"Hast thou seen all this that thou seemest to know ?"

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I had occasion, Sir Walter, some time since, to visit the castle of this great O'Neal, and truly there was to be seen there a picture of regal state, as it was of old time in Ireland."

"Let us hear concerning it, good master Ussher," said Elizabeth,-"methinks we should like to know how this imperium in imperio is regulated."

"An it please your grace, this Castle of Tirowen's is situate on the bank of a mighty lake, having sundry great and strong towers, with battlements and embrasures, meet for formidable show and long defence. There on the summit of the highest of them, there was (as I drew near) a great banner flying, with the bearings of the family broidered upon it, (a right noble coat, truly, it behoveth me to confess,) and having annexed thereto their barbarous motto, which being rendered into English signifieth "The red hand of Ireland;" and loth am I to speak to it, as it moved my gorge to behold it-surmounted not by the honourable coronet of an earldom, such as, under your grace's favour, the chief is permitted to wear; but a device much resembling a crown regal."

The Queen changed colour, but permitted him to proceed.

"Having entered the broad and spacious bass-court of the castle, I beheld a vast multitude of the wild inhabitants of those parts, not, however, in peaceful and unprepared guise, but arrayed under certain that seemed to possess military authority over them, and armed with short swords, skenes, and pikes. Entered into the hall of banquet, (it being about mid-day,) a strange sight struck upon mine eyes. Forty and five great and fair oaken tables were spread. Hundreds of wild featured men feasted on venison, beef, and swine's flesh, according to their bearing and station. On the left sat the councillors and churchmen, on the right them that were high in military

employ. Near the entrance were the doctors and astrologeis.* At the farther end, somewhat separated from the rest, (the floor of the hall being raised and elevated above the meaner herd,) the great O'Neal himself sat, with many nobles of great note and power in those parts, and all the while an aged man, with a long white beard, and, (as I was able to know from them that gave me entrance,) blind from his birth, very venerable to behold, played cunning music upon the harp, and sung many stirring things in the Irish tongue, as I could discover from the silence, and fiery, fearful looks, not only of my Lord of Tirowen himself, but also of the multitude at the lower boards."

"And what might be the subject of the song?" said the Queen, much interested in the narration.

"Nay, please your highness," said the wily Ussher, who did not wish to expose the directly rebellious tendency of the strain, to which, as will appear, he had been at least an unobjecting auditor, "I am not skilled in their barbarous dialect, and besides, I had not time to enquire, when my guide brought me up the middle of the hall to the lower end of the principal board, and no sooner was it made known that a messenger from my Lord Deputy was present, than Tirowen himself got up off his seat, and with a wild whoop, natural to that savage people, wrung my fist, and placed me next unto himself at his right side,-forcing on me all manner of dainties, (in their rough sort,) and of precious liquors no scant measure, insomuch that I was fain to defer the main object of my journey until a more befitting season, the which was never afforded me, as I found myself the next morning, as soon as I came to myself, (for, being much unused to such outlandish festivities, I confess unto your grace I was much overcome,) sundry miles distant from the castle, at a poor hut, with my nag ready caparisoned for my journey; and, as it

behoveth me to avow, well fed and in good case, and word left with the kerne at the hut, to warn me against returning to my lord's castle."

"This is a strange monarch truly," said the Queen, with a smile; "what thinkest thou, Sir Walter, of the post of Secretary to his Grace of Ulster ?" "An he were to treat ambassadors from foreign parts in such sort, most honoured madam, as he hath my worthy friend Master Ussher, my post, as regards their master's affairs, would be somewhat of a sinecure."

"True, Sir Walter; yet methinks even there the steadiest head would, as in our diplomacy, be gainer at the last. Methinks, however, this same Tirowen is not at all times obliged to have recourse to such summary means to gain his purpose, if we are to credit our accounts from those parts ?"

"By no means, madam," replied Ussher. "He hath a ready wit, nor ever lacketh device where it is needful, or likely to be successful. He hath (that I may present his chief signs unto your Grace,) a rough and hearty bearing, with a ready laugh and a jest, even to the discomfiture of his proper jesters, qualities well liked by the commonalty round him. His stature is large, and his voice loud and vehement. He hath connected himself by intermarriage and otherwise with many powerful septs of those countries, and they affect him in such sort, that verily he saith to the most potent of his connexions, (to use holy writ) "do this, and he doeth it," ay, and that with a good will. Without much of the eloquence of the schools, he hath a speech suited to the warm and wild hearts of his dependents, and a word ever ready on occasion;-but we, who are out of the reach of his traitorous influence, do easily behold that he doth not scruple to deliver up a score or two of the best of them to your Grace's generals when it may buy from them advantage to himself, without being sufficient to open the eyes of the rest. He begun his course by crime, but now professeth to have repented and to abhor it, as indeed he doth not commit offences any more in detail, but in the more general and heinous form of fomenting disaffection, plotting against your Grace, and sacrificing armies or quiet parishes to his traitorous ends, all designed, as I said before, to uprear and plant firm

that same royal standard on the top of his castle."

"This is strange that thou tellest, Sir Archdeacon," said Elizabeth, abstractedly, "though we have heard many rumours of a like nature from other quarters. And now, Sir Walter," she exclaimed, after a pause, altering her manner at once, and seeming to awaken from a reverie," by heaven, we must smite this same daring earl, and cause him to feel the terror of our arm. What sayest thou? Shall we dispatch the flower of our troops to harry the country of O'Neal, aud bring us his head and his treasure to grace the palace of his offended mistress ?"

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May it please your Grace," said Raleigh, with an air of gravity, "I passed for some years of my life, in the service of my most revered and honoured mistress, in her highness's kingdom of Ireland, and have had (without vain-glorious boasting) some experience in the matters appertaining thereunto, and looked narrowly into the causes of the same. When first I touched foot on its shores, eager for renown, and believing, like a knight of chivalry, that nothing was impossible to the sword and gallantry, I followed, or led, your highness's troops abroad through the land, and depopulated whole districts. We returned in triumph, and left the provinces (as hath been eloquently said,) a solitude, but not in peace. Of the inhabitants, those that survived were still rebellious—still ignorant-still treacherous. Again they felt the terrors of war, and again was there a barren triumph. My lord deputy was fain to continue the same course, with the same result, but I began, at last, to see that your Grace's treasure was expending-your Grace's subjects falling by the edge of the sword, not to speak of famine and treachery, and yet the evil was not likely to be remedied. I bethought me what gave such power to our adversaries, and was convinced that it was the influence that a few restless spirits exercised over the besotted ignorance and blindness of the native kernes, who were moved like puppets in their quarrels, and to further their designs. I saw that the root of all was in the condition of those poor mistaken wretches themselves. By nature sanguine and prejudiced and held in the

thickest darkness by their own idleness, and the policy of their chiefs, they seemed, in general, scarcely to be aware that they lived in a kingdom lawfully swayed over by the glory of your highness's name; and to hold it a matter of conscience, as well as inclination, to serve the chief of their sept as lord paramount. Thus, then, I concluded that it must be on these that the change was to be wrought, and that the great object of pacification was to be attained, not by force of arms, or any such summary means, but by the slow and certain progress of enlightenment, which would free them, without the shedding of blood, from the thraldom of designing leaders; and, by giving the spur to industry and virtue, and curbing riot and crime by the obligation of reason, make that part of your Grace's dominions, from being a burthen and a shame to the rest, a source of profit and honour to all. Being thus opinioned, I was minded myself to advance some great school of learning within that country, as a ready and effectual remedy for the many evils mine eyes lighted on, as I cast them round me, as thick-sown and as glaring as plague-spots and to that end I was about to make inquiry, when I learned that my lord deputy (of that time) was doing his endeavour in the same line with myself, and designed the antient popish cathedral of St. Patrick's, in the metropolis, a lurking place, as he said, of remaining superstition, for the ground of one or more colleges, its revenues being also intended to support them. But my Lord Archbishop Loftus, for what reason he himself best knoweth, did mightily stir himself to defeat the deputy's endeavours, and, as your highness seeth, he hath hitherto succeeded. When I learned of the matter being in so much better and more powerful hands, I ceased to trouble myself concerning it, till I heard that my Lord archbishop was about to obtain an audience himself, or by deputy, with your highness, who had, of late, expressed so much good will to that island: then could I no longer stand aloof, but hastened to defend the cause of learning and improvement; for the which I hope I may ever be found the unbought advocate."

"And thou shalt be heard, noble Raleigh!" exclaimed the Queen, "in

spite of this same archbishop, and his emissary."

"Most gracious princess, and my liege lady," said Ussher, now feeling that it was time for him to speak, "behold in me the bearer unto your grace of my Lord Archbishop's sorrow and contrition for his past misdoings in this matter, and signification of his present altered mind; and proud do I feel to hold such an office, seeing that he now agreeth in both heart and judgment with his gracious sovereign, and her trusty counsellor. And, truly, Sir Walter Raleigh hath been before his lordship and his friends in the expression of their wants. Permit me, then, most honoured madam, to lay at your highness's feet their respectful offerings of duty and homage, and to present their humble petition before that throne, whence shineth the light of beauty and the glory of her kingdom."

"We will hear thee willingly, good Master Archdeacon," said the Queen, who, in spite of her usual sagacity, had failed to perceive that Raleigh and Ussher had been playing into each other's hands during the whole conversation-" and would right gladly avail ourselves of any suggestions that might tend to shift this vexing scene of hostilities which makes what (as we are told) is the fairest portion of our empire, a perpetual standing camp."

The Irish emissary, without farther preamble, then proceeded to read from the scroll in his hand the body of the petition of which he was the bearer, and which stated, in its outset, the exertions lately made by Archbishop Loftus to induce the inhabitants of Dublin to have a school for learning erected in Ireland, and the liberal grant of the dissolved monastery of All Hallows, which was consequently made for that purpose by the mayor and corporation. It proceeded to pray, that a college might be appointed by her highness's most gracious permission, and under her protection, to be erected, to be the mother of an university in a certain place near Dublin, called the dissolved Augustinian monastery of All Hallows, granted by the corporation thereof for that purpose, at the yearly rent of four pounds four shillings, and stated to be of the yearly value of twenty pounds, for the education, institution, and in

duction of youth in arts and faculties, to endure for ever; that (to blot out the memory of the ancient Popish appellation) it might be called by the style of Collegium Sacrosanctæ et individuæ Trinitatis juxta Dublin; that it might consist of a provost and as many fellows and scholars as her highness might be graciously pleased to appoint, in the name of more; that her highness might be graciously pleased to nominate good, trusty, and learned men, as it might seem best to her, to fill the original situations; and that the body might have her highness's royal license to purchase property to a value sufficient to ensure the more worthy of the professors and fellows a decent livelihood, ten, or even twelve pounds by the year each, as it might be, in order that they might be enabled to devote their time to the advancement of the ends of their institution; and, generally, that her highness might take the whole matter into her gracious consideration.*

The Queen listened with much attention during the reading of the petition, and several times interrupted it to make herself acquainted with facts that seemed to bear upon the subject; and when it was at last concluded, and she found in reply to her inquiries, that she was not called upon to advance money, but on the contrary, that it was to the people of note in Ireland that application was to be made for pecuniary assistance, she shewed visible satisfaction, and the sagacious Raleigh, and equally astute Ussher, saw that their object was gained.

"Why, Sir Walter," said the Queen, suddenly turning round to Raleigh, "who knows but we may make an Athens of our Dublin for future generations, by thus founding an university participating in the perfections, and purged of the defects of our Oxford and Cambridge? We may even ourselves see this Ussher here before long, ruffling it in the schools in the clothing of his Dublin diploma, as proudly as ever a doctor in Christ Church, and parading his barbarous Latin with as self-edifying a grace. What thinkest thou, good Sir Walter ?"

The courtier bowed with a smile,

and said nothing. Ussher, however, who did not much like this turn to the conversation, immediately said,

"An it please your grace, I have a stripling nephew and namesake at home in Dublin, not yet emerged from boyhood, who is even now a match for the most erudite professors on the banks of either Cam or Isis, and who, if your grace but grants our prayer, will, I promise, be an honour to the infant seminary :-but it is not so much for the mere learning of the schools (if it be pleasing unto your grace) that your petitioners are so solicitous; it is rather on that general illumination and enlargement of the mind, which a commixture of intellects pitted against each other from all parts, must of necessity produce, that we build our hopes, and on the dispersion of minds thus illuminated and enlarged again among their benighted brethren."

"We see truly much advantage therefrom," said Elizabeth," and we would have all manner of knowledge encouraged within the walls of such a place, from the most abstruse to the lightest consistent with the deportment of graver and sober minds, so that even our worthy Raleigh's dreaming friend, Edmund Spenser, might look for advancement therein. We do give our most cordial assent that the prayer of our petitioners be granted, and their wishes carried into effect as far as may be, and without delay; and to that end a warrant shall be issued for licence of mortmain, and letters patent made out forthwith. Do thou, Master Archdeacon, return with our commendations to our most reverend and wellbeloved petitioners, and tell them that they shall find their Queen ever ready to advance their interests, and assist with counsel and advice, when such shall be meet and proper."

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Long may your grace live to see the fruits of such magnanimity!" exclaimed Ussher, with real enthusiasm, as he saw the object of so much solicitude at last accomplished-" wherever the mental labour of Irishmen is successful, thy name should there be heard, and reap the greater part of the glory; and where science, civilization, and religion are advanced, there should

the blessings flowing therefrom be poured upon thy sacred head; and in what place soever a page of Irish literature shall appear, (and where is the quarter of the world, where it shall not one day shine forth?) there should also shine the features and lovely delineation of that royal countenance which hath so blessed and prospered our undertaking. Beneath the influence of such a light-under such royal (I would fain say divine) auspices, we may not fear, discouraged though we be by faction and malevolence; and above all, herein do I behold (as it were with prophetic eyes) the downfal of that most idolatrous and destructive superstition of Popery (nay, Sir Walter, I will speak) which hath so long lived, like as it were some screech-owl or bird of ill-omen, amidst the ruins of the mental fabric, and only needeth this dawn, as I may say, of learning, the promise of a day of goodly splendour, to banish it from its strong hold for ever. Yea, most gracious and most glorious princess, when my native University shall boast, as of a surety it will, a thousand alumni for one it may have in my days, even then should each wear the noble cognizance of the foundress-queen upon his forehead, like the phylacteries of old, as her image should be engraven upon his heart his greatest treasure-his highest pride; and when the great day of doom shall arrive, and the trump shall sound, then shall the long line of prelates and divines, honoured by mankind and boasted of by their native land, follow in thy path, a holy train, calling down blessings on thee, their institutress and benefactress!"

"Behold you now," said the Queen, half amused, half pleased with the warmth of Ussher, "how goodly a train we have appointed to us in the heated imagination of the Archdeacon. Nevertheless, the warrant shall be issued, as we have already said, in

fitting time; and for the better preservation of the memory of this day's audience, and our benefaction to our beloved realm of Ireland than thy vehement oratory will afford, it is our pleasure that the corporation be styled, in addition to the title proposed-let us consider-Collegium—as thou hast said, -a Regina Elizabetha fundatum.-But see that we are not borne too far; and, in order that the fellows and scholars may not abuse our bounty, and wallow in wealth instead of being what they are designed to be, poor, painstaking, laborious instructors of themselves and others, we strictly limit our licence of mortmain to the purchase of property of the yearly value of four hundred pounds;-thus restricted, thou mayst return to thy friends, and bid God speed to their undertaking in the name of their Queen."

Ussher knelt, and kissed the hand extended to him, and, after another burst of thanks, left the presence.

In the anti-room, the countenances of the gallants, who had been so long in disappointed expectation of admission, had undergone a visible change. They made way with many obeisances for the Archdeacon of Dublin, as he issued forth with the smile of success on his countenance; and the youngest of them (he who had been the nice discriminator before the conference) assisted him with much officiousness to buckle on his thread-bare cloak. Ussher made the best of his way to the water's edge, and proceeded by boat to London, whence, on the day but one after, he set out on his return to his native city, the bearer of a letter written in the Queen's own hand, communicating the joyful intelligence of that act of condescension and goodness, which was to work so many important effects, and amongst others, centuries after, to give an appropriate embellishment to the title page of our Magazine.