Catholic, was sent, for his education, to St. Omer, in the Netherlands, then forming part of the dominions of the Spanish monarchy. Of the able tuition, at that time existing there, he took every advantage. His progress was extensive in the knowledge of the belles lettres; in addition to the Irish, English, Latin, and Greek tongues, he became acquainted with the Flemish, Spanish, French, and Italian languages; and was already remarkable for that enthusiastic love of country, which gained him the designation of the Irish patriot. The great civil

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civil war breaking out in Ireland in the autumn of 1641, he was summoned home to join the royal cause; on which side, his father acquired the rank of Colonel; distinguished himself by his services during the contest, under the Marquisses of Ormonde and Clanricarde; and suffered, in consequence, under the revolutionary interregnum, or usurpation, till the Restoration; when he was specially decreed, under the Act of Settlement, all the estate to which he was entitled, either by possession or reversion, before the commencement of the disturbances in 1641. Young Charles, after returning to Ireland in 1642, obtained the command of a troop of horse under the Marquis of Ormonde; and signalized himself in the royal army on various occasions, while the war lasted there. On the ultimate success of the Parliamentarians, or Cromwellians, he retired with a body of 2000 of his countrymen into the Spanish dominions, to serve Charles II., as he had previously served his father. Thence, on hearing that the King was in France, he repaired, with most of the officers and soldiers belonging to that corps, who were formed into a regiment, which he was appointed to command. Upon the conclusion, between Cardinal Mazarin and Oliver Cromwell, of the treaty of alliance against Spain, in consequence of which the banished royal family of England were obliged to quit France, Colonel Charles O'Kelly, with other gallant and loyal exiles, transferred his services to the crown of Spain, as that power in whose territory their Sovereign had to seek protection. There the Colonel remained till the reinstatement of the monarchy in Great Britain and Ireland in 1660; when, says my authority, "he came into England, and was always highly esteemed for his Learning, Loyalty, and great Services, both at home and abroad." By the decease of his father, Colonel John O'Kelly, in 1674, he succeeded to the family estate (so fortunately saved from the general landed spoliation of the older Irish proprietors under the Act of Settlement), and became ninth lord of the manor of Screen.

In the reign of King James II., when the ancient gentry of the country, of Milesian, and Anglo-Norman, or old English origin, as opposed to the "settlers" of the recent revolutionary or Cromwellian "plantation," were the general objects of royal favour and promotion, we find the Colonel's brother, John of Clonlyon, mentioned as High Sheriff of the County of Roscommon in 1686. The Colonel himself appears as one of the twenty-four Burgesses of the reformed or remodelled Corporation of Athlone in November, 1687, as his brother, John, likewise seems to have been, under the enrolment of "John Oge O'Kelly," or

John