The Irish standard., 1901-01-12

valiant Scottish knights and gentle
men with the Irish chieftains by their
side. Briefly Bruce addressed them.
Unlike later Irish leaders, he was a
man Of few words. The chiefs of
Northern Ireland-his old friends and
allies at Bannockburn-had invited
him to Ireland to aid them re-
gain what Scotland had regained. He
had come with 5000 Of his country
men to receive us promised the Crown
Of Ireland to eXpcl the English from
the land.
When Bruce ceased speaking and
Donald O'Neill rose in the council the
eyes of the Scots were fixed with re-
spectful gaze upon the man whose rep
utation for patriotism and courage
was high in their country They knew
that for years he had striven to unite
the Gaels Of Ireland in one great con-
federacy against the common enemy.
and that to achieve that object he had
offered the crown. which was his by
right, to the brother of their king.
O'Neill's address was us brief as that
of Bruce. He resigned, he said, the
Crown of Ireland to him and his heirs
forever for the greater good of Ire
land. Raising his sword-hilt to his
lips and kissing 1t, he swore allegiance
to none but Edward Bruce. King Of
Ireland, and the Ulster mobiles took
after aim the oath. Outside the Scot
tish soldiers re-echoed the shout that
rang from the council tent proclaim
ing Bruce king.
On the morrow the camp was
struck, and the King Of Ireland
marched inland. Near the shores of
Lough Neagh he found the soldiers
of the Norman Mandevllles and Saw
ages drawn up to meet him. At night
the remnant of the opposing host was
fleeing Leinsterwards, and the Scottish
and Irish soldiers were quafting red ale
in the town Of Antrim.
Away in Connaught tidings came to
the shock headed, red-faced man of
iron, De Burgl, that the brother of his
son-in-law, Robert Bruce, was in the
land. De Burgh called his subject
Norman lords and Irish chiefs to meet
him ut Athlone for the Red Earl was
n polite man, and believing Bruce's
enterprise foredOomed to failure, de-
sired to be the one to win the King
Of England's rewards for overthrow
ing his enemy. Besides, De Burgh,
unlOvcd and unlOyable, "first man in
Ireland" though he held himself, maxi
er and unmaker of Irish princes
though he was, feared the King Of
England's favorite, Roger Mortimer-a
handsome, bluc-cyed, fair-haired
young man, with u soft voice and an
aminblc smile, who saw very far
through his half shut eyes, and who
was doubtless gazing Connaught-
wards at the moment with good deal
Of interest. To the hosting of De
Burgh, Fclim, Prince of Connaught,
came with his clansmen. and goodly
army set forth from Athlone the day
the Lord Deputy marched out from
Dublin. Nearing Drogheda the Red
Earl espicd the army of the Deputy
and his rcd face grew black with pas
sion. "Halt!' he cried in voice of
thunder to the timid son-in-law of
Ofally's stout Lord. Advance no
further; l am a match enough for this
Bruce and NIL his allies" So the Lord
Deputy stayed where he was. while
the Red Earl hurried on to smash
Bruce, who had trlumphantly marched
into Lenster, capturing every import
ant town by the way. In Meath Sir
Hugh de Lacy and his brother, Sir
Walter, Joined his standard. The De
Lacys had suffered grievously at the
hands Of Roger Mortimer, who in right
Of his wife had claimed their lands
and taken them. Sir Walter and Sir
Hugh measured swords with Roger,
but they found themselves no match
for that smiling young man, who hav-
ing beaten them down, next claimed
the territory of the O'Moras in right
of his grandmother, and was believed
to contemplate claiming the remain
der of Ireland in right of his grand
aunt. The De Lacys and some minor
Norman barons who had felt the iron
hand Of tyranny press heavy on them
welcomed Bruce with enthusiasm and
remained his faithful allies to the end.
1t was ut Dundalk the Norman-Irish
Joined the standard of Bruce. When
he first appeared before that town.