friend the Right Hon. John Foster), he distinguished himself in the foundation of Sunday schools, and in the preparation of elementary educational works. He is most worthy of note, however, on account of his Map and Memoir of Ireland-the latter published at considerable expense, under the encouragement of the Marquis of Buckingham, when Lord-Lieutenant. Lowndes describes his Memoir, as "An exceedingly valuable work, containing a succinct account of the civil and ecclesiastical state of Ireland, and an index of all the places which appear on the author's map." 16 He was one of the founders of the Royal Irish Academy. He died May 1831, aged 91. 16 39 Beaufort, Sir Francis, K. C. B., Admiral, son of the preceding, was born at Navan in 1774. He entered the navy in 1787, and soon rose by his bravery and talent in the services on which he was engaged under Lord Howe and others, and was appointed Lieutenant in 1796. He greatly distinguished himself while Lieutenant of the Phaeton in 1800, by cutting out a Spanish vessel, the San Josef, from under the guns of a battery near Malaga. For this service he received a commander's commission. Disabled by wounds, and forced to remain at home from November 1803 to June 1804, he devoted his time, in conjunction with his brother-in-law, Richard L. Edgeworth, to the construction of a telegraph from Dublin to Galway. Gazetted anew, and after seeing more service in South America, off Spain, and in the Levant, he was paid off in 1812. Having given much attention to coast surveys, he received the appointment of Hydrographer to the Admiralty, and in 1846 attained the rank of Admiral. His second wife was a daughter, by a third marriage, of his brother-in-law, Mr. Edgeworth; he was consequently uncle and brother-in-law to Maria Edgeworth. He died at Brighton, 16th December 1857. 7 253 Bedell, William, Bishop of Kilmore, was born December 1571, at Black Notley in Essex, of an ancient and respectable family. Educated at Cambridge, he early showed a predilection for the ministry, and entered holy orders. He resided for eight years in Venice as chaplain to the English ambassador, Sir Henry Wotton. There he formed intimacies with Father Paulo and other scholars, with whom he examined and compared the Greek Testament; he also studied Hebrew with the chief of the Jewish synagogue. In common with other Englishmen, he at this time entertained expectations of converting the Venetians to Protestantism. On his return to England, he established himself at Bury St. Edmunds, and married the widow of the Recorder of that town. He had by her four children, two of whom died young. In 1615 he was presented with the rectory of Horningshearth, where he resided twelve years. The Provostship of Trinity College, Dublin, becoming vacant in 1627, the Fellows, acting under the advice of Archbishop Ussher, unanimously invited him to accept the post. After much consideration, he gave up his "competent living of above £100 a-year, in a good air and seat, with a very convenient house, near to my friends, a little parish, not exceeding the compass of my weak voice." Once installed, he set to work vigorously and conscientiously to discharge the duties of his office. In 1629 he was consecrated Bishop of Kilmore, when he found a deplorable state of things in the diocese. "He observed with much regret that the English had all along neglected the Irish, as a nation not only conquered but undisciplinable, and that the clergy had scarce considered them as part of their charge, but had left them wholly in the hands of their own priests, without taking any other care of them, but the making them pay their tithes." As a prime means of gaining the hearts of the people, he studied Irish, and secured the services of competent persons to translate the whole Bible into that language. He, himself, revised the whole, comparing it with the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, so as to correct the errors in the English. He had preparations made for printing the work at his own house-indeed he had already translated into Irish, and printed and circulated some sermons and homilies, and a catechism in English and Irish, when the War of 1641-252 broke out. The respect he evinced for Catholics in his writings and discussions, now bore ample fruit in the regard with which he and the numerous fugitives who crowded his mansion and out-offices were treated by the Catholic leaders. He was joined by the Bishop of Elphin, and the free exercise of their religion and services was permitted to them, the elements for the Communion being even specially supplied. It is to be noted that while his memoirs speak feelingly of the personal sufferings and outrages which the English settlers had to endure in being driven off their plantations, there is nothing in his writings about the massacre so dwelt upon by historians. There is something affecting in the account of his now preaching to his flock from the words: "But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. I laid of Kilmore, consecrated in 1860, was, according to the inscription thereon, erected to his memory. 26 27 93 Bell, Robert, a prolific writer, was born in Cork in 1800, and was educated at Trinity College. In Dublin he wrote for magazines and newspapers, composed a couple of plays, and assisted in resuscitating the College Historical Society. Removing to London, he met with ready employment as a journalist, having a fluent pen and genial manners. "For more than thirty years, Mr. Bell continued to lead the life of a busy literary man, contributing to various periodicals, sometimes editing one, and diversifying his journalistic labours by writing a history or biography, a play or a novel. None of his writings are likely to have more than an ephemeral existence, but they are favourable specimens of their class, and creditable to their author." Perhaps his best known works are his continuation of Southey's Lives of the British Admirals, and his Annotated Edition of the English Poets, in 29 volumes. He died 12th April 1867. 40 me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set them selves against me, round about." He drew up for the insurgents their Remonstrance and Statement of Grievances for presentation to the Lords Justices. After about two months his sufferings increased. He and his sons, with others, were removed on 18th December to Loughoughter castle, a little tower in the midst of a lake, and his own house and library were spoiled by the insurgents. His biographer thus quaintly writes of the dispersion of his library "And thus what enemies left friends took away. the Bishop's books went every way but the right; and certain of his sermons were preached in Dublin, and heard there by some of Bishop Bedell's near relations, that had formerly heard them from his own mouth." A month afterwards the family was permitted to retire to the house of a friend near by. But the aged Bishop never recovered from his hardships, which broke down a constitution already weakened by age, and he died of typhus, 7th February 1642, keeping up his hopeful, loving spirit to the end. His last words were: "Be of good cheer, be of good cheer; whether we live or die we are the Lord's." Unusual honours were paid to his remains by the Irish commanders. A large military force attended his funeral, and fired a volley over his grave, crying, according to some accounts, "Requiescat in pace, ultimus Anglorum," while Father Farrely, a Catholic priest, was heard to exclaim: "O sit anima mea cum Bedello!" His writings exhibit him as a man of extra-high position in her profession, her exordinary sweetness and innocence of disposition and depth of character, far in advance of his time in many respects. Not considering the revenue of the Church as his own, and to prevent danger of scandal, he was careful to give to his two sons, who were clergymen, but small preferments of £80 and £60 a-piece. His appearance is thus described: He was a tall and graceful person; there was something in his looks and carriage that discovered what was within, and created a veneration for him. He had an unaffected gravity in his deportment, and decent simplicity in his dress and apparel." 26 Having an objection, both on grounds of decency and health, to interments in churches, he was, at his own desire, buried in a corner of the churchyard of Kilmore, beside his son, and his wife, whose death in 1638 had been a terrible grief to him. His grave is still to be seen, shaded by a sycamore, said to have been planted by his own hands. The new cathedral church 66 Bellamy, George Anne, an actress, born in Dublin, 23rd April 1731; illegitimate daughter of an Irish nobleman. The early part of her life was spent in a French convent. Having been renounced by her father, for keeping up an intimacy with her mother, she went on the stage at Covent Garden theatre, when but fourteen." After playing successfully in London, she removed to Dublin, where she was recognized by her father's sister, and introduced to good society. Though she attained to a 66 travagant and dissolute habits eventually 3 29 40 286 Belling, Sir Richard, was born at Belinstown, County of Dublin, in 1613. Having been educated in Ireland, he entered at Lincoln's Inn, and studied law for some years. While there he wrote a sixth book to the Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney. He entered with enthusiasm into the War of 1641-'52, and rapidly rose to high rank in the army of the Confede- | house in Dublin, 14th March 1738. He rates. He was defeated by Lord Broghill was the second son of Marcus, Earl of before the castle of Lismore; was a lead- Tyrone, whose ancestors first settled in ing member of the Supreme Council of Ireland in 1574. Tristram Beresford arthe Confederated Catholics at Kilkenny, rived in James I.'s reign as manager for the and was sent as ambassador to the Euro- London Company of Planters in Ulster. pean princes. He induced the Pope to His mother was Baroness Le Poer, heiress commission Rinuccini as Nuncio. Even- and representative of a long line of barons, tually he broke with the Old Irish party, descending in direct male succession from joined the Marquis of Ormond, and was Roger Le Poer, a knight who accompanied employed by that nobleman in several im- Strongbow to Ireland. From Kilkenny portant negotiations He is mentioned by School John Beresford proceeded to Trinity Clarendon as one of the Commissioners of College, where he graduated A.B. in 1757. Trust at the conference with the Catholic He then entered at the Middle Temple, Bishops of 5th November 1650. Upon studied law for nearly three years, and was Cromwell's Irish successes, he retired to called to the Bar in 1760. În April 1761 France, where he wrote Vindicia Catholi- he was returned Member for the County corum Hiberniæ, and other works. After of Waterford, which constituency he conthe Restoration, he returned home, and tinued to represent uninterruptedly till his through Ormond's influence recovered pos- death-for forty-four years. He applied session of his estates. He died in Dublin, himself with great assiduity to the disin September 1677, and was buried at charge of his parliamentary duties, and Malahide. Lowndes says :-" Belling's soon became a power in the House. In account of the transactions in Ireland 1768 he was sworn on the Privy Council, during the period of the rebellion is es- and in 1770 was appointed a Commissioner teemed more worthy of credit than any of Revenue. Eventually he succeeded to written by the Romish party." 16 80 219 339 the post of First Commissioner, and it was Benen or Benignus, Saint, one of under his administration, and much at St. Patrick's most beloved disciples-his his instance, that] the new Custom House successor in the see of Armagh; a man in Dublin was built, between 1781 and eminent for piety and virtue. He was 1791, that near Essex-bridge proving quite baptized by St. Patrick in 433, and in- unsuitable for the increasing trade of structed by him in the rudiments of learn- the port of Dublin. It was also largely ing and religion. He was specially com- through his exertions that the widening missioned to visit Kerry, and some parts and extending of the Dublin quays, and of Clare which St. Patrick was not able to the opening up of Sackville and other reach in person. According to the most streets were accomplished. His political probable computation, he succeeded to the position was strengthened in the year see of Armagh in 465, where he is said to 1774 by his taking as his second wife have died and to have been buried in Barbara Montgomery, a celebrated beauty, 468. His festival is 9th November. 119 sister to Lady Mountjoy, and to the Marchioness of Townshend. During the administrations of the Duke of Portland and Lord Temple (1782 to 1783) he confined himself to routine duties; but on the arrival of the Duke of Rutland, to whom Mr. Pitt had entrusted the government of Ireland, he threw his whole energies into political affairs. Holding opinions diametrically opposed to Grattan and the national party on almost all questions, he strenuously supported Orde's Trade Propositions, and sided with Mr. Pitt in the matter of the Regency. The almost overwhelming power and influence which the Beresfords attained in the government of Ireland was signally put to the test in 1795, when Lord Fitzwilliam came over, 4th January, as Lord-Lieutenant, to inaugurate a policy of concession both on religious and political questions. He took Grattan and the leaders of the liberal party into his councils, and Mr. Beresford was 234 339 Beranger, Gabriel, an artist descended of Huguenot parents, was born in Rotterdam, and in 1750, when about twentyone years old, came to Ireland. He kept an artist's warehouse at 5, South Great George's-street, Dublin, from 1766 to 1779. His business did not succeed, and General Vallancey procured him a situation in the Exchequer Office. In his old age a fortune was bequeathed him by a relative. He died 18th February 1817. He left some interesting itineraries about the neighbourhood of Dublin, and his antiquarian sketches have preserved the appearance of many buildings now no longer standing, notably the round tower of St. Michael le Pole, in Ship-street, Dublin, demolished in 1799. Sir William Wilde states that Beranger was a flower painter of much taste. Beresford, John, Right Hon., an Irish statesman, was born at his father's an adherent of William III. Being sent by his fellow-townsmen of Bandon on a mission to London, he settled in England, and was appointed chaplain to the Duke of Ormond, and afterwards to the King and Queen. Although in receipt of £600 a year, he found it necessary to set up a school at Richmond to enable him to meet his engagements. He died 20th May 1726, aged 66. He is remembered as the joint author, with Tate, of a version of the Psalms, which took the place of that of Sternhold and Hopkins, and was for a long period used by the Church of England. This work was first published in 1695. Dr. Beattie says: "Tate and Brady are too quaint, and where the Psalmist rises to sublimity are apt to sink into bombast; yet Tate and Brady have many good passages, especially in those psalms that contain simple enunciations of moral truth." 16 A play by him, entitled The Rape, acted in London in 1692, with fair success, was of a character that would not now be tolerated on the stage. 16 42 116(45) 151 Bramhall, John, Archbishop of Armagh, was born in 1593 at Pontefract, in Yorkshire. Entering the ministry, he rose to be a distinguished ecclesiastic of the English Church; about 1630 he came to Ireland at the instance of Lord Strafford, and was made one of the King's Chaplains in Ordinary. On 16th May 1634, he was, by Archbishop Ussher, in the Castle Chapel, Dublin, consecrated Bishop of Derry. He immediately applied himself vigorously to recovering portions of the alienated property of the Church, and was so far successful that within a short time he brought back some £40,000 a year, wasted or impropriated revenues. He was instrumental in persuading the Irish Convocation, bent upon retaining its own canons, to adopt the XXXIX Articles. Whilst on a visit to England in 1637, Charles I., Laud, and others, paid him much respect; but this did not prevent an accusation, from which he soon cleared himself, being preferred against him in the Star Chamber. In March 1641, articles of high treason were brought against him and others in the Irish House of Commons, charging him with a conspiracy to subvert the fundamental laws, and to introduce an arbitrary government. His friends urged him to avoid arrest. This course he considered dishonourable. He was committed to prison; but released upon the intercession of Archbishop Ussher. He now attended the King in England, materially assisting him with funds and counsel. In 1644, after the battle of Marston Moor, he was obliged to seek safety abroad, where he occupied himself with religious controversy and authorship. In 1648 he ventured to visit Ireland-the Marquis of Clanricard protecting him in the exercise of his functions. After the Restoration he was translated to the primacy; and early in 1661 consecrated in one day two Irish archbishops and ten bishops - amongst the latter, the celebrated Jeremy Taylor. After the long war, his diocese was, as might be expected, in an almost complete state of disorganization. In the Parliament of 1661 he presided over the deliberations of the House of Lords, and procured the passage of a Bill for augmenting the livings of the bishops, and recovering the forfeited impropriate tithes. He expunged from the records of the House the proceedings against his friend Strafford. Archbishop Bramhall died of apoplexy, 25th June 1663, aged about 70. He left, amongst other bequests, money for the repair of Armagh Cathedral, and black gowns to as many poor men as were the years of his life. Ware gives a list of his numerous writings. "Perhaps the most valuable part of his works is that in which he contended with Hobbes. He argued with great acuteness against Hobbes's notions on liberty and necessity, in The Catching of the Leviathan, in which he undertakes to demonstrate, out of Hobbes's own works, that no sincere Hobbist can be a good Christian, or a good Commonwealth's man, or reconcile himself to himself." 16 42 339 Brendan, Saint, was born in Kerry about 484, received his early education from Bishop Erc, and then studied at Tuam and Clonard. To atone for the death of a person who had been drowned at seato which catastrophe Brendan feared he had involuntarily contributed-he is said to have gone, by the advice of St. Ita, to Brittany, where he formed a monastery or school. He is chiefly famous for his mythical voyage to Hy Brasail. After gathering information all along our western coast concerning the visionary western land, he set sail from Mount Brandon, and after a long voyage, his vessel, impelled by a miraculous current, reached a shore where he and his companions found a charming climate and lovely birds. They walked into the interior for fifteen days, but when about to cross a great river, were warned back by an angel, who said that they had gone far enough, and that it was reserved for other men and other times to christianize the land. Lanigan says: "Although the narrative of these voyages abound with fables, yet it may be admitted that Brendan sailed, in company with some other persons, towards the west, in search of some island or country, Brennan, John, M.D., born at Ballahide, County of Carlow, about 1768. He was educated to the medical profession, and obtained a wide reputation for his successful practice in puerperal disorders. An excellent classical scholar, a man of talent and humour, his sallies were long remembered. As editor of the Milesian Magazine | he unhappily prostituted his talents, by ridiculing for pay the Catholic leaders of his day, and abusing the members of his own profession. He died in Dublin, 29th July 1830, aged 61. In Notes and Queries, 3rd Series, will be found reference to a copy of the Milesian Magazine in the British Museum, containing a MS. key to Brennan's pseudonyms. 39 254 the existence of which he had heard of." | of Ireland, who cut down the sacred tree Not long after his return to Ireland, he at Adair, under which Brian and his founded the monastery of Clonfert, where ancestors of the Dalcassian line had been he presided over a large community of crowned. In 984 Brian revenged this outmonks, who maintained themselves by the rage by plundering Westmeath; wherelabour of their hands. At a late period of upon Malachy again turned his arms his life, he visited Columcille at Iona; and against Thomond, and defeated the Dalsome years prior to his death retired cassians with a loss of 600 men, including from Clonfert to Inchiquin in Lough Cor- Brian's uncle. In 993 Brian prepared a rib. He died at his sister's monastery of fleet of boats, sailed up the Shannon, and Annadown in 577, aged 93, and was in- invaded Leitrim and Cavan. Before long, terred at Clonfert. His festival is the 16th however, the renewed successes of the of May. 119 171 Danes obliged Brian and Malachy to lay aside their feuds and unite against the common enemy. After preliminary operations, in the year 1000 they fought the Danes at Glenmama, near Dunlavin, in the County of Wicklow; great slaughter ensued on both sides. The foreigners were defeated; 4,000 of the Danes of Dublin were slain, with their chiefs Harold, and Cuilean son of Echtighern. "The victorious army seems to have met no opposition on their way to Dublin, where they immediately made themselves masters of the fortress. Here spoils of great value were found great quantities of gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones, carbuncle gems, buffalo horns, and beautiful goblets, as well as vestures of all colours. Brian and his army, we are told, made slaves and captives of many women, boys, and girls; and this is defended as being a just retaliation upon the foreigners, who were the first aggressors, having come from their home to contest with the Irish the possession of their own country and lawful inheritance." 144 For the next two months Brian made Dublin his head-quarters. After a time he received Sitric, the Danish king, into favour, and re-established him as King of Dublin. The time now appeared suitable to Brian for the accomplishment of designs he long contemplated. Clear-sighted and resolute, he had, by the glory of his achievements and the policy of his alliances, undermined the authority of Malachy. He thereupon marched to Tara, and demanded Malachy's submission. Malachy craved a month's time for consideration. At the end of this period, unsuccessful in his efforts to obtain assistance (even his kinsmen-princes of Ulster and Connaught— coldly holding aloof or demanding an exorbitant price for their assistance), Malachy formally submitted, and then acknowledged Brian as King of Ireland (1002). Brian proved himself worthy of his position, and but for his death at Clontarf, might have permanently consolidated the Irish power. We are told that roads, bridges, schools, sprung up under his rule, and that education and the arts of peace Brian Borumha, King of Ireland, a descendant of Oilill Olum, was born about 941. His brother Mahon succeeded to the throne of Munster in 951. The Northmen then occupied much of the dominions of his ancestors, their discipline and ferocity bearing down all before them. Mahon succumbed, and entered into a treaty with them; but Brian, although a lad, headed a small band of warriors in opposing their advances. Eventually there was a general gathering of the Irish clans, headed by Brian and Mahon. The Danes were defeated at Sulcoit, near the town of Tipperary, in 968, and Mahon and Brian entered Limerick, where they took much spoil and a large number of prisoners. Nevertheless it was not long before the invaders were again permitted to occupy the town as traders. About the year 976, Ivar, lord of Limerick, and Molloy, son of Bran, who had been expelled from Desmond, compassed Mahon's assassination. Brian immediately ascended the throne of Thomond; he attacked and slew Mahon's murderers -Ivar and his two sons, and Donovan their Irish ally. Two years afterwards he fought the battle of Bealachlechta, in which fell Molloy, King of Desmond, and Brian found himself master of all Munster. In 982, while he was upon an expedition ravaging Ossory, his dominions were invaded by Malachy Mor, King |