Queen of _Ireland_, was the Grand-daughter of an _Amazone_ Princess, those
immortal Females having, with their Progeny, Friends and Followers, to
avoid the ruinous Hostilities of _Hercules_ and _Thesaeus_, sought Shelter
in _Spain_, whither they imported the Learning of _Trismegistus_, the
Grandson of _Mercury_, and Glory of _AEgypt_, together with all the
literary Arts derived into _Greece_, from _Phoenicia_, by _Cadmus_, the
Brother of _Europa_, about the Year of the World 2530, _Othoniel_ then
reigning the first Judge of the _Hebrews_. The Posterity of this ancient
and illustrious Colony, about the Year of the World 3000, (_Solomon_ then
reigning with great Splendour, third King of the _Hebrews_) settled in
this Kingdom, as before observed: So that, by an impartial Estimate of
Dates, Periods, and Facts, our Origin is well ascertained, our early
Possession of Letters, wise Policy, and the politer Arts, proved, and the
Remark of an _Italian_ Monk in the 7th Century, from the University of
_Mongret_, in an Epistle to his Correspondent at _Rome_, justified, _Nil
mirum Populum hunc Celtico Scythicum e praeclara Amazonidum stirpe
oriundum, vera Religione et __ incorrupta Fide illuminatum, sapientia
Doctrina optimisque Morbidus ornatum, viros fortes et Faeminas castas
plerumque procreare_. A Rescript of this Original Epistle still extant, in
the _Vatican_ Library, some Years ago in the Hands of Father Don _Levy_,
may therefore, I believe, be found in the College of _Lombard_ at _Paris_.

In this shining Period were Cathedrals and Churches erected, Universities
founded and established, Colleges, Seminaries and Schools propagated in
many Parts of this Kingdom, which, at the same Time, became a peaceful and
hospitable Retreat to religious and learned Men, disturbed on the
Continent of _Europe_, by the frequent Invasions, and cruel Hostilities of
the North-men, whose Piracies and Barbarity, even _Ireland_ could not
always escape! For, from the Time of _Artigrius_, Archbishop of _Ardmagh_
in 822, for near 200 Years the cruel _Danes_ miserably ravaged this
Kingdom, destroying, by Fire and Sword, every Establishment, as well of
Piety as Learning, (to both which, and to all religious Maxims of
civilized Society, they had been avowed implacable Enemies) till they were
themselves, in 1014, totally defeated at _Clontarf_, by the invincible
Arms of the Great Monarch, _Bryan Borou_, from whom descended a Race
conspicuous for exemplary P