350 



O'Melaghlin in 1133, and that which was subsequently thrown across 

 there by Turlough, as well as his bridge at Athleague, are spoken of 

 as *' viminei pontes." 



In relation to mines, Rymer, in his Foedera, preserves a commission 

 granted by Edward the Third, in the year 1360, to the justiciary and 

 treasurers of Ireland and the Archbishop of Dublin, to which, as it has 

 a restrospective effect, we may be allowed to refer.* The authorities 

 so addressed were thereby empowered to inquire into the situation, &c. 

 of the various celebrated mines of gold and silver in Ireland, but it 

 does not appear that any thing of importance was effectuated on this 

 subject. Stanihurst supports the tradition, where he says " so many 

 rich mines, furnished with all kind of metals, as nature seemed to have 

 formed this country for the store-house or jewel-house of her chiefest 

 treasure. "■f* Bartholomaeus Anglicus mentions Ireland and its "much 

 plenty of metal and of precious stones, ";[. to which Hadrianus Junius 

 adds : 



" Stanniqne fodinas, 

 Et puri argenti venas, quas terra refossis 

 Visceribus manes imos viscera recludit." 



Consistently with this sketch of the island, the native annals repeatedly 

 mention ornaments and ounces of gold and silver. According to Arch- 

 dall,§ a silver chalice engraved with the arms of the daughter of Rory 

 O'Conor, was stolen in 1108 from the Abbey of Clonmacnois. In the 

 destruction at Armagh in 1120, among the losses are stated "copia in- 



* "Quia datum est nobis intelligi, quod quamplures minae auriet argenti in diversis locis 

 in dicta terrS. nostra Hibernia existunt, unde maximum proficium tarn nobis quam toti com- 

 munitati terrse praedictae provenire poterit, si minae illte bene scrutatae fuerint et custoditae, &c.'' 



t Description of Ireland, p. 31. % •^'*' P- ^^' 



§ Men. Hib. p. 387. 



