ome known in the country. It is unquestionably a national credit,
that no amount of suffering, whether inflicted for religious or
political opinions, deprived the Irish of historians.[515] Some of their
works were certainly compiled under the most disadvantageous
circumstances.

None of the writers whom we shall presently enumerate, worked for hope
of gain, or from any other motive save that of the purest patriotism.
Keating, whose merits are becoming more and more recognized since modern
research has removed Celtic traditions from the region of fable to the
tableland of possibility, wrote his _History_ principally in the Galtee
Mountains, where he had taken refuge from the vengeance of Carew,[516]
Lord President of Munster. Although he had received a high education in
the famous College of Salamanca, for the sake of his people he preferred
suffering persecution, and, if God willed it, death, to the peaceful
life of literary quiet which he might have enjoyed there. He wrote in
his mother-tongue, although master of many languages; and in consequence
of this choice his work remained in MS. for many years. When it came to
light, those who were ignorant of the MS. materials of ancient Irish
history, were pleased to suppose that he had invented a considerable
portion, and supplied the remainder from the _viva voce_ traditions of
the country people. Unfortunately, he was not sufficiently master of the
science of criticism to give the authorities which he had used so
carefully, and to prove their value and authenticity. But truth has at
length triumphed. Several of the works from which he has quoted have
been discovered; and it has been shown that, wild as some of his legends
may read in the garb in which he has given them, there is proof that
important facts underlie the structure, though it has been somewhat
overembellished by a redundant fancy.

[Illustration: TUBRID CHURCHYARD--BURIAL-PLACE OF THE HISTORIAN
KEATING.]

Keating was also a poet. Many of his pieces are still well known and
highly popular in Munster, and copies of nearly all of them are
preserved by the Royal Irish Academy. One of his ballads has been
"coaxed" into verse by D'Arcy M'Gee, in his _Gallery of Irish Writers_.
It is entitled "Thoughts on Innisfail." I shall give one verse as a
specimen, and as an illustration of the popular feelings of the time:

"And the mighty of Naas are mighty no more,
Like the thunders that boomed 'mid the banners o