On the ancient school or college of Armagh and the state of the ancient Irish literature

The school of Armagh was founded by Sir Patrick himself, and continued for a long time one of the most celebrated seminaries of literature in Europe. From time to time, it received the patronage of kings of Ireland, and even Roderick O'Connor, last of its native monarchs, made a new grant to the professors of this college, in the year 1169. From the school, many learned men, not only of the Irish nation, but students from every part of Christendom, issued forth to instruct their respective country men. Aim to defuse knowledge throughout Europe. Some of these scholars who came markers for the troops of Christianity. Swift bird, the hostel west folio and with a broad archbishop of Utrieecht to learn and Anglo Saxons were educated and Armagh. We learn from Malcolm, perceptive of Sharon in, with a broad study 12 years in Ireland on their masters of how a reputation, been intended for the missionary Pritchard too many people new styles him-

"Vir virtute potens divino plenus amore

Ore sagax, et mente vigil, et fervidus actu."

This learned missionary founded the monastery of Epternach, where he died, A. D. 739.

Gildas Albanius, the most ancient of the British historians, who was., according to Bayle, a disciple of St. Patrick, presided over the Armagh college, from whence he returned to Britain, when he heard of the death of his brother, who was slain by King Arthur, as we learn from his biographer, Caradocus Lhancarvanensis. He died on the 29th of January, 512. St. Catroe was also an alumnus of Armagh college..

The annals of Ulster state, that in the year 1162, an ecclesiastical synod, assembled by Gelasius at Cleonad, decreed that no persons should be permitted to teach or publicly lecture on the science of theology, except those who had studied at the Armagh academy. Hence an assertion made by Florence Macarthy, that 7000 pupils were, at one period, to be found in that college is by no means incredible. From this synodical decree, we may fairly infer, that the school had retained its

high character from age to age, and was at all periods the chief seminary of literature in this kingdom. Hence it is probable that the Irish philosopher and mathematician Feargall, known on the continent by the names of Virgil and Solivagus, was educatedhere. So early as the year 748, this eminent man maintained tile sphericity of the earth, the existence of the antipodes, and the plurality of worlds, as is manifest from a letter written by Pope Zacharias to bishop Bonifice, on that subject Here, also, it is probable that Erigena derived those liberal sentiments inreligion and philosophy, which rendered him illustrious on the continent, in the ninth century. The same, also may be rationally conjectured of Albin, (the friend of Charles the Great,) who afterwards presided over the university of Ticinum, and of Clement, (provost of the university of Paris,) and of other learned Hibernian Scots. Be this as it may, the names of many professors in the Armagh college are yet onrecord; and amongst these, that of Imar O' Haedagain, the rebuilder of St. Paul and St. Peter's church, and the preceptor of Malachy Morgair.

Foreign students were gratuitously furnished, in the Irish colleges, with lodging, diet, clothes and books, and we have the authority of Bede and Alcuin, as well as of Erric, of Auxerre, and of the writer of the Life of Sulgenus, that numbers of Saxons, Gauls, &c. flocked to Ireland for instruction. This account is corroborated by Camden, Spencer, Llhuid and Roland. It is certain, that whoever wished to perfect himself in Theology, and in the other sciences, deemed it necessary to reside in some of the literary seminaries of this country. Hence Camden quotes the following passage from the Life of Sulgen

"Exemplo patrum commotus amore legendi

Ivit ad Hibernos, Sophia mirabile claros."

He alleges, also, that the ancient English even learned the form of their letters from the Irish. Indeed the Irish language seems to have been formerly held in considerable repute, even by British monarchs; for when Aidan preached in that tongue to the Northumbrians, King Oswin himself interpreted his discourse to the people. When any learned man on the continent had disappeared, it was generally said of him - "Amandatus est ad disciplinam in Hibernia."Aldelm, an author of the seventh 'century, the very first of the English nation who wrote Latin poetry, was a pupil of the Hibernian Scot, Maidulph, as Camden testifies. Aigilbert, the first bishop of the Western Saxons, and afterwards bishop of Paris, and Alfred, king of Northumberland, were educated in Ireland.

The sciences and liberal arts, taught in the Irish colleges; were Theology, Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Music; Geometry andAstronomy. Of these, the last seven were methodically comprised and digested in a disquisition, which had been written by Martianus Capella, in the fifth century. On this author, Johannes Scotus Erigena wrote comments, and Duncant, an Irish bishop, delivered lectures in St. Remigius's monastery, inDown; and these works are still extant. From such materials, we may learn the nature of the studies to which the Irish literati dedicated their time. The works of Cumian, abbot of Hi, are honourable to the Irish seminary in which he studied. In some of these, there is a considerable display of erudition, talent and research, References are made by Cumian to Hieronymus, St. Augustine, Origen, Cyprian, Cyril and Gregory. In treating of cycles, he refers to the authority of Patrick, discusses those of Anatolius, Theophilus, Dionysius, Cyril and Victorius, &c &c. Indeed Cumian's erudite letter to Segien furnishes an example of Hibernian literature, and of course, of the nature of the collegiate studies successfully cultivated in Ireland, during the seventh century.

Erigena was admirably well versed in the Greek and Latin languages. From the Greek, he translated the books of Dionysius, the Areopagite in such a manner as to astonish the royal Charles. He translated also Aristotelis Moralia de secretis secretorum into Chaldaic, Arabic and Latin. He is deemed to have been the author of the Excerpta in Macrobrius concerning the affinities and discrepancies of the Greek and Latin Syntaxes, as well of a treatise pezi judewnHe was an adept in theology and the other sciences, and from his works we may appreciate the classic taste of the Irish literati in the ninth century. The enlightened system of astronomy adopted before that period, in the Hibernian schools, may be. inferred from what we have already said concerning Virgil.

The study of the vernacular tongue was not neglected by Irish scholars. A glossary of that language was written by Cormack Mac Cuillionain, king of Munster and bishop of Cashel who was slain at the battle of Bealach Muchna, AD 908. A very ancient copy of this work, on vellum, is deposited in the library of Sir William Betham, and another in the collection of the learned Irish lexicographer, Edward Reilly. There is some probability that the ancient Danes, as well as the Saxons, acquired their knowledge of letters from Ireland; and Wormius admits that his countrymen have an old alphabet called Ira Letur or Irlandorum Literae.

To Hibernian Scots, the literati of Europe owe the introduction of scholastic divinity, and the application of philosophic reasoning to illustrate the doctrines of theology, as we learn from the works of Benedict, abbot of Aniam, in Languedoc, a writer of the eighth century.

Giraldus Cambrensis (no favourer of the Irish) seems to have been quite enraptured with their music,which was taught scientifically in their colleges. Their skill, he says, was " incomparably superior to that of any other nation. For their modulations are not slow and morose, as in the instruments of Britain, to which we are habituated; but the sounds re rapid and precipitate, yet sweet and pleasing. It is wonderful that the musical proportion is preserved amidst such precipitate velocity of the fingers, and that the melody is rendered full and perfect, by an undeviating art, amidst such trembling modulations such organic tones, so infinitely intricate possessed of such pleasing swiftness such unequal parity such discordant concord. Whether the chords of the diatesseron or diapente be struck together, they begin and terminate in dulce, that all may be perfectly completed in delightful, sonorous melody. They commence and close their modulations with so much subtlety, and the tinklings of the slender stings sport so freely with the deep tones of the bass chords so delicately pleasing so softly soothing that the perfection of their art lies in concealing art." &C &C

To the same effect testify Ranulph Higden and Polydore Virgil, who styles the Irish musica peritissimi. Vincentio Galilei, a Florentine and father of the great Galileo, quotes the poet Dante, who lived about the year 1300, to prove that the harp or altered cithera had, in its improved form, been introduced by the Irish into Itay. Fuller, in his account of the Holy War, say "Yea, we might well think that all the concert of Christendom, in this war, would have made no music, if the Irish harp had been wanting." In modern times, Geminiani was delighted and astonished by the harmony of some of our ancient airs; and Handel declared that he would rather have been the author of Eallen a Roon, than of the most exquisite of his own musical compositions Perhaps this simple original air contains more melody, in fewer notes, than any other in existence. Since such has uniformly been he power of Irish music we not wonder that Gertrude, the daughter of the illustrious Pepin maire of the palace to Dagobert and Sigbert, in the seventh century, sent to Ireland, 'not Only for learned men instruct the religeuse of the abbey of Neville, but for musicians and chanters to teach them church harmony, or psalm. singing.

With, music, poetry was intimately connected. That classic poetry was cultivated in Ireland, at a very early period, the writings of Sedulius, (who styles himself "a Scot of Hibernia" in his Comment on St. Paul's Epistle,) demonstrate. Maidulph, the preceptor of Aldelm, (the first Englishman who wrote Latin verses,) was himself an Irishman and a poet, and flourished A.D.676. The classic Alcuin who also wrote Latin verses, styles the Irish prelector, Colcus, his master Spencer, the English poet, says that even in his day, the verses of the Irish bards savoured of sweet wit and good invention. And Mr. Warton proves that the Welsh bards derived their knowledge of music from instructions which they received in Ireland.

The Irish literati of the middle ages did not confine their useful labours to their own colleges but formed various literary, hospitable arid religious establishments, in foreign countries. In the council of Meaux, A.D. 845, it was decreed that complaints should be made to the king of the ruin of hospitable houses, particularly of those of the Irish nation, founded by benevolent natives of that country. In the seventh century, Columban, a Irishman, founded the abbey of Luxevil, in Burgundy second at Fontanelle and a third at Bobio, near Naples. Gall another Hibernian, founded the abbey of Stinace, or Stinaha, near the lake Constance. In the sixth century, Columba; the Irish Culdee, founded the famous monastery of Hi, or Iona and converted the Picts. Arbogast, an Hiibernian Scot, about the year 646, founded an oratory in Alsace, where Hagenau afterwards built Maidulph erected the monastery of Ingleborne, where, about the year 676, he instructed the English youth in classic literature. Fursey founded, a monastery at, Cnobersburgh now Burgh castle, in Suffolk, about the year 637 and shortly afterwards the abbey Of Laigni, in the diocess of Paris. He died on the 16th of January, 648. It is unnecessary to pursue this subject further. We may, however remind our readers that Charlemangne, of France, placed the university of Paris and that of Tieinum, (ie. Pavia) the two first formed establishments of the kind on the continent of Europe, under the care of two Irishmen, Albin and Clements, as best qualified to preside over institutions, at once so novel and so useful.

Since Beed informs us that in the days of the bishops Finan and Colman, multitudes of the nobility and of the middle rank of the English nation studied in Ireland, and were there supplied with books and food without charge, it may be presumed that th abbots and head professors were in possession of considerable funds to bear the expenses of such very liberal establishments To prove the truth of this supposition we now subjoin an account of some of the possessions belonging to the abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, to which the school of Armagh was annexed. The revenue resulting from this and similar property was quite independent of all occasional regal donations. The abbey and twelve gardens in the city the townlands of Ballyleanmore, Clawdoughe Killemeky, Ballyleanbegge, Dromvolly, Ballyneydarragh, Drountee, Lourgowergh, Ballyvically, Downlyr, Cavanaghan, Prosnawhyge, Crecanmore, Fallee, Corecleigh, Aghagoran. Tassaagh, Tearrarlee, Crewroe the third part of Annagh third of Dromcote - sixth of Tyrnarnunagell fourth of Tullaloyst fourth of Enagh-buidhe third of Achnoyce, third of Tullachelmayne, sixth of Downalloghe a tract of land called Knock-Ederyn, near the abbey - The lands of Cloghan, Corraghe, Cloghum, TullonghO'Sarran, AughanO'Cloyghy, Crossereen, Moulegournagh, near Armagh, and all tithes of said districts - the two townlands of Corheenan, and the townland of Clonarbe, in the parish of Tynan the advowson of Tynan church, and the townland of Maugergrene, appurtenant thereto.

In 1557, James Donnelly, the prior, was found seized of the abbey, &c. in the city of Armagh; and of a parcel of land called Garry, Templemurray, and Garrynemanus; and a considerable tract in the following districts, viz. Knockadrain, Dromcoote, Lurgaboyourah, Aghamoote, the Grange of Lurgaboy Townland of Dromnemuickee, Tallynemalloroogh, Mullinesillagh Grange of Ballymacally, Broaghucclogh, Leatery, Inclonconnoghy, Lurgalachtnemingle, Tullochbofin- Grange of Sessiaghneogrechanphy, Carnevanaghran - townland of Rieskyroddeh, Foallee, Fullynoroy, Tyranegargill, Aghanore, Knockenbog, Lurgaboyligragh, Seskinultagh, Agheter Toyl, alias Knock-Toyl, Cornegillagh Broaghcullen, Dromenecheghy, Shancarragh Lismore, Dromentee, Cavenaghgroah, Tulloghboreagh; Drumlirk, Carnafinagher, Knockedderdshrogh da Foalle, Knocknegressegh, Tulloghlosky, Tullyelinane, Aghagonnell; Knockatreely, Carrigennare, Aghavallagh, Coolaghill, Aghacarragh grange of Tubbersuawght, Doonlish, Mallagdromerbeh Grange of Odenegreanan, Rieskenefedoge, Annaghboy, Dunollagh, Tyregarve, Lurgaboy, and one hundred and twenty one other denominations of land which the reader may find fully recited Archdall's Monasticon Hibernicum, pages 26, 27, 28, 29.

The abbot was also seized of the tithes of all those lands, and sessiogh, Lurgaboy, Ballyvanran, and Knoctanty in Clanchoncy, as well as of the lands of Dromarge (alias Dooghmuinterdogan,) Coolcummery, Jengooda, Tinenesken, Balliboe, Cavan, Tullyasnech, Tiretragh, Tirenesagart and Downe.