n Ireland," says a learned British writer, "like a
residence now at an university, was considered as almost essential to
establish a literary character." By common consent, and as a mark of
pre-eminence, Ireland obtained the title of _Insula Sanctorum et
Doctorum_.

At the Council of Constance, in 1417, the ambassadors from England were
not allowed to rank or take any place as the ambassadors of a nation.
The point being argued and conceded, that they were tributaries only to
the Germans, "they claimed their rank from Henry being monarch of
Ireland only, and it was accordingly granted."--_O'Halloran_.

[Illustration: SIR TARQUIN.]

SIR TARQUIN.

"Within this ancient British land,
In Lancashire I understand,
Near Manchester there lived a knight of fame,
Of a prodigious strength and might,
Who vanquished many a worthy knight;
A giant great, and Tarquin was his name."

_Ballad of Sir Tarquin_.

As it is our intention to arrange these traditions in chronological
order, we begin with the earliest upon record, the overthrow of the
giant Tarquin, near Manchester, by Sir Lancelot of the Lake, who was
supposed to bear rule over the western part of Lancashire.

An old ballad commemorates the achievement; and many other relics of
this tradition still exist, one of which, a rude carving on a ceiling in
the College at Manchester, represents the giant Tarquin at his morning's
repast; it being fabled that he devoured a child daily at this meal. The
legs of the infant are seen sprawling out of his mouth in a most
unseemly fashion. Some have supposed that Tarquin was but a symbol or
personification of the Roman army, and his castle the Roman station in
this neighbourhood.

The following extract is from Dr Hibbert's pamphlet on the subject:--

"Upon the site of Castlefield, near Manchester, was originally erected a
British fortress by the Sistuntii, the earliest possessors of
Lancashire, comprising an area of twelve acres. It would possess on the
south, south-east, and south-west, every advantage, from the winding of
the River Medlock, and on its west, from the lofty banks which
overlooked an impenetrable morass. By the artificial aid, therefore, of
a ditch and a rampart on its east and north sides, this place was
rendered a fortress of no inconsiderable importance. This fell
afterwards into the hands of the Brigantes, the ancient inhabitants of
Durham, York, and Westmoreland. Upon the i