STLE.]

FOOTNOTES:

[319] _Limerick_.--We give an illustration, at the head of this chapter,
of King John's Castle, Limerick. Stanihurst says that King John "was so
pleased with the agreeableness of the city, that he caused a very fine
castle and bridge to be built there." This castle has endured for more
than six centuries. Richard I. granted this city a charter to elect a
Mayor before London had that privilege, and a century before it was
granted to Dublin. M'Gregor says, in his _History of Limerick_, that the
trade went down fearfully after the English invasion.--vol. ii. p. 53.

[320] _Address_.--Gilbert's _Viceroys_, p. 82, where the address may be
seen _in extenso_.

[321] _Year_.--Four Masters, vol. iii. p. 227.

[322] _Carnfree_.--This place has been identified by Dr. O'Donovan. It
is near the village of Tulsk, co. Roscommon. It was the usual place of
inauguration for the O'Connors. See _note d_, Annals, vol. iii. p. 221.

[323] _Athlone_.--This was one of the most important of the English
towns, and ranked next to Dublin at that period. We give an illustration
of the Castle of Athlone at the beginning of Chapter XX. The building is
now used for a barrack, which in truth is no great deviation from its
original purpose. It stands on the direct road from Dublin to Galway,
and protects the passage of the Shannon. There is a curious
representation on a monument here of an unfortunate English monk, who
apostatized and came to Ireland. He was sent to Athlone to superintend
the erection of the bridge by Sir Henry Sidney; but, according to the
legend, he was constantly pursued by a demon in the shape of a rat,
which never left him for a single moment. On one occasion he attempted
to preach, but the eyes of the animal glared on him with such fury that
he could not continue. He then took a pistol and attempted to shoot it,
but in an instant it had sprung on the weapon, giving him, at the same
time, a bite which caused his death. It is to be presumed that this
circumstance must have been well known, and generally believed at the
time, or it would not have been made a subject for the sculptor.

[324] _Woman_.--There are several versions of this story. The Four
Masters say he was killed "treacherously by the English." The Annals of
Clonmacnois say that "he came to an atonement with Geoffrey March, and
was restored to his kingdom," and that he was afterwards treacherously
killed by an Englishman, "for which cause the D