ook an important part in the
funeral ceremonies for the King's eldest son, Arthur. The Earl continued
in office during the reign of Henry VII. An interesting letter, which he
wrote in reply to an epistle from the Gherardini of Tuscany, is still
extant. In this document he requests them to communicate anything they
can of the origin of their house, their numbers, and their ancestors. He
informs them that it will give him the greatest pleasure to send them
hawks, falcons, horses, or hounds, or anything that he can procure which
they may desire. He concludes:

"God be with you; love us in return.

"GERALD, Chief in Ireland of the family of Gherardini, Earl of Kildare,
Viceroy of the most serene Kings of England in Ireland."

Eight years after this letter was written, Ariosto writes thus of a
brave old man, whose fame had passed long before to distant lands:

"Or guarda gl' Ibernisi: appresso il piano
Sono due squadre; e il Conte di Childera
Mena la pinna; e il Conte di Desmonda,
Da fieri monti ha tratta la seconda."

[Illustration: ROUND TOWER, DONAGHMORE, CO. MEATH.]

[Illustration: RUINS OF SELSKER ABBEY, WEXFORD.]

FOOTNOTES:

[362] _Them_.--Gilbert's _Viceroys_, p. 292.

[363] _Annals_.--Four Masters, vol. iv. p. 791.

[364] _Master_.--Gilbert's _Viceroys_, p. 347.

[365] _Shave_.--There are no monumental effigies of Henry VI. His
remains were removed several times by Richard III., who was annoyed at
the popular belief that he worked miracles; but the costume of the
period may be studied in an engraving by Strutt, from a scene depicted
in the Royal M.S., 15E 6, which represents Talbot in the act of
presenting a volume of romances to the King and Queen. Henry was
notoriously plain in his dress, but his example was not followed by his
court. Fairholt says: "It would appear as if the English nobility and
gentry sought relief in the invention of all that was absurd in apparel,
as a counter-excitement to the feverish spirit engendered by civil
war."--_History of Costume_, p. 146.

[366] _Soul_.--Duald Mac Firbis.--_Annals_.

[367] _History_.--The scene is laid at the Abbey of Bury. A _Poste_
enters and exclaims--

"_Poste_.--Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain, To signify that
rebels there are up, And put the Englishmen unto the sword. Send
succours (lords), and stop the rage betime, Before the wound do grow
uncurable; For being green, there is great hope of help."

_--King Henry